My cousin Erika posted this great idea on her Facebook page:
She took Rustoleum Oil Rubbed Bronze spray paint to the brass knobs in her house. GREAT IDEA! I am already buzzing with different applications to use it on…hardware, knobs, pulls, light fixtures, lamps, frames… and how about those chrome builders grade bathroom fixtures ?… the list could go on and on…
I think I’ll go purchase some today to add to my arsenal of spray paint. Thank you Erika for the inspiration!
94 comments
Did she take the hardware off before painting?
ReplyDeleteHi I went to home depot but they had lots of colors can u tell me the color u used in the picture .?
DeleteIsn't the Rubbed Bronze the color?
DeleteYes I did:)Best thing is to let them COMPLETELY dry for a full day or 2. I love the drastic change it has made~
ReplyDeleteDid you do your front door and back door? Couldn't really leave the knobs off of the doors for 2 days
DeleteHas the finish worn off? I've thought of doing this but was afraid.
ReplyDeleteI have done this several times in our home. The finish started to rub off the inside of the kids bathroom door after about 5 years, no problem ... Just sprayed again :-)
DeleteI'm also wondering if the finish has worn off.
ReplyDeleteI have done this for the hardware on our pantry pocket door-those handles are expensive! It looks great, and is holding up just fine, even in the kitchen. I also did light fixtures that were yucky rusty brass, they look fantastic. Ah spray paint, my new best friend!
ReplyDeleteLooks Awesome, I Love It !!!
ReplyDeleteAll of the knobs in my house are bright brass. I'm just wondering how to navigate the lock on the bedroom door? I've been reading and contemplating doing this to the shower surround (also bright brass). I, like the others, am wondering how it's held up?
ReplyDeleteWe did ours about 4 years ago. most of them haven't chipped at all. We did our light fixtures, shower trim, all doors, hinges, kitchen cabinet pulls and hinges, towel racks etc. Our pantry door has chipped but that's because we put a child lock on it. Our door to the garage also chipped but i think it's from keys being in hands. Other than that they've held up REALLY well. If I remember correct we used a spray primer too. Take your time and do it right. Also, if you're doing door hinges, number them cause they don't go back on correct unless they're in the exact place. I think i'll pull the worn stuff off this weekend and respray it. Not bad for 4 years!
ReplyDeleteHow did you paint your shower trim?
DeleteI have also painted all the brass in my house--ceiling fans-dining room lights--showers-hinges-knobs-no more brass!!! I did not take off the hinges--I sprayed the paint in a metal cup and painted the SPRAY PAINT on with a brush--works great!!!!
ReplyDeleteThat's an awesome idea! So easy!
DeleteI have bronze colored trim around the ligt fixtures, would it work on that or is it just for shiny brass?
DeleteDoes this work on faucets? I have wondered about that. I sprayed by cabinet pulls and it is fantastic! It actually gave my cabinets an updated look! yay me!
ReplyDeleteDid you put any kind of primer on before, and if you didn't, do you wish you had? Any tips that you learned along the way to help? Thanks!
ReplyDeletewhat a fantastic idea, and thanks for the comments as well...this is going to improve my house so much!!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great idea! Thank you so much for sharing. They look great!
ReplyDeleteLove the idea of spraying the paint in a cup and painting it on the hinges and such.
ReplyDeleteDo you have to sand everything before spray painting?
ReplyDeleteI spray painted all my brass kitchen knobs with the oil bronzed finish to match my new kitchen faucets and they look beautiful. And it was so easy!
ReplyDeleteI saw this on Pinterest & had to check it out. Amazing transformation!! Thanks for sharing such a great idea.
ReplyDelete- Julie
how many coats does it take? also, how many door knobs can you get out of one can?
ReplyDeletethanks so much! :)
I am statrting to this but ran into a problem... the bristles grom my paint brush are coming off into the paint. What type of brush or technique was used to prevent this and streaking?
ReplyDeleteIts a spray paint..u dont use a brush.
DeleteWouldn't a foam brush work? You know the really cheap kind you can get for crafting?
