It's easy to paint an ugly metal birdhouse white and give it a new life. That's what I did and the quick paint project just goes to show you shouldn't get rid of outdated home decor and you might not want to pass up what might be a good thing at the thrift store just because it looks yucky.
Take this birdhouse for instance. Isn't it fresh and clean looking and I bet it makes you smile....it sure makes me smile. But the birdhouse didn't always look this way.
When I won this birdhouse at a local auction I knew I would paint it. The house is metal and a little industrial looking. The dark color was too depressing for me.
The first thing I did was cover up the rustic wood perch with painters tape. The wood would look just right against a white background.
The paint I used is FolkArt Coastal Texture, color Sea Salt. I think this paint has been discontinued but I still had some on my paint shelf. It's always good to use what I have on hand. Budget thinking.
I brushed two coats of paint on the birdhouse and then dry-brushed the metal roof with the same paint. I first dry brushed the paint from side to side over the roof.
Next I dry brushed the paint up and down from the roof peak to the bottom edge of the roof. I try to make the dry brushed finish perfectly imperfect but sometimes I get a little crazy and go overboard.
You might notice toward the center of the roof the paint is a little curvy toward the peak and a bit heavy between two of the ridges.
The paint didn't look too bad but I noticed it and my eye kept going there. I immediately took a damp rag and wiped the paint off that area. Then I tried to dry brush it again...it took a few tries to get it to look just right.
Once the painting was all done I removed the painters tape from the wood perch.
Now you guys know the paint needed sanding. Can't have a project like this and not distress the details. I first distressed the raised areas around the entrance holes.
Then I distressed the corners of the birdhouse and the iron band running around the middle of the birdhouse.
But.....it didn't look right without a bit of sanding on the house siding. Then done. Don't you think the perfectly imperfect paint finish looks natural?
I put a bit of straw from a real bird nest in each condo (there being 8 condos, hahaha). I don't have to worry about the little bird flying away either.
The backdrop for the photo is our bridal wreath bush. The bush is full of pretty blooms. I hope the freezing weather we're having this week doesn't kill the blooms.
Oh, I also distressed the little perch pins on the lower level of the bird condo. Maybe the birdhouse looks a little more like wood now. Not the roof of course but the frame.
I want the JTS and I to start making wood birdhouses. Adding some of my junk hardware to the houses would make them unique. I'm adding making birdhouses to our to-do list, lol.
I'm trying to find a place in the house for the birdhouse. I would like to keep it since the makeover was a success.
paint an ugly metal birdhouse
What do you think of the birdhouse? Do you like the new look better or do you prefer the more rustic darker look? Leave a note if you have time. As always, thanks for being here, Kathy
Author:Â Kathy Owen (Petticoat Junktion)
Kathy is the founder of PetticoatJunktion.com, a home décor blog focused on repurposing and upcycling furniture, old hardware, rusty stuff, and thrifty finds into unique home décor. Kathy’s projects have been featured on the Home Depot Blog, Plaid Crafts, Behr Designer Series, and in numerous magazines. Read more about Kathy here.
Cecilia from Georgia
I don't know if this is a new post or from the archives but I would love to have some tutorials on making bird houses from scraps. Love the transformation you made on this one!
Anita Kackle
Love it! Thanks for the great tutorial with details and helpful hints.
Marie
Gosh, I love this birdhouse makeover, Kathy! I have a lot of birdhouses in my backyard and inside the house. What can I say, some collect shoes, I collect birdhouses. I would love one like this in our yard. Pinned
Lisa
Love the birdhouse painted white and distressed. My fave color! Makes the birdhouse stand out?
Kathy Owen
Thanks Lisa
ROSE LEFEBVRE
Cute. Hope you get some visiting birds who will call it home for a while!
Kathy Owen
I think I'll take it to my Dad.
Cindy@CountyRoad407
I absolutely love this and thanks for showing me how! I want to do this to a chicken feeder/home. At least I think that's what's called? Hmmm. Anyway, super cute! Pinned.
Kathy Owen
Thanks Cindy!
Rita
I think this is a Purple Martin birdhouse. Love what you did to it. Will be patiently waiting for your diy wood birdhouses
Kathy Owen
You may have to be very patient with the birdhouse venture, lol. I think it is a purple martin house
Lori
Love these birdhouse and look forward to your next one.
Kathy Owen
Thanks Lori
Colette Rodriguez
That beautiful birdhouse is big enough for a whole community! Nice job.
Kathy Owen
Yes it is!
gwen
Hi Kathy! Truthfully, I liked the metal birdhouse before, but I must admit, I like it a lot more PAINTED, especially the roof! Thanks for sharing!
Kathy Owen
Thank you! I like the roof too.
Stormee Heyd
This was a GREAT makeover!!!! Very well done. Can't wait to see what you and the JTS do with the birdhouses you make. I can imagine townhouses, victorian and plantation houses just to name a few styles. Keep up the good work.
Kathy Owen
Ha! I don't think we will get very fancy!
JoAnn
Looks great - love the distressed look!
Kathy Owen
Thank you JoAnn
Bev
It is perfect! My mother in law has a similar one laying way under her front porch. I will show her this and see if she'll let me redo it now that she has a visual. Thanks!!
Kathy Owen
Yay! Hope you get to redo it.
Cheryl Atkinson
Hi Kathy! That is the nearest birdhouse I have ever seen and you brought it back to life. The birds will love it. Lol
Kathy Owen
Thank you Cheryl
Deborah
I love how you did it, it perfect!
Kathy Owen
Thanks Deborah