One of my favorite tools for quick and easy home decor makeover is white spray paint. It can be used on a variety of surfaces and it instantly brightens up any space in a home. I recently purchased a few items at my local thrift store that were just begging for a coat of it. Here's the "before" shot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aren't they just begging for a coat or two of spray? 

It's important to prep your area before you start spray painting. I spread out a large drop cloth made specifically for painting, but you can also use old towels or sheets instead. I also prefer to paint outdoors because the fumes build up very quickly. If you decide to paint indoors, make sure the area is well ventilated and that you use very light quick sprays and then take breaks between coats. But by all means, paint outdoors whenever possible. I also wore heavy duty rubber gloves to protect my hands and arms during the painting process, and I also wore clothing that I didn't care too much about ruining.

I like to use Painter's Touch white spray paint from Home Depot, and if you are spray painting a small item that already has a base coat or is primed, then you can use inexpensive spray paint. If you spray larger items like furniture, fixtures, or anything plastic, you may want to consider investing in a higher quality spray paint. I tend to prefer a glossy finish, but you can certainly use spray paint with a matte finish. It is also a good idea to lightly sand any raw wood or metal surfaces before you paint them and you should use a primer on any object that will get handled a lot. Finally, you should prepare your items to be painted by washing them with a damp cloth to remove any dirt or dust. 

When you finally get down to the actual painting, use quick and light sprays. If you notice any drips, it means that you are using too much, too quickly. Wipe the drips up with your finger and spray over them. If you still notice dripping, let it dry, sand the drips off, and then paint over it. If you notice the paint crackling, that probably means your didn't prep the surface properly. You can try to sand the crackles down as much as possible and paint over them, but crackles can be very difficult to repair. Overall, spray paint is very forgiving and it is generally easy to cover up any mistakes. Don't you just love that? 

Here is the "after" shot of my spray painted items. I love that the frames look very "shabby chic" and the birds look very modern. The birds remind me of a Jonathan Adler design, except they only cost me $3! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You may be wondering where the vases are. A word of caution:  Crafting with two toddlers in the house is hazardous to all breakable objects. Vases are no exception. Moving on...

Here's one more shot of my darling little white birdies:

White spray paint is an easy and cost-effective way to update old household items. With the wide range of surfaces spray paint covers, as well as its long-lasting finish, the possibilities are endless.