Painting a refrigerator, just like painting the cabinets, is one of the most straightforward ways to update the look of your kitchen. To do it in the right way, you should understand several key factors: what type is the existing surface you want to paint? and what are the paint options on the market that are available to paint a fridge? Let’s dive into it.
Can You Paint the Refrigerator?
Yes, you can paint the refrigerator. However, it’s important to understand two key factors: what is the existing material or exterior paint, and what options do you have to repaint it?
It is important to use paint that is specifically designed for use on appliances. Do not use regular wall paint on appliances, as it is not designed to withstand the heat and wear and tear that appliances are subjected to.
- Acrylic paint: This is a popular choice for repainting appliances because it is durable and dries quickly. It is also easy to clean and resists chipping.
- Enamel paint: This type of paint is also very durable and resistant to chipping. It is a good choice for repainting appliances because it dries to a hard, glossy finish that is easy to clean.
- Epoxy paint: This is a very durable paint that is resistant to heat, chemicals, and wear and tear. It is a good choice for repainting appliances that will be subjected to a lot of use, such as ovens and stoves.
- Chalk paint: This type of paint has a matte finish and is easy to distress, making it a popular choice for giving appliances a vintage or shabby chic look. It is not as durable as other types of paint, so it may not be the best choice for appliances that will be subjected to a lot of wear and tear. We will not discuss it in this post.
What Paint Do You Use On A Refrigerator?
There are a few different types of paint that you can use to repaint a refrigerator, including acrylic paint, enamel paint, and epoxy paint. Don’t get regular wall paint, as most of them are latex-based that dries soft and velvety. This might be OK for walls, but for a fridge, you need something that dries hard and is scratch resistant.
Enamel Paints for appliances
Enamel paint is also a good choice because it is durable and resistant to chipping. It dries to a hard, glossy finish that is easy to clean. Unlike Epoxy paint, which is typically available in traditional colors like black, white, bisque, and stainless steel, enamel paint comes in a wider range of shades and hues.
Enamel paints come into two main categories: water-based and oil-based. For indoor spaces that are not very well-ventilated, you want to avoid oil-based enamel paints. Oil-based enamels are extremely high in VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds ) – up to 350gms/L – which is why they are so smelly and are a major source of environmental air pollution.
Another reason why you are better off avoiding oil-based paints is that any oil-based paint is going to patina over time and yellow out.
For indoor DIY projects, such as painting a fridge, it’s better to go for water-based enamel paints. However, if your fridge was painted with oil-based paint, you can’t paint it with water-based paint above it.
In that kind of situation, you can put an oil-based primer on top of the old oil-based paint layer, and only after that, you can repaint it with water-based paint.
Generally speaking, the following rules apply: you can’t put water-based enamel on top of oil-based paint. However, you can put oil-based paint on top of the water or oil-based existing layer. Having said that, you can put water-based paint on top of oil-based primer, which goes on top of the oil-based existing layer, and creates a bond between oil and water-based paint layers.
Water Based paint for appliances
Rust-Oleum 239107 Professional High Performance Enamel Spray Paint
Epoxy Appliance Paint
Epoxy paint is a very durable paint that is resistant to heat, chemicals, and wear and tear. It is a good choice for repainting a refrigerator because it can withstand the constant opening and closing of the door.
Epoxy is typically available in generic colors: black, white, and stainless steel. However, great news: Priming is not recommended before using Appliance Epoxy products.
If you are going to work on your fridge painting project at home, Epoxy paint might not be the best choice. It smells like hell. It can also cause inflammation on your eyes.
As the epoxy cures, it is actually going through a chemical reaction that allows the epoxy to harden.
Acrylic Paints
Rust-Oleum High Performance 3100 System Speedy-Dry DTM Acrylic Enamel is a great choice if you need a paint that dries quickly and allows for minimal downtime.
This high-gloss, water-based acrylic paint provides one-coat coverage and dries ultra-fast, typically within 15-60 minutes. It delivers long-lasting color and gloss and can be applied directly to metal surfaces without the need for a primer. The list of available colors is somewhat limited, to be honest.
