Your appliance colors were stylish when you bought them, but now they are dated. Or perhaps you want to inject some fun, bold color into your kitchen. If your appliances run fine and have plenty of life, you don’t have to trade them in for new ones. Instead, just paint them. Here’s how.
A wide-ranging color palette
The thought of painting your appliances may conjure visions of disaster. But you actually may be delighted with the outcome.
The best part of painting your appliances is the extensive color selection. You can choose standard appliance colors, such as stainless steel, white or black. You can also select bold primary colors or pastels. A bright red refrigerator can freshen the dullest of kitchens!
Shopping for appliance paint
Choose appliance paint if you want to paint your appliance a traditional color. Rust-Oleum and Krylon are two manufacturers offering appliance spray-on epoxy appliance paint. Appliances that heat up, such as ranges, require heat-resistant appliance paint. But if a bold blue or pale pink refrigerator is what you have in mind, you can use spray paint or brush-on acrylic enamel paint. You’ll likely need only a quart.
Gather supplies
You’ll need more than just paint for the job. You’ll also need the following.
- Painter’s tape for masking trim, handles and logo plates.
- Steel wool or 180-grit sandpaper.
- Direct-to-metal primer paint. This is a specialty item you must request at a paint store.
- A mini roller with short nap covers and a three-inch, soft bristle brush (unless you use spray paint).
- Tarps for covering floors and other surfaces.
Painting your appliances, step by step
- Unplug the appliance. If possible, paint your appliances outside. If you can’t, make sure the room is well-ventilated. Lay tarps on the floor around the surfaces to be painted.
- If you can, remove the appliance’s door handles, logo plates and trim pieces. Otherwise, cover them carefully with painter’s tape.
- Clean the appliance exterior thoroughly, then scuff its exterior surfaces with steel wool or 150-grit sandpaper. You want to remove the shine. Vacuum away dust with a brush attachment, then wipe the entire surface with a damp microfiber rag. Allow the surface to dry completely.
- Use the mini roller to apply primer to the broad surfaces and the brush to apply it to narrower surfaces and around name plates, hinges and other detailed areas. Allow the primer to dry completely.
- Next, spray on the paint or apply it with a fresh roller and clean brush. Apply in even strokes. To avoid brush marks, don’t press too hard.
- Let the paint dry completely, then apply additional coats as needed. Multiple coats should give you an even finish.
- Wait 24 hours before returning the appliance to its location.
Related – When That Expensive Appliance Purchase Goes Bad
