How to paint a refrigerator at home?

What paint to paint?

Before going to the store, decide on your main task:

• Make the surface of the refrigerator flat and uniform by simply updating it.
• Modify the exterior to match the technique with the finish.
• Turn an old refrigerator into a designer piece of furniture.

Take a look a selection of ideas how to easily and easily update the interior without investment.

The photo shows a combination of a repainted pink refrigerator and blue kitchen

The choice of the coloring composition depends on the chosen task. There are 4 main options that adhere well to smooth surfaces.

1. Automotive enamel... Sold in aerosol cans, applied without the help of rollers and brushes. Has increased resistance to abrasion, does not fade in the sun, shimmers with a glossy shine, is not afraid of detergents. Large selection of shades.
2. Epoxy paint... The formulations are usually applied in 2-3 steps. It sticks to the surface no worse than an automobile, but the application process itself is quite laborious - so if you want to paint the refrigerator at home, epoxy will not work.
3. Acrylic enamel... It has low adhesion to smooth, non-porous surfaces, but with the right primer you get a budget, durable finish. Another plus of acrylic is a wide color palette, you can easily tint paint in any desired shade on your own or in a store.
4. Chalk paint... From the name it is clear that the composition contains chalk or marble chips. The coating adheres perfectly even without primer, creates a slightly rough matte surface.

Pictured is a refrigerator painted with slate paint

Preparation recommendations

Whichever paintwork you choose, it should be carefully prepared before painting the refrigerator. This stage includes:

1. the washing up... Use a dish detergent - it removes plaque, grease, old stains. If that's not enough, try a chlorine cleaner or abrasive powder.
2. Rinsing... Detergents form a film on the surface, which should be washed off with clean water. Wipe dry immediately to consolidate the result.
3. Sanding... Fine sandpaper will increase the adhesion of the metal to the paint. Mandatory step in the absence of a primer layer and the presence of rust and chips on the refrigerator.
4. Degreasing... Removes excess dust and prepares for painting, is done immediately before the start of the process.

Important! Clean and paint only the front and sides.

Painting methods

There are several ways: from the classic monochromatic coating, to the image of motifs or even plots.

If you have an artistic gift and the color of the equipment suits you in general, do not completely repaint the refrigerator: just draw something beautiful on it... Folk motifs such as Khokhloma or Gzhel will not fit into every interior, but there are more modern options: doodles, flowers, geometric prints.

For drawing Use spray paint, permanent markers, stained glass or glass paints.

In the photo there is a painting under the wardrobe

The most versatile way to transform an old unit is to paint it in a solid color. It is not necessary to use white, black or gray: bright yellow, blue, red also look impressive and stylish.

In the photo there is a pink technique in the interior

In addition to painting, the surface of the refrigerator can be covered with ... napkins! This is the decoupage technique: with the help of varnish, the cut motifs are applied to the doors and sidewalls. For safety and durability, the resulting plot should be once again secured with a thin layer of varnish.

Important! Decoupage looks good in Provence or country style kitchens, but this technique is not suitable for modern trends.

Pictured is a classic decoupage

How to paint with your own hands?

Redesigning the unit at home is a time consuming but doable task. To deal with it easier, carefully approach the preparation process.

Take a look a selection of ways to eliminate paint odor.

Tools and materials

The main pool of required tools will be approximately the same, regardless of the chosen paint:

• sponge, roller or brush;
• ditch (when painting with a roller);
• gloves;
• sandpaper;
• solvent;
• masking tape.

If you are going to spray paint the refrigerator, prepare newspapers or a covering film. It is necessary to protect the floor, walls, furniture in the room where the painting will be done. A respirator will not be superfluous.

Step-by-step instruction

The first step is to prepare the surface of the refrigerator: all the steps have been described in the "Preparation recommendations" section. It should be washed, degreased, sanded and putty on rusty spots or chips. Remember to remove the handle so that it does not interfere with your work.

Important! If the surface has already been painted, remove or sand the old coating thoroughly.

It takes 3 steps to paint your fridge:

1. Primer... Spread gently with a roller, wait until completely dry (indicated on the package).
2. Application of the first layer... Using a roller and a brush or spray (from a distance of 30-40 cm) evenly coat the unit with the first thin layer. Leave to dry.
3. Application of the second layer... The task at this stage is to smooth out the imperfections of the first layer, to make the surface smooth. If two layers are not enough, you will have to cover a third time.

Advice! The paint should be thick and opaque (working with liquid translucent is much more difficult, more laborious).

Enamel is applied in thin layers to avoid smudges. After each layer, the direction should be changed: from left to right or from top to bottom.

Video tutorial

If any steps are in doubt, watch the video tutorial on how to paint the refrigerator yourself.

The first option is the restoration of the Soviet ZIL model with paint for metal:

The second video is the transformation of a boring standard refrigerator into a bright interior detail in the pop art style:

Ideas for inspiration

One of the commonly used rework options is slate paint... It happens black, green, blue. The main advantage is that the coating is suitable for drawing with crayons: you can write a shopping list, recipes, make notes.

The second option is moldings... In addition to painting, curly volumetric slats are glued to the surface, which give the usual technique a classic, even graceful touch.

One more example - mimicry... The refrigerator is disguised as a telephone booth, tardis or other tall object similar in shape. This is often done with stickers, but making a masterpiece on your own is much more interesting.