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Home » DIY & Crafts » Home Decor » Budget-Friendly Blue and Brass Spray Painted Office Supplies

Budget-Friendly Blue and Brass Spray Painted Office Supplies

March 24, 2021 By Amy Leave a Comment

24 Mar

Updating your office? Don’t buy all new. Learn how to spray-paint office supplies that you would otherwise toss or give away.

As we are doing the office-guest bedroom makeover, I needed to tackle the desk area without spending too much.

What I had?

mail sorters

A collection of office supplies and such that are mix-matched, and a little beat up.

My inspiration piece?

dark blue and brass globe

This pretty dark blue and antique brass globe I picked up at Target. I’ve always wanted an atlas in my office, and since my color scheme includes dark blue, I thought this one was perfect.

How I was going to bring this all together?

mail files, spray paint

2 cans of spray paint. One in Rustoleum Antique Brass, the other in a Rustoleum Chalked Coastal Blue. 

How did it turn out?

Antique Brass and Coastal Blue Spray Painted Decor

The blue and brass combination turned out to look better than I expected. I’m really excited to have what looks like a matching set of office supplies without having to buy a bunch of new stuff.

Related: How to spray paint scissors, staplers and pens

Here’s a quick tutorial. This was such an easy project. Cleaning and lightly sanding the items worked really well to prep for the spray paint.

Blue and brass spray painted office supplies

How to save money on your office makeover by spray painting your almost tossed office supplies.

Supplies required

  • Spray paint
  • Clearcoat for paint
  • Blue painters tape
  • Tsp substitute cleaner
  • 220 grit sandpaper
  • Paper towels
  • Painting tarp
  • Cardboard (optional but helpful)

Plus, outdoor weather between 60 – 80 degrees f

  1. Clean the office supply items done really well with a tsp substitute (or degreaser) and damp paper towels.

2. Gently sand down the items with fine-grit sandpaper, such as a 220 grit or higher. Wipe down with damp paper towels afterward. This step will give the paint a surface to stick to.

Spray painted items on cardboard

3. Lay a paint tarp down on a flat surface, preferably outside. Next lay down some cardboard pieces. This will help stabilize the items and make it easier to paint them.

4. Shake the spray paint, then apply several light coats giving at least 10 minutes drying time in between. Apply up to 3 coats for full coverage.

5. Allow the items to dry overnight.

rustoleum-chalked-matte-clear-coat

6. Follow that up by applying a clear coat, such as Rustoleum Chalked Matte Clearcoat, because I didn’t have my favorite clearcoat on hand. This step can be done inside.

Coastal Blue and Antique Brass Spray Painted Office Items
Blue and Antique Brass Spray Paint Office Supplies

So what a change-up between what I started with and what I have now. The office supplies and other trinkets look almost new, and perhaps what’s even better is they are kind of unique.

Your turn. What have you salvaged with spray paint lately?

How to spray paint office supplies

If you like this project, you might also like these, too!

  • DIY Wood Crate Portable Office Organizer
  • $100 Office-Guest Bedroom Makeover
  • How To Spray Paint A Light Fixture To Stay Within Budget
  • Chalkboard Painted Baskets
  • How to Paint Stairs and Walk-Up Them When You’re Done!

Filed Under: Home Decor Tagged With: Spray Paint

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Hey! We’re Ken and Amy and we’re here to help you inexpensively turn your home into a cozier living space one DIY project at a time. Read more

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