Paint on Plastic
Giving an old piece of plastic furniture or a figurine a new twist with a bit of paint is a great way to add style to your home, while saving money. Although the process does require a bit of work, painting plastic can easily be done with the right supplies and a little time.
Contents
Steps
Preparing to Paint
- Determine if your object can be painted. Although the majority of plastic and laminate items can be painted, there are a few that cannot. Items such as furniture, figurines, toys, containers, and décor items are generally all able to be painted. If you’re working in a home, you can paint plastic walls (in a bathroom or kitchen), cabinets, and backsplashes. You cannot paint plastic/laminate floors, bathtubs/shower stalls, or counters.
- Keep in mind that if you paint something that gets a lot of use - such as a piece of furniture - it may require more coats of paint/more time in order to prepare it for years of use.
- You can paint over items that are brand new or many years old, so long as they can be sanded down.
- Find a paint that works for plastic. Not all paints will work on plastic items; if you choose the wrong paint, it will simply peel or smear off, even after drying. Head to the store or search online for specialty plastic paint. This is often available in both spray-paint and liquid (brush-on) paint, although the former tends to be easier to apply.
- You may want to consider getting a sealer to protect your paint and add a bit of shine to the top coat.
- Plastic does not need a primer coat before painting.
- Get your supplies ready. Other than your object and your paint, you’ll need a few other associated painting supplies. You’ll likely need a drop cloth or tarp (newspaper works, if you’re painting something small), 180 grit sandpaper, a sander (for large pieces of furniture), soap and water, a sponge or brush for cleaning, mineral spirits or rubbing alcohol, and painters tape, if you don’t want to paint the entire object.
- If you’re painting in an area that is not well ventilated, you’ll need to have a face mask.
- It’s not required, but you may want to dress in old clothes and wear plastic gloves while you paint, to avoid staining your skin or clothing.
Painting Your Object
- Clean off your object. Just like anything else, if your plastic item is dirty or dusty, the paint won’t be able to stick to it. Further, dust/grime/mold can become trapped under the paint, giving it an unappealing bumpy appearance. Use warm soapy water with your sponge/brush to clean your item thoroughly. If there is any mold or mildew present on your object, you will need to use cool bleach water to kill it off.
- Make sure your item has dried completely before moving onto the next step.
- Wipe down the plastic with the mineral spirits. Mineral spirits (or rubbing alcohol) should be poured on a clean cloth and wiped over the entire surface of the plastic. This will help to break down the old layer of paint/sealer, and remove any oils that might be on the plastic. When you’ve rubbed down all the plastic with the mineral spirits, rinse it off with water and make sure it is totally dry.
- Sand the plastic. Using your sandpaper or your sander, go about scrubbing down the top layer of plastic. Paint will have a difficult time sticking to plastic because it is non-porous, so by sanding it you’ll be providing some texture for the paint to stick to. The idea is to remove any gloss or shine that the plastic gives off, to leave it looking dull and matte.
- Using a fine sandpaper (such as 180 grit) won’t cause the surface to feel rough. It will only rub off enough to give the paint something to stick to.
- Use a cloth or brush to wipe off the plastic when you’re finished sanding.
- Tape off the plastic (optional). If you don’t want to paint the entire object, you can choose to tape some of it off. Use regular painters tape to mark off the sections you don’t want to be painted; the tape should be removed when you’re completely done painting while the paint is still wet.
- Begin painting. If you’re using a can of paint with a brush, simply brush on the paint over the whole object. If you’re using spray paint, hold the can of paint above the object and spray in wide movements from left to right. Lift your finger off the nozzle at the end of each sweep, to provide a more even coat of paint and to prevent drips.
- Shake the spray paint can well before use, for 1-2 minutes.
- Allow each individual coat of paint to dry before adding additional coats.
- Depending on the paint you’re using, you may have to add 2+ coats of paint to finish.
- Add your sealer. If you choose to add a clear glossy sealant to the top of your plastic, you should do so once all your coats of paint are dry. Use the same directions as aforementioned in applying the paint to apply the sealer.
- Finish your project. Wait 24-36 hours for the paint and sealer to cure completely, and you’re finished! Remove any tape that you might have applied, and make any necessary touch-ups. Your plastic object is now ready for use, and can be placed safely inside or outside.
Tips
- It may be possible to spray paint your plastic item with the plastic spray paint used as a primer, and then use regular exterior acrylic latex paint as a top coat. This would give you a bigger selection of colors. The plastic spray paint would allow the other paint to adhere to the surface of the plastic.
Warnings
- Always work in a well-ventilated area to avoid inhaling toxic fumes from the paint, sealer, or mineral spirits.
Things You'll Need
- Spray paint for plastic
- Painter's tape
- Newspaper
- Fine sandpaper
- Soap and water
- Mineral Spirits
- Sealer
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- Paint Laminate Furniture
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