How to Spray Paint Bathroom Fixtures
This easy DIY tutorial on how to spray paint bathroom fixtures is the perfect way to upgrade your shower hardware without worrying about annoying plumbing issues.
Sometimes I take spontaneity in marriage a little too far. When Robert comes home from work every day, he never knows what he’s about to walk into.
One day I might greet him at the door grinning ear to ear, excited to show him our newly painted bathroom cabinets.
And then every now and then, he might find me falling to pieces on the floor, borderline sobbing as I try to rescue myself from some fiasco I’ve created. (Dear dining room chairs, I may never strip varnish again for as long as I live.)
Nowadays, no matter what spontaneous whim I surprise him with, he’s ready to jump up and down in celebration too or willing to drive to the nearest grocery store for a comforting pint of Chunky Monkey ice cream.
Thankfully, this time around, it was the jumping-up-and-down-grinning-ear-to-ear kind.
Our hallway bathroom makeover is officially finished and you’ll be seeing the full reveal this week!
UPDATE: See the bathroom makeover reveal here!
But the finishing touch was spray painting the shower fixtures. They turned out beautifully! And I didn’t have to bust out the plumbing tools to do it. (Like I’d actually now how to do that. Baha!)
Turns out, I wouldn’t have been able to remove the faucets without hiring a professional plumber anyway because this particular shower has no access panel, and I wouldn’t feel comfortable doing that myself.
Related: The Best Gold Spray Paints: Ranked
How to Spray Paint Faucets and Shower Fixtures
Supplies
- Coarse grit sandpaper
- Painter’s tape (I like this kind the best.)
- Plastic drop cloth
- Automobile spray primer (I’m a Rustoleum fan all the way.)
- Rustoleum Universal Oil Rubbed Bronze spray paint (I use this stuff on everything.)
- High gloss lacquer spray
- Respirator mask
- Safety glasses
- Razor blade or utility knife
Total cost: Approximately $35 for nonreusable materials
I did plenty of research beforehand for how to go about spray painting our fixtures to make them durable and after reading up on this tutorial from eHow and this durability post from DIY ShowOff, I thought I’d give it a go.
Here’s what we were working with before:
There was nothing wrong with them at all, but since we installed our pretty bronze faucet, the chrome had to go. And I was not about to spend a couple hundred dollars for a simple color change.
But my plumbing skills are severely lacking and I didn’t feel confident enough to fully remove them.
Related: DIY Painted Bathroom Sink, Shower, Tub, and Countertop
Steps
We didn’t use this shower for at least 48 hours to be sure there would be no moisture to cause any problems.
Step 1 – Tape Around Fixtures
I taped off all of the fixtures first (and it’s not easy taping in a circle). I realized I probably should have sanded the fixtures first, but I got a little eager here.
Step 2 – Sand Surface
I gave all of the chrome a thorough sanding with the coarse grit paper and wiped away any residual dust.
Step 3 – Protect Work Area
Then, I turned our bathroom into a total crime scene / quarantine zone.
I learned my lesson from spray painting our shower door in our primary bathroom and was extra careful this time around to make sure every piece of plastic drop cloth was completely taped down.
(This is the part where Robert came home and walked in with that sly “what are you up to” look in his eye. Truly, he loves this stuff as much as I do.)
Step 4 – Prime
I gave the fixtures two light coats of the automobile primer after all of the sanding, taping, and dropclothing (totally a word).
I made sure to keep the spray can about a foot away from the fixtures and kept my hand moving in a sweeping motion to avoid any splotches or drips.
I like to err on the side of caution with several light coats as opposed to one or two heavy coats to keep the finish even and smooth.
Step 5 – Paint in Light Even Coats
About an hour later, once the primer was dry, I gave everything three light coats of the oil rubbed bronze spray paint.
Step 6 – Seal With Spray Lacquer
After the final coat of paint had fully dried, I finished with two light, even coats of high gloss lacquer.
The whole project required a lot of waiting time as each coat dried, but it was worth it.
Step 7 – Score Tape Edges
Before peeling up ANY tape, I scored all of the edges with a razor blade. (Another hard lesson from painting our shower doors. Live and learn.)
Step 8 – Carefully Remove Tape
After the tape was scored away from the fixtures, I peeled it up very slowly so none of the paint would come with it. I’m so happy with how it all turned out!
Step 9 – Let Cure
After the paint has cured for a full 24 hours, give the whole tub a scrub down to get rid of any of that spray paint dust.
I changed out the shower curtain rod to match too.
How Well Spray Painted Fixtures Last
It has been SIX years since I spray painted these shower fixtures!
We moved out of this house a year and a half later, and the finish looked just as perfect as the day I painted them. The new homeowners have reported to me that they’re still holding up very well.
How to Clean Painted Shower Fixtures
As long as you don’t scrub the painted surface with anything abrasive, they should last for a while! Just use a soft, microfiber cleaning cloth and all-purpose cleaning spray.