DeleteYou might consider getting a little bit more expensive brush and just be sure to clean it really well after, or, pull on the bristles before painting to make sure you've removed all the loose ones. :)
DeleteI am so excited to do this. thanks
ReplyDeleteJust curious if the knobs turn well after being sprayed. Any issues with functionality?
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering this too. I did read on another blog that you should leave your key halfway in the lock so the paint doesn't gum up the locking mechanism.
DeleteI found the metallic oil rubbed bronze...it this the same as you used or do I need to go to Lowe's or Home Depot instead of my local Wal-Mart?
ReplyDeleteI think I will give it a go...4 years is a long enough amount of time to stall the expensive investment of solid doors and new fixtures!
ReplyDeleteIf you are painting the hinges you should use a disposable sponge brush, no bristle marks or shedding of the hair!
I've used this technique on a ceiling fan we found on clearance that was brushed nickel with white frosted glass. Right out of the box I took all the pieces and spray painted them in the oil-rubbed bronze. I also wanted the antique alabaster colored glass, so I took a rag and dabbed on some cream acrylic craft paint, followed by dabbing on some leftover cherry colored gel stain we used on some doors to give more dimension and also some sheen to it. Looks wonderful and no one believes it was a diy!
ReplyDeleteI would love to paint the brass on my fireplace door but can't the it (the "surround" off)? Has anyone else done this? Or, do I just spray it while it's attached to the wall?
ReplyDeleteI have done it and it was so easy! It was on an HGTV show once. Make sure you use the Rust-o-leum spray paint for high-heat application. I think there is a picture of a grill on the front. I turned off the pilot light and let the fireplace cool down. Then I tape-and-papered off the areas I didn't want affected (glass, tiles, wood trim) and sprayed a matte black in long even strokes. I was sure it was going to turn out splotchy, but it turned out perfect! You can't tell at all that it was DIY-ed.
DeleteSpray it in the lid and paint it on :)
DeleteWe did our fire place too! It was do easy and it looks like we bought a new front. We did prime the brass by sanding it first. We also used spray paint for engines do it was heat resistant.
DeleteMy fireplace surround was brass. I unscrewed it and painted it with heat resistant paint. That was about 7 years ago. needs to be done again as I think the kids scratched it, but worth it. I have also sprayed my kitchen cabinet handles. what a change it made to my kitchen. I didn't sand first but you should wipe down with rubbing alcohol first to degrease. Great idea on the door handles. I will definitely do that. thanks
DeleteDo you think it would work on my kitchen faucet and the sink????
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great idea - did you have to take the locks and hinges off to spray them? I love the idea, but don't want to make extra work for myself!
ReplyDeleteReally cool! I used Krylon brand because I couldn't find Rustolium and it works good too. Oh and I used empty toilet paper rolls to prop them on so I could see if I missed a spot!
ReplyDeleteI used the Krylon brand also.It worked great! I used spray paint lids to hold the knobs up. I painted one one the door and took the rest off, they look better and it was easier to paint.
DeleteMy current handles on my cupboards are a combination of brass and porcelain. Has anyone tried spray painting something like this?
ReplyDeleteI have the same kind of handles in my kitchen I just taped the porcelain with painters tape and spray painted the gold with a rustoleum oil rubbed bronze! They came out fantastic and a lot cheaper than buying all new hardware!
DeleteFound you thru Pinterest and now I'm a new follower--love your stuff! I'm sitting here thinking what I can update this way!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to know how it works on shower doors too, as someone else asked. I anyone has had success, please post details. :-)
Terri in FL
in my experience it flakes off in a short amount of time. is there a way to stop that from happening?
ReplyDeleteI also used that rustoleum oiled bronze paint on my things. Kitchen pulls and hinges, furniture handles in front room and bedroom, ceiling fans, taping off the tear drops with blue painters tape, brass lamps and statues as well as my drapery rods. Hadn't thought of the water areas like bathroom and kitchen sink tho. any nitches get hit with a paintbrush and spraying the paint in the cap.
