How to paint a refrigerator at home?

What paint to paint?

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

• Make the surface of the refrigerator smooth and uniform, simply by updating it.
• Change the appearance from the outside so that the equipment is in harmony with the decoration.
• Turn an old refrigerator into a designer piece of furniture.

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

The choice of paint composition depends on the chosen task. There are 4 main options that have good adhesion to smooth surfaces.

1. Car enamel. Sold in aerosol cans, applied without 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 compositions are usually applied in 2-3 steps. It adheres to the surface no worse than a car paint, but the application process itself is quite labor-intensive – so if you want to paint a refrigerator at home, epoxy is not suitable.
3. Acrylic enamel. Has low adhesion to smooth non-porous surfaces, but by choosing the right primer you will get a budget, durable coating. Another advantage of acrylic is a wide color palette, you can easily tint the paint in any desired shade yourself or in the store.
4. Chalk paint. From the name it is clear that the composition contains chalk or marble chips. The coating lays down perfectly even without a primer, creating a slightly rough matte surface.

The photo shows a refrigerator painted with chalkboard paint

Recommendations for preparation

Regardless of which paint and varnish material you choose, you should carefully prepare the refrigerator before painting it. This stage includes:

1. Washing. Use dishwashing detergent – it removes plaque, grease, old stains. If this is not enough, try cleaning with chlorine or an abrasive powder.
2. Rinsing. Detergents form a film on the surface, which should be washed off with clean water. To secure the result, wipe dry immediately.
3. Sanding. Fine sandpaper will increase the adhesion of the metal to the paint. A 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! Only the front and sides are cleaned and painted.

Painting methods

There are several methods: from a classic single-color coating to the depiction of motifs or even plots.

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

To apply the pattern, use spray paint, permanent markers, stained glass compounds or glass paints.

The photo shows painting to look like a cabinet

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

In the photo, pink equipment in interior

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

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

The photo shows classic decoupage

How to paint it yourself?

Remaking a unit at home is a labor-intensive, but doable task. To make it easier, carefully approach the preparation process.

Check out a selection of ways to eliminate the smell of paint.

Tools and materials

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

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

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

Step-by-step instructions

First of all, prepare the surface of the refrigerator: all the steps were described in the section “Recommendations for preparation”. It should be washed, degreased, sanded and putty rusty areas or chips. Do not forget to remove the handle so that it does not interfere with the work.

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

To paint a refrigerator, 3 steps are required:

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

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

Apply the enamel in thin layers to avoid drips. After each layer, the direction should be changed: from left to right or from top to bottom.

Video guide

If you have any doubts about any of the steps, watch the video instruction on how to paint a refrigerator yourself.

The first option is to restore a Soviet ZIL model using metal paint:

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

Ideas for inspiration

One of the frequently used options for remodeling is chalk paint. It comes in black, green, and blue. The main advantage is that the coating is suitable for drawing with crayons: you can write a shopping list, recipes, or make notes.

The second option is moldings. In addition to painting, figured volumetric slats are glued to the surface, which give ordinary equipment a classic, even elegant touch.

Another example is mimicry. The refrigerator is disguised as a telephone booth, a Tardis or another similarly shaped tall object. Often this is done with the help of stickers, but making a masterpiece yourself is much more interesting.