Changing the look of a room by giving the walls a fresh coat of paint is one of the most common and easiest projects most homeowners will do, and a DIY task that can be mastered by even a novice, as long you have the right equipment. However, there are so many other things in your home besides your walls that can be given a new look with a few swipes of a paintbrush. You probably thought that the only way to change the appearance of many of these items would be to replace them completely, but as it turns out, you can change the look of a room more easily by painting something unexpected.
Some of these items may require a few extra tools, such as specialized paintbrushes, but you can find these items alongside the usual paint supplies at your local hardware store. Also keep in mind that while occasionally regular wall paint can be used, you will usually need to shop for something more specific to change the color and texture of these items around your home. There are many types of paint that are specific to the type of material you will be paining, and in some cases there are kits that include everything you will need in one box. We’ve thrown together a list of a few things you can find around your house that you may not realize you can paint.
Appliances
Breathe new life into your kitchen or basement kitchenette by using paint to transform a white or black appliance into stainless steel. Liquid stainless steel paint brushes on easily and when dry, still repels fingerprints and holds magnets just like the real thing. This product works on refrigerators, dishwashers, ovens, and you can even update the look of your laundry room by using it on your washer and dryer.
Chalkboard paint is another fun idea for a refrigerator, especially one in a basement or man cave. Instead of using magnets to hang artwork on your refrigerator, your kids and friends can make the appliance their canvas and draw directly on the surface once you’ve transformed an older appliance into a reusable chalkboard.
Smaller appliances can also be given a new look with a fresh coat of a paint. Toasters, blenders, stand up mixers – many of these items are available in trendy colors, but if your white one is working fine, there’s no need to replace it when you can paint it. Several appliance specific paints are on the market, and the only extra step you may need to take is to rough the surface of your appliance up with steel wool before you begin.
Bathroom Vanities
If you didn’t get the opportunity to pick and choose the components of your home’s bathrooms during the building process, you will likely find generic wood cabinet-style vanities in the secondary bathrooms. While these types of vanities are relatively inexpensive for the builder, the can be quite pricey to replace when you decide to upgrade. A more practical solution might be to give the vanity a fresh coat of paint. A lightly watered down chalk paint works great, and can be applied quickly, though you will need to seal it with two coats of polycrylic protective finish. Another great thing about chalk paint is that it doesn’t need primer, making this an even easier project for a first time DIY-er.
Faucets
Did you purchase an older home with dated, brass bathroom fixtures? No need to replace them when you can paint them! Metallic paint in a shade like rubbed bronze or aged copper look great when painted over brass. The trick is to apply several thin coats with plenty of drying time in between each – a full 24 hours is best.
Bathtubs and Sinks
You may have heard of someone painting the outside of a bathtub, especially if they have scored an amazing deal on an antique claw-foot tub at an estate sale or flea market. Paint can also breathe new life into an older tub or sink already installed in your home though. If you have a basin that is showing its age in the form of hard water stains, you may be considering replacing the sink or tub altogether. You can save yourself this expense and imposition by painting the inside. There are several brands of porcelain refinishing kits on the market, all of which can be found at the big box home improvement stores and online. The process can be time consuming, with a significant amount of drying time needed, but the end result is more than worth it when you compare the cost of a larger bathroom remodel.
Interior Doors
You probably think a great deal about the look of your front door, and the effect it has on the curb appeal of your home. But what do you look at more frequently, the front of your front door, or the back of it? Next time you are redecorating, don’t stop at your walls. Give the interior side of your front door a fresh coat of paint to liven the look of your room.
Other interior doors throughout your home will also need to be painted from time to time. The same wear and tear that eventually makes your walls look dull can have the same effect on the door to your guest room, bathroom, and even closets.
Whiteboards
Whiteboards tend to get harder to clean with age, leaving tell-tale signs of the last words and drawings written even after they are wiped clean. Luckily you can easily refinish your board with a coat of whiteboard paint. This is much easier than replacing a large board hanging in your office, and can also extend the life of your kids smaller and portable boards.
Ceilings
Even ceilings need to be repainted eventually, but you don’t have to stick to basic white when it’s time for a fresh coat. In your master bedroom, you can try painting the recessed part of a tray ceiling a different color from the rest of the ceiling. A soothing sky blue is a great color to do this with, but any neutral or muted color that complements the rest of your bedroom decor will work well.
Curtains and Other Textiles
Here’s a fun idea for a guestroom or tween bedroom – paint the curtains! Use painter’s tape to tape off lines for stripes or chevron patterns, then use fabric paint to create coordinating stripes. You can use regular latex paint on your curtain fabric, but you will need to thin the paint first with textile medium, available at your local craft store. This technique also works great for breathing new life into an old tablecloth, or as a project for creating your own unique look when you begin with a basic white tablecloth. Another item that can be transformed with fabric paint is the dingy lampshade you’ve been wanting to replace. Instead of going on the prowl for the perfect size and shape shade to fit a beloved lamp, you can paint yours to give it an instant facelift.
Floors
If you have a concrete floor in your garage, patio or even part of your basement, you can paint the floor to look like it is made of a greatly different material. This is a fun way to fake the look of hardwood in an unexpected location. Start by painting carefully along the edges of the far wall, and then paint yourself “out” of the corner until you are painting yourself out of the doorway to the room.
Brick
Do you have a brick fireplace, or a section of exposed brick in your kitchen? Don’t assume that you can’t change the look of the brick to match the rest of the room when you redecorate. While most of us love the look of natural brick, it may or may not fit with your current color scheme. Luckily brick can be painted easily to better fit the look of your room.
Shoes
Grab a can of spray paint and transform a pair of sneakers or boots into a completely different article of clothing. You may not be able to get the stains that come along with wear and tear out of your favorite white shoes, but you can change their color completely with a basic can of spray paint. Be sure to tackle the project outdoors in a well ventilated area, and allow your shoes to dry for several days before wearing them out to show off your creativity. Other articles of clothing can also be spray painted, but you’ll want to save this technique for low cost basics like t-shirts rather than spray painting any of your designer duds.