ReplyDeleteThere was an annonymous comment a few up asking about brass and porcelain cabinet pulls. I painted mine, worked great. You just have to sand the shine off the porcelain. Here's a link to my blog where I explain all of it: http://www.ljjonescircus.blogspot.com/2011/10/epic-fail-followed-by-successi-think.html
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of painting the door knobs and hinges. I started replacing a few...pfew! Way expensive. I think I'll try to pain them. Thanks for the idea.
I have done this to all of the door handles in my house including ones with locks. I have had no problem with the functionality at all and I love the way they turned out! BUT the door handles we use the most have started to rub off some :(
ReplyDeleteI took them all off the doors and poked them through cardboard boxes, even the screws and spray painted it all! And I did use the Rustoelum Brand.
WILL THIS WORK ON AN OUTDOOR GATE?
ReplyDeleteI'm fairly certain rustoleum is for indoor/outdoor use. my brother-in-law sprayed his fireplace gate and it's held up great!
ReplyDeleteWhat about bathroom and kitchen sink fixtures?
ReplyDeleteI love this and I am so not trying to be a smart@$$ but it looks a tho the knob was put on backwards when u got thru painting it. Just wanna let everyone know that it has to go on the same way or it won't work! Forgive me! I have always noticed the little things...
ReplyDeleteI did this project a few weeks ago on my bathroom door knob, looks great so far! I'm planning to do the rest of the fixtures in that bathroom as well! Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteLinked back to you from my blog- http://allgrownup2011.blogspot.com/2012/05/quick-fix-for-mis-matched-door-knobs.html
I have done this for years. The rustoleum brand is perfect and well worth it......I will soon door ceiling fans and chandeliers ...
ReplyDeleteI have done this for years. The rustoleum brand is perfect and well worth it......I will soon door ceiling fans and chandeliers ...
ReplyDeleteI have done this for years. The rustoleum brand is perfect and well worth it......I will soon door ceiling fans and chandeliers ...
ReplyDeleteI have done this for years. The rustoleum brand is perfect and well worth it......I will soon door ceiling fans and chandeliers ...
ReplyDeleteI actually used this on a fireplace surround---it was a weird cross between a bronze and a brass and kind of a greenish tint that I didn't really like. We're going to upgrade to a wood-burning stove eventually and the fireplace is damaged and won't ever be used for a real fire (we have an electric log set in there) so I just went ahead and spray painted it. Looks magnifique!!!
ReplyDeleteDid u have to take off the old finish first or just paint right over it?
ReplyDeleteIf you're worried about chipping or flaking off, I brush on Polycrylic by Minwax. It's clear and water based for easy cleanup. I only had to use it on my faucets and shower door. But it definitely protects the paint and really easy to apply with a small foam brush.
ReplyDeleteFINALLY! A response about using it on faucets! Thank you SO much!
DeleteIf you get a small chip in the paint, fill it in with a Sharpee pen in a matching color. Works like a charm.
ReplyDeleteI used Hammered Nickel spray paint to update the hardware on my kitchen cabinets in our old house. Worked very well!
ReplyDeleteNice!.I was wondering about other colors. Seems like the oil rubbed bronze is already getting a little dated looking, but the brushed (or hammered ) nickel might stay current a little longer.
DeleteI love this idea....but all of our trim and doors are a lighter oak color. Does anybody know if the darker knobs, handles, etc. would look okay with a lighter colored trim?
ReplyDeleteI just used the oil rubbed bronze on a couple inexpensive brass light fixtures that I was trying desperately to replace. Replacements were too cheap looking or incredibly expensive, they don't get touched much and I thought painting them was a good idea, actually it was a wonderful idea. I am more than happy.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone tried this in a silver color on gold door knobs was wanting to try but didn't know if there was a silver color
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking about painting my door knobs. Do I have to sand them first? They have the gold color just as it looks in the picture from pinterest... Thank you
ReplyDeleteI just painted my old 90's brassily light fixtures with ORB spray paint last weekend. What a difference! I actually found the exact chandeliers online in ORB for over $200. My cost: $10 in paint. Love it!!
