Petticoat Junktion

DIY, Painted Furniture, Crafts, Tutorials, Painting Tips, Before and After

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How To Paint A Metal Locker

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Ombre Painted Metal Locker

This is a project that I’ve been putting off for over a year. I don’t know why. The ombre painted metal locker is so pretty and the paint process was much easier than I expected. There was the inside and the outside and a bunch of shelves…..a lot of square footage there.

Ombre Painted Metal Locker

Ombre Painted Metal Locker Project

I told you the locker was pretty  now. How do you like the ombre paint job. Ombre is the transition of paint from darker to lighter using colors in the same color family.

metal locker paint project Petticoat Junktion

I bought the metal locker at a local thrift/flea market shop. I think I paid $30 for it but maybe a little less. The locker had been painted at least once. The color is what I call yucky brown.

metal locker project Petticoat Junktion

The locker was full of shelves. The metal parts were rusty and crusty and there were shelves made of MDF that were not original to the locker.I  cleaned the locker using the shop vac and Simple Green. I didn’t remove all the rust and crust. I’m just going to paint over it.

Can you imagine trying to paint all of those shelves and bottom sides of the shelves and all those corners with a paint brush. I can and it’s not something I want to do.

Homeright Finish Max Pro Petticoat Junktion

I have this handy dandy paint sprayer from HomeRight. It’s the HomeRight Finish Max Pro Fine Finish Sprayer and it can be used for any home paint projects. Using a paint sprayer is the only way to go for projects like this locker.

Homeright Finish Max Pro project Petticoat Junktion

The process is easy. Just fill the paint container with paint (may need to thin it with water), hook the hose to the paint gun and base, plug it in and go to town.

I’m sorry there are not more photos of me painting the locker. The only photo of the process was taken by the JTS. He happened to be around for a bit and snapped a shot.

It’s hard to take photos and use the paint sprayer at the same time. It’s too much trouble to set up the camera and tripod. My neighbors already think I’m nuts. They would really get a kick out of the camera on the tripod clicking away taking photos of me in my element.

I used the Finish Max paint sprayer to apply sealer. This is great because I hat brushing on sealer, always have brush marks. See the project here…Apply Clear Sealer With A Paint Sprayer.

This is how the applied the paint with the paint sprayer to get the ombre look……I applied one coat of gray primer (my favorite Glidden Gripper) then one coat of white paint. Next I mixed a little blue paint in with the white paint and sprayed the lower two thirds of the locker.

At this point the upper third or so of the locker was white paint and the bottom two thirds of the locker was medium blue. Now to apply the final color to the bottom one third of the locker. I mixed more blue paint with the medium blue paint to make a darker blue. Then I sprayed the bottom one third kind of willy nilly.

I only applied one coat of each color. Each coat took about 10 minutes to spray on…inside and out…so easy! I’m thinking about all the bright colors and fun designs I could make……maybe another locker one of these days. Have to find one first.

Ombre Painted Metal Locker Petticoat Junktion

The locker was dark and drab and I wanted it to look light and airy so I gave it a sky/cloud affect. The JTS put casters on the locker right after I brought it home….don’t know where those pics are!metal locker paint project Petticoat Junktion using Homeright finish max

It’s fun to do something unique and outside of the box every once in a while. I’m loving the look. What do you guys think. Leave me a note. Don’t forget to bookmark or pin this post for later reference. Thanks for being here and have a great day, Kathy

The fine finish sprayer is no longer available. I use the HomeRight Finish Max for my projects now. You can find it on the Petticoat Junktion Amazon Page here.

This post first appeared on Petticoat Junktion in 2014. I’ve updated it with new info and wanted all my friends who missed it the first time to see the tutorial. Thank you 

Comments

  3. I’m not sure about the ombré look… When the locker is closed, it looks OK, but when open, it doesn’t have the same quality. It looks a bit unfinished, i’m afraid. But if you love it, who cares?

  5. Love the ombre look and the color! I can tell the sprayer is just what I need for future projects. Thanks for all the info, Kathy.

  8. What’s the difference between using this type of sprayer vs a can of spray paint? Ohhh……maybe one thing could be the amount of colors that would be available? If so….what else??

    • Hey Barb, There is a world of difference in using a paint sprayer and a can of spray paint. The paint sprayer sprays a larger paint stream and a more even stream of paint than a can of paint. YOu can adjust the amount of paint coming out of the sprayer also. I much prefer the paint sprayer over a can of spray paint.

  9. The locker looks great-really like the way you painted it.The pumpkin on the lamp looks really neat. I also the pumpkin with the stars on it.

  16. I’m not sure about the ombré look… When the locker is closed, it looks OK, but when open, it doesn’t have the same quality. It looks a bit unfinished, i’m afraid. But if you love it, who cares?

  22. Love the locker.
    How easy is the sprayer to clean up? I want a sprayer but want one that is fairly easy to care for.

  23. What a great storage unit! I have an addiction with metal lockers and other metal cabinetry. I’m in the process of transforming my plastic bins into industrial chic craft storage. I also painted a metal locker, one of my favorite flea market finds. Hope you’ll come visit and take a peek. Sure wish I had a home right paint sprayer–would’ve made spraying a lot easier.

    Doreen
    bit.ly/1nRKohv

  24. looks cool kathy everyone raves about their homeright paint sprayer wish i has one..also wish i had that locker so i could organize our carport, hope jts is still improving xx

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