Related: Whole House Deep Cleaning Checklist Printable
UPDATE: We loved how these spray painted fixtures turned out so well that we used this method again on shower fixtures and a tub faucet in this budget-friendly DIY bathroom makeover a couple of years later.
And uh…ahem. Do you see a little glimpse of those rustic shelves there? Eep! I promise I’ll stop teasing y’all.
Robert and I are having a celebratory booty shaking, Ben & Jerry-eating dance party about it over here. And I pinky promise a break from the home improvement surprises for a while…meaning like a week.
Have you ever spray painted bathroom fixtures before? Or surprised your spouse with an amazing home improvement project? …Or one gone wrong? Whoops.
More Simple DIY Bathroom Ideas
How to Install Sheet Vinyl Flooring Over Old Tile
DIY Painted Bathroom Sink, Shower, Tub, and Countertop
Simple Spa Bathroom Ideas to Create Luxury for Less at Home
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do spray painted faucets last?
What’s the best brass spray paint to use?
Can I spray paint bathroom hardware?
Can I paint my tub and shower?
Had a client do this to sell her home 3 years ago. It peels off. She even used car primer before spraying. The buyer called the seller a few Months after complaining. Do not spray paint your fixtures. I am a REALTOR and trust me you are not adding tangible value. If anything you are devaluing your properties by doing this to your fixtures, door knobs hinges, etc. Chrome is back in style!
Bummer! We actually painted our shower door over 8 months ago and it’s still holding up really well. I’ve known a couple other people who used the same process I did and theirs didn’t chip even after 3-4 years. Maybe it was a different paint she used or she didn’t sand/shellac or they were scrubbed heavily? We would have changed the fixtures in here anyway if the spray paint didn’t work, so if it ever becomes a problem, we’ll get the real deal. I’ll have to do a follow-up post maybe in a year to check in with how it’s doing.
How’d it do after a couple years?
1. When someone does a project like this for a house they still live in, it’s not really your business as a REALTOR. Maybe she’s planning to change out the fixtures if she decides to sell the house later. You don’t know. But for now, it’s about loving the home you live in, not about pleasing hypothetical people who might buy your home one day maybe.
2. How did the buyer even get the seller’s information? I don’t have ANY information for my previous owner. It’d be nice to contact her because she stupidly didn’t change her address and I’m getting mail for her 2 years later (including traffic citations and jury summons!). My realtor was unable to help me.
We have all the information for our seller, and the one before that. The buyers from our two properties have our information. My parents are in contact with the people who bought their house… and my brother called the people he bought his house from right after they moved in. Your Realtor would be able to contact the seller’s Realtor, but you would have information of their address and likely their phone number in the bill of sale and maybe the contract from when you bought the property. My experiences cover Connecticut, New York, Wisconsin, and Illinois, so your state may have different rules.
Yes! I spray painted our tarnished gold shower door. It was one of the most tedious DIY projects and to this day, the smell of spray paint reminds me of it. I’m glad I did it because it looks way better but never want to do it again. The prep work is such a pain! Looking forward to seeing more of those shelves!
You are so inspiring!!! I did spray the CHEAPO aluminum tp holder and it looks great. I did our huge 34?36″ towel bar which my hubby changed out the rod for a durable metal piece so it had to be sprayed. Oh I just cringe. I should make it match. We put all new door handles in throughout the house. Maybe I’m a bit inspired???!!!! I love whatever you do!!:)
Aw thank you, Gwen! Spray paint is amazing stuff. The one teeny thing that bugs me in our house is our doorknobs are brushed nickel amidst all of the oil rubbed bronze lighting and fixtures. Just ignore it and maybe it’ll go away. Haha 😉
It doesn’t look like you have a window in the bathroom. How long did it take to get the spray paint smell out of the room?
Yeah that was rough. Thank goodness for respirator masks. I kept the door wide open the entire time, kept the bathroom fan on, and opened windows throughout our house. The smell was completely gone in a day though.
What is the name of the contraption you have on top of the spray can. I’m guessing that it helps give a nice even spray?
Oh I should have added that! It’s called a Rustoleum Comfort Grip and it keeps your hand from cramping and makes the spray really even. Here’s a link to it: http://amzn.to/1LMueiH
What kind of respirator mask would you suggest? I am totally new to this day stuff.
This is the respirator mask I’ve used: https://amzn.to/2QhdZkl
Hi!
I realise I’m a little late to the party! I want to paint my shower fixtures a brass colour, which is how I stumbled upon your cool video, but I’m a big confused. You talk about brass spray paint but its black in the photo. Did I miss something?
I can see how that could be confusing. They are brass fixtures. I painted them black.
Hi! Can you tell me how this has held up for you?
Hi Nancy! We moved out of this house nearly 4 years ago, but it was still holding up perfectly when we moved, and it’s still holding up great according to the new homeowners as well.