Tips and Tricks to Spray Paint Anything

If you can't tell already, I'm a spray painting fiend. Put a can of spray paint in my hands and I want to turn everything pink and mint and yellow. And it's only going to get worse as I continue to update our decor to fit within our new interior house colors.

It's simple. It's frugal. And it's a perfect way to bring a room together.

From spray painting so many things, I have a few tips and tricks to successful spray painting that I wanted to share!

TIPS AND TRICKS TO SPRAY PAINT ANYTHING

1. Spray paint can cover just about anything your heart desires as long as you start with a great surface. Make sure you've prepped your surface properly by using a damp cloth to wipe the surface down. If you're spray painting wood, sand the surface to allow for the paint to stick. 
2. Shake that can like your life depends on it. 
3. I've heard Rust-Oleum "Ultra Cover Coverage" from Home Depot is the best brand of spray paint. I personally have been using Krylon from Micheals, but might try the Rust-Oleum soon to see how they compare. 
4. Protect yourself and your clothes from the paint. You really can't control where the paint goes, so make sure you're wearing clothes that you don't mind covered in hot pink paint. It will get all over your hands as well, and while it does wash off fairly easily, not everyone wants pink fingers for the afternoon...
5. On that note, DON'T spray inside. Since you can't control where the paint cloud travels to, you don't want to risk painting inside your home. Even when painting outside, be sure to protect the ground around the area. Painters cloth or broken down cardboard boxes/bags work well. 
6. Less is more. It's best to spray light coats of paint, multiple times. This will insure an even finish. Also, make sure you spray 7-10 inches away from the surface, and have smooth, full spray strokes from one side of the item to the other. 
7. Make sure to spray the bottom of your item. A good idea is to start with the item upside down to get all the hidden spots, let it dry, then flip it over. 
8. Allow for drying time. I'm a woman with little-to-no patience, so the recommended "24 hour drying time" isn't going to happen in my house. I would recommend 30-45 minutes of dry time before applying your second - or third coat. And a few hours (3-4) before bringing the product into your home. 
9. Apply a clear top coat for heavily used items. This will help seal the paint and give an added shield against wear and tear. 

Now that you know what you're doing, let's get painting! Here are a few great spray paint ideas that I've stumbled upon lately. 

Image sources; one, two, three