There are a plethora of things that one should not attempt to paint. For example, I got it into my head that I wanted to paint my bathtub. Now I will never really know why I had that thought. It was one of those middle of the night thoughts that you write down and then in the morning you realize that it’s probably not a good idea. So, to save you from wondering if you really can paint your bathtub or not –I’d say not –here is a list of 11 things you probably didn’t know you can paint.
Upholstery—I have a whole post about how you can paint upholstery and it is awesome. Don’t be afraid to try this out!
Painted Upholstery Chair- Look at this amazing chair found at Hyphen Interiors.
Lampshades –I have run into this problem time and time again: Right shape and design, wrong color. It’s actually quite annoying but thankfully there is a solution! Paint it.
Carpeting –My best friend just bought a large piece of “scrap” carpet from a warehouse and it was just a boring tan color. She wanted to vamp it up and so she painted an awesome geometric pattern on it. If you’re in a conundrum, give this a chance.
Look at this cute Chevron rug that Tanya at Twelve O Eight created. I Love this idea. I feel like it is really hard to find exactly what you want in a rug. So now, you don’t have to. You can create whatever you need:)
Toys –I’ve found a lot of fun toys at garage sales but they’ve faded or the color is just not what I am looking for. So, I paint them. Also, I have painted plastic dinosaurs and army guys to match birthday party themes and they turn out amazing. Why didn’t I think of this until I found someone doing it on Pinterest? I love the idea by Gilit at Shoes off Please of painting a play kitchen. I have so many pink toys that I would love to pass down to my boys {and not that I am against pink for boys, but…} my boys love blue and green. It makes me happy to spruce up my old toys and give them new life for my new littles.
Plastic –So, it’s a similar idea to the toys option but plastic can be tricky because of the finishing. Make sure that you sand your object really well to get that top coat removed so that the paint will actually stick. Once you know how to paint plastic furniture and other plastic things, the possibilities are endless. Patio furniture, household items, kids toys, decorations and so much more. Painted Furniture Ideas gives a few tips on how to paint plastic furniture.
Appliances –My sister-in-law was gifted a white Kitchen Aid mixer for her wedding but she wanted one in a teal color. So, she painted it! You can too. Just be sure to clean the surface well. Once you’ve done that, rough up the surface with steel wool or something similar. Next, use a sand paper to smooth the surface again. Make sure you use the right kind of paint!! (There are plenty of appliance paints out there.) There are some great tips on painting appliances on How to Build a House Blog. Look at this kitchen!
Concrete. I dare you to find something cooler than conrete floors painted to look like wood. I have seen these in a few different styles and I am officially obsessed. I especially like the idea of a painted conrete patio to look like wood. This idea from Twenty Six Fifty Eight is durable, low-maintenance and beautiful.
But if you are going for conrete floors that look like wood, you may consider stamped colored conrete. Check this out from The Concrete Whisperer.
And while we are on the subject of wood floors, if you are looking for a little color, you can spice up a room by painting the floors. I know people who actually painted a subfloor in a basement to make it through a long process without flooring and it looked really cool. Don’t be afraid to paint your floors. Also, I want to know what color green this is! Very fresh. Perfect for a bathroom.
Brick! Fireplaces! Painted brick is no longer that ugly eyesore in your house. While natural brick is an amazing accent to any room, painting it is a really great option if the natural brick doesn’t compliment your space. I love this painted white brick fireplace from Midwest Living that has been remade to look sharp and clean.
Window shades. Paint is the perfect solution to window treatments that don’t fit into your decor. When I get a vision of a room, sometimes it is hard to find every piece that I need to complete my look.
