Tried spray painting my old lamps with $3 paint from the dollar store

I had this brass lamp that looked super dated, so I grabbed some matte black spray paint for $3 and went for it. The finish actually came out smooth and now it looks like a $50 lamp from a boutique store.

2 comments

2 Comments

abby_palmer1mo ago

I tried something similar with a thrifted brass lamp and some dollar store spray paint. The trick is doing light coats and letting each one dry before the next. I used a matte navy blue and it actually gives off a warm, cozy glow at night. Honestly, the $3 can did a better job than some of the expensive paints I've used before. Just make sure you shake it really well or you'll end up with drips.

blair_davis1mo ago

Oh man, that navy blue sounds way better than I would've guessed. I gotta ask though, how long has yours held up? I redid a lamp about 6 months ago with a cheap can and it started chipping after like 3 months, especially around the edges where I handle it to turn it on and off. Did you put any kind of sealer or clear coat on top of it, or are you just rolling with the raw paint? I'm wondering if that navy color hides the wear better than black does cause I can see every little scratch on mine. Also curious if you prepped the brass at all or just went straight over the shiny finish.