Spray, Don't Pay

Saving money wherever possible is essential if your home has an ongoing list of projects like mine.  It may sound silly, but spray paint has become one of my best friends.  I usually keep a can of white, black, and gold in my garage for quick fixes and small projects.  When it comes to renovations, details matter, and they don’t have to break the bank.  I’ve used black matte spray paint recently on the screws and beat up, dingy gold hardware that hold up my stair rail.  It isn’t, obviously the most exiting change, but it took the hardware from a visible eye sore, to blending in. I also just recently used it to refresh our rusty mailbox, to hold us over until we get a new one (it’s one of those big ol' stone mailboxes and the stonework is cracked and the whole thing needs to be demoed and rebuilt- apparently this is not a cheap project, so I am buying some time while we tackle some bigger projects inside).  

My favorite way I think of all, is to use spray paint to update a light fixture.  I’ve transformed 3 using spray paint- one from silver to matte black, and the other 2 from brown to black.  It changed those lights from being slightly outdated to right on trend.  The list can go on and on- bathroom and kitchen hardware can get a quick update with a can of spray paint, and even furniture.  

If you want to give it a shot, there’s not much to it, just make sure you buy a can of spray paint that works on the material you are spraying it on.  Also, make sure to pay attention to the finish on the can- spray paint comes in gloss, satin, and matte.  The main tip I can give on your project is to work in coats.  Don’t overspray on anything, it can bubble up and ruin the work.  One thin coat at a time, with drying time in between, will yield the best results and prevent things like drip marks.  (This requires being patient, which for me is the most annoying part, but trust me, if you over spray, you will regret it.  Spray a thin coat, walk away, and distract yourself with another project, and then come back and spray another later). 

Of course this might not sound like the most exciting or earth shattering idea, but I am warning you, once you start spraying, you will be looking for things to update with your trusty can.  It’s totally addicting.