ReplyDeleteI have mostly brushed nickel now in the updated parts of the house but I still have gold doorknobs...do you think it would clash to do oil rubbed bronze on the doors and hinges or should I try a brushed nickel spray? Thoughts?
ReplyDeleteCamille, I think it would look great to do the combo! I did nickel on the wet bar in my basement and ORB on all door knobs and hinges.
ReplyDeleteI'm from Mexico and I would like to know if I can use another product similar istead of the Oil-Rubbed Bronze. I'm pretty sure I won't find it. Actually I'm not sure if is paint, oil, a type of color paint. Thanks...the result was great!.
ReplyDeleteHi Adriana,
ReplyDeleteIt is a type of color spray paint. Could you buy it online? I know sites such as Amazon.com sell it. To do a similar effect you could brush on black paint and then use a copper/bronze color on top of the black and kind of rub it on. But spraying is easier and takes less time.
Just finished painting my first door knob and I love it! Did you put any sealer on after the spray paint?
ReplyDeleteDoes this work on wood? Have a medicine cabinet I would like to change the frame.
ReplyDeleteOn the chandlers does it need a water bAse top coat? Very interested need some advise for light fixtures
ReplyDeleteWe are working on doing all of our (24) doors right now. Rather than take down the whole door or try to paint the hinges with a brush we tried to do all of the top hinges at once then put them back before moving on to the middle etc.
ReplyDeleteHi I am a profesional painter and I been doing this for years using a variety of brands and metallics. Paint will always stick better to a surface that you have scuffed up a bit - I have found that a green scotch bright pad or steel wool works great. The more human contact the more important it is to do a bit of prep work. When doing a light fixture I just start spraying (no prep), but if I am doing a faucet or door knob I alway give it a quick scuffing to help with the addehesion and durability.
ReplyDeleteAs far as doing a finale clear coat - it is not necessary or preferable. You should never put a water base clear coat on top of an oil or enamel based paint. Clear coating will usually start to scratch or chip before the paint actually will.
You also do not want to use spray paint in an enclosed room. Spray paint produces a lot of airborn over spray that will get on everything in the room.
I painted all of the gold light fixtures in our house that wasn't selling, "looked outdated" according to buyers and our real estate agent thought we purchased new custom lighting fixtures. House sold 2 weeks later!
ReplyDeleteMy cabinet knobs are REAL oil rubbed bronze. The ones used most have had the "oil" rubbed off down to the brassy bronze. Will this match the original finish?
ReplyDeleteI have medium Brown wood trim all thru the house. Do you think the bronze would look ok or could I spray paint them the nickel color? Thoughts?
ReplyDeleteI had oil rubbed bronze fixtures in the shower and they needed to be done after getting ruined by bleach. I took them off, cleaned them well and then sprayed. They have lasted for over a year now in the shower.
ReplyDeleteBeen wondering about doing my faucets for over a year now. You gave me what I needed to hear! Thanks for posting!
DeleteWe used brushed nickel spray paint on our bathroom door hinges and knobs over a year ago and they still look fantastic. We are going to do our whole house, it's amazing.
ReplyDeleteWhat brand of brushed nickel did you buy and where did you buy it?
DeleteAll I could find was the metallic oil rubbed bronze...does it look nice or too shiny?
ReplyDeleteI did this two days ago. My kitchen has 40 knobs and I still have paint in the can! I love it!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat info! Thanks! I saw this pic on pinterest and want to do my fireplace frame (currently brass). I plan to tape and paper it off like another commenter mentioned.
ReplyDeleteDid you have to sand the metal before applying the primer?
ReplyDeleteI used this technique when we were refinishing our kitchen cabinets and it turned out great! I sprayed the handles and hinges on the cabinets and saved hundreds and they are not chipping or scratching. I used a clear coat spray over the top.
ReplyDeletei did this on a bunch of brass pieces.
ReplyDeleteMailbox, wall sconce, door knocker and next will be the door knobs. The finish is awesome, great product!! They look better than new!! thank you for sharing this!