If your home suddenly feels outdated, with its brassy fixtures and furnishings from the last century, this doesn’t necessarily mean it’s time for an updating overhaul. Before you spend thousands of dollars on new light fixtures, hardware, and decor, buy a few cans of spray paint and get ready to see a miracle happen.

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5 paint projects that can improve the look of any home

Spruce up outdated hardware

Basic hardware can really bring your home down a notch; garish doorknobs, plain drawer and cabinet knobs, and sinks that look like the most budget-friendly option are far from glamorous or modern. You may think your only option is to replace them, but on top of a long wish list of updates in the queue, the costs can really add up. But there’s a solution. Ever coveted a fancy faucet in oil-rubbed bronze? There are spray paints with that exact name that do the trick. All you need is a coat of primer and surface that allows you to evenly coat the fixture.

You can do the same thing to tacky drawer and cabinet knobs or towel racks. Just make sure to do several light-misted coats with drying time in between to avoid dripping. And get colorful when it comes to the drawer and cabinet hardware—this little detail can really brighten up a room, and spray paint makes for an even coating of any color when done well.

Make light fixtures fancy

It’s one thing to take a gamble with cheap metal hardware. It’s another to up and spray paint your chandelier or vanity lighting. But spray paint helps you avoid those messy brushstrokes that make DIY projects obvious, and it can make any boring, beat-up, or brass-toned light fixtures look more sophisticated. Stick with something classy like oil-rubbed bronze or silver, or go eclectic with a fresh punch of vibrant color—robin’s egg blue, tomato red, or bright salmon pink are sure to energize any room.

Create garden decor

DIY projects have other advantages besides saving money. If done well, they’re often hardier than the products you would purchase. Whatever you put in your garden needs to be sturdy enough to handle harsh weather, so why not making a shiny gazing ball out of a bowling ball? It may not sound whimsical, but spritz on some looking-glass spray paint and you have beautiful garden decor that can withstand the elements. For plain paint pots, add a coat of metallic gold, or give an old ladder a bright new finish and use it to hold potted herbs. The options are endless.

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Brighten up plain patio furniture

Wrought iron furniture is perfect for resisting outdoor wear and tear, but it can also be a little dull. Thankfully, it’s an easy material to make over. Give your metal patio furniture some color—it’s as simple as cleaning the surface with a damp cloth and spray painting in the color of your choice.

Give vases and lamps a new life

The best thing about a new coat of paint is its ability to turn items that are garage sale shoe-ins into fabulous, intentional pieces. Use metallic paint dabbed with a paper towel to give decorative items like lamps, candlesticks, and vases a look similar to antique mercury glass, or paint them white for a modern, clean look. You can even jazz up a lampshade by taping a pattern or design and spray painting around it. If you’re feeling extra creative, you can turn an item like a metal wire trash can into a small table or stand by spray painting it and turning it upside down.

These are just a few of the countless spray paint projects that will keep you from spending money to update furnishings and hardware in your home. Get creative and colorful!

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