Kim and I have recently started a new site all about remodeling and design ideas and pictures. This article was inspired by one of the images Kim found for the new blog – you can find it here: Beautiful Workspaces {Dreamy Desks}.

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The finish on this desk and frames can be accomplished with spray paint right out of a can.

Find Your Color Bliss With Spray Paint

I have no idea whether the desk and chair above were painted with a can of spray paint, a professional spray rig, or a traditional paint brush. Even my brilliance doesn’t quite reach that level. However, what I do know is that they could be painted with a spray can.

I’m talking an off-the-shelf can of good old spray paint. And I’m talking quality here too. Not just some ho-hum job meant to last long enough for a photo shoot. (Maybe not heirloom quality either… something in the middle)

Spray paint rocks for good reason:

  • Your color options are extensive
  • Your tool requirements are minimal
  • Your dry time is faster
  • The overall job is done faster
  • It’s easy, fun, and will make you feel like a rock star.

A Half-Dozen Tips For Quality Spray Paint Perfection

  1. Put more effort into prep than paint – The surface you’re painting is more important than the paint you use to cover it. Take the time to get it really ready:
    • Scrape or strip all loose paint
    • Sand the entire surface with two goals: first is to rough-up the surface and remove any existing glossy sheen so your paint will stick; second is to smooth down any edges left by scraping old paint off.
    • Clean off sanding residue completely with a tack cloth. The best cloth is a clean rag or t-shirt with a little bit of water or mineral spirits (paint thinner). I prefer the paint thinner because it evaporates quickly.
  2. Use a primer coat – This step is somewhat optional depending on how close to the aforementioned heirloom quality you want to get. A good solid coat of primer, allowed to dry properly before top coat, will greatly increase the durability of your finish. They always sell the primer right next to the spray paint cans. It’s not super critical which primer you get. I’ve used automotive primer on wood before with great results.
  3. Spray very thin coats – Did I say thin? I meant thin. The biggest mistake people make with spray cans is putting on too much paint. Spray paint is thin so it’s very prone to running, which is a big mess. Thin coats prevent that and they dry fast.
  4. Never hold the can still. – “Just-Keep-Moving” should be your motto. Be moving before you hit the button and be moving when you let go. Never pull the trigger on a stationary spray can. Trust me.
  5. Use plenty of coats – The thing with thin coats is that they’re, um, thin. If you want a durable surface, you’ll need a good thickness of paint, so use more coats. It’s not unusual when spraying furniture to have four, five, or even six coats on the finished work.
  6. Finish with a clear coat (or four) – The last secret to a great spray paint finish is to use a liberal amount of clear on top. You can choose your sheen (glossy, semi-gloss, satin, or flat) with the clear and apply thin coats. Make sure the color coat is totally dry before applying the clear.

Not As Much Work As It Sounds Like

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While this may sound like a ton of work, it’s really faster and easier than any of the other alternative methods. The thin coats dry fast.

Drawbacks – cost (those cans add up) and environmental concerns – wear a mask and don’t breath that junk in!

Thinking about spray painting your kitchen cabinets… you can do it! We tried it awhile back. Here is the post.

Do you have any spray paint tips or projects you’d like to share? Let us know in the comments!

Enjoy!

~RG

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ImageEverybody knows that firemen like to cook. Many fire districts require firemen to be on for 48 hours straight and the rest require 24 hours. No running out to Olive Garden for lunch either… they have to be ready to roll at all times.

That means at least three meals a day prepared in every fire station in the country. The question is, are those meals prepared in style?

For the lucky firehouse that wins the “Rescue Remodel” contest currently being run by The Family Handyman magazine and sponsored by Ikea, the answer will be a resounding yes.

Ikea is providing a $25,000.00 kitchen remodel complete with cabinets, appliances, and cookware.

Nominate your local firehouse at the website: RescueRemodel.com

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Mind The Gap When Installing Natural Wood Floors

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Kim and I have recently started a new site all about remodeling and design ideas and pictures. This article was inspired by one of the images Kim found for the new blog – you can find it here: Beautiful Workspaces {Dreamy Desks}. The floor in the photo above is, for lack of a more boisterous [...]

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Kim and I have recently started a new site all about remodeling and design ideas and pictures. This article was inspired by one of the images Kim found for the new blog – you can find it here: Beautiful Workspaces {Dreamy Desks}. This photo is one of those that I could write ten posts about. [...]

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Hunting for some early morning inspiration to go with my steaming coffee and my Red Hot Chili Peppers background track, I went on the prowl for some cool barnboard walls pictures. I was nonplussed, until I saw this: While most of the pictures I found were wall-to-wall barnboard, which was just way too much of [...]

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Paint Project Inspiration

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Here’s the truth: You deserve the home of your dreams. You do. I’m totally serious and I’m talking to you. No if’s, and’s, or but’s about it. Write this on a little index card: “I live in the house of my dreams.” and read that out loud every day, like ten times in a row. [...]

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6 Creative Ways to Add A Splash of Color To Your Kitchen

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Ask yourself, of all the kitchens you’ve ever graced with your presence, how many stand out in your memory as flat-out amazing? One, five? None!? The truth is that even beautiful, well-designed, and expertly crafted kitchens often aren’t outstanding enough to make them permanently memorable. Let’s put a stop to that right now! Here’s a [...]

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Learning Carpentry — Wood is a DIYer’s Best Friend

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When you look at this bathroom, what do you see? Beautiful Open Shelves? Gorgeous beadboard walls? An open ceiling that exudes authenticity? Refined and inviting paneling on the tub surround? Yes, yes, yes, yes… all of these and more are there. All combining to create one awesome bathroom you want to spend a little extra [...]

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Best in DIY Awards – Win $3,000 from Family Handyman Magazine

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Are you the best? That’s what The Family Handyman Magazine is on the hunt for. Just like in the all-time hit movie, Men In Black… check out this audio clip: If you’re all that, then this is for you! $6,000 in cash prizes are up for grabs along with three paid trips to Orlando to [...]

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Wilsonart HD – A New Level of Laminate Counter

June 10, 2011
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I often learn of new ads on RemodelingGuy the same way you do, I see them on the site. So I didn’t know an advertising campaign for Wilsonart HD was about to start. I just looked at the site one day, and saw a new ad in the background. Wilsonart HD I thought I’d take [...]

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Get Stoned, Not Really – Using Fake Stone in Interior Design

June 9, 2011
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I’m not sure which part of my title I should regret more… the part about getting “stoned” or the use of the word “fake”. Both are strict literary faux pas. (faux stone?) Anyway, here is the photograph that instigated all of this nonsense: This whole thing is really pretty close to perfect in my book. [...]

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