Alex O'Brien
Home & Garden

10 amazing things you can do with paint

Paint isn’t just for walls – you can use paint to transform the look of items around the house and garden.

Platters: use blackboard paint on a serving tray to create a stylish platter. You can write the names of the cheeses or desserts that you are serving on the tray.

Drawers: paint the inside edges of the drawers in a tallboy. Add a splash of colour in an area that is often ignored.

Vases: paint some old glass jars with metallic paints to create a set of vases to hold your favourite flowers.

High heels: paint the soles of your shoes with brightly coloured nail polish. Allow to dry for at least 10 minutes before applying a second coat.

Cutlery: cover the tops of some cutlery or wooden utensils with tape (you want to cover where any food would touch). Dip the handles into some acrylic paints and allow to dry before giving a second coat. Spray with some acrylic sealant to protect the paint and give it some shine.

Stools: wrap the tops of some wooden stools in plastic, leaving only the tips of the legs exposed. Spray with spray paint, followed by a matte finishing spray to give you a set of ‘paint dipped’ stools.

Keys: if you’re forever forgetting which key goes into which lock, try painting the tops of keys different colours with nail polish or paint. Why not try red paint for a key that opens a red door, or green paint for the key to the garden shed.

Wine glasses: dip the base of some wine glasses in blackboard paint to allow each party guest to write their name on it.

Pinecones: create an interesting centrepiece by dipping pinecones into paint and allowing to dry. Stack up in a bowl to create a talking point for your next get-together.

Chairs: grab some spray paint and change the look of some metal chairs to use at your dining table. Mix and match contrasting colours to suit the look of your home.

TOP TIP: The Masters Home Improvement website has a golden rule when it comes to painting: the better the surface, the better the result. So that means before you start make sure the surface is clean and free of any marks or scratches that could spoil your result.

Tags:
paint, home, DIY, Masters