However, it offers protection against mild chemical spills, fumes, oil, corrosion, grease, and abrasion, and comes with a two-year rust-proof guarantee for maximum corrosion protection. This paint also meets USDA requirements for incidental food contact and is accepted for use in federally registered Canadian food facilities.
Can You Paint Stainless Steel Refrigerator?
Painting a stainless steel refrigerator requires caution because standard paints and coatings, including most industrial metal paints, do not effectively adhere to the surface. This can make it tricky to achieve a long-lasting and high-quality finish.
Typically, you should apply a primer before the top coat when painting a surface. The primer manufacturer should recommend compatible topcoats to use over the chosen primer.
However, there are options available that do not require a primer. For example, Rawlins Paints offers some direct-to-metal coatings for stainless steel. They allow you to prime and finish the surface using only one product after preparing the surface appropriately. You should the manufacturer’s recommendations when selecting and using these products.
How To Paint Stainless Steel Refrigerator
No matter which paint or primer you use, clean and prepare the surface properly. Rust-Oleum Pre-Paint Cleaner is an effective product for cleaning and degreasing stainless steel. It easily removes all contaminants. It does not require a rinse after wiping the surface, saving time in the cleaning process.
After cleaning, if you use a topcoat that requires a primer, go ahead and apply it.
Not all primers are suitable for use on stainless steel that can be difficult for coatings to adhere to. It is important to select a primer specifically formulated for these types of surfaces to ensure the best results.
Rust-Oleum 3333 Super Adhesion Primer is a great choice if you want to paint stainless steel and without etching the surface beforehand. It creates a strong chemical bond and can be used with a variety of Rust-Oleum 2K topcoats (good news: water-based topcoats), making it highly compatible with a range of finishes.
Can You Paint A Refrigerator With A Regular Paint?
You can paint a refrigerator with acrylic, epoxy, or enamel paints. Never use regular wall paint to paint a refrigerator, as most of them are latex-based, dry soft, and velvety. This might be OK for walls, but for a fridge, you need something that dries hard and is scratch resistant.
Can You Paint Refrigerator Handles?
You can paint refrigerator handles. The rules are the same as for painting the stainless steel surfaces, as most of the fridge handles are made of stainless steel (or sometimes plastic). You can use a topcoat that requires a primer, or you can use direct-to-metal coatings for stainless steel that allow you to prime and finish the surface using only one product after preparing the surface appropriately.
Kitchen remodel checklist
DIY kitchen remodel projects can be intimidating. If it’s your first project, you might feel overwhelmed and anxious. I have created this kitchen remodel checklist, which you can share with anyone and track the progress of the project.
Simply, duplicate this page and edit it as you wish: check and uncheck boxes, add notes, and add items.
If you find this resource helpful, write a review!
How To Paint Refrigerator?
Depending on which type of paint you use and what kind of surface (stainless steel, painted..) your fridge has, the steps might vary. If you want to repaint your stainless steel fridge, here are the steps to take:
- clean and prepare the surface properly. Rust-Oleum Pre-Paint Cleaner is an effective product for cleaning and degreasing stainless steel.
- If the surface is rusty, apply Rust-oleum Rust Reformer Spray which transforms the rusty surface into a non-rusting surface without the need to sand it down
- Then you can either go for a primer and on top of it a topcoat. You can go for Rust-Oleum 3333 Super Adhesion Primer which is a great choice for individuals who want to paint stainless steel and do not need to blast or etch the surface beforehand. It creates a strong chemical bond and can be used with a variety of Rust-Oleum 2K topcoats (good news: water-based topcoats), making it highly compatible with a range of finishes.
- Or you can go for primer and topcoat in one can, such as Bradite One Can Eggshell which comes in a variety of colors. Instead of eggshells, you can also pick a matt finish.
Instead of a different color, if your goal is to achieve the same metallic look without scratches, then this stainless steel sealer is a good choice.
It provides an attractive finish and is also resistant to scratches and dulling due to its chemical and mechanical resistance. For optimal coverage and adhesion, it is recommended to use a Hard Hat primer on the surface before applying the Stainless Steel Coating.
Overall, this product combines aesthetic appeal with protective qualities, making it a great choice for various applications.
Another great option is Appliance Epoxy Spray, but make sure you do the project in a very well-ventilated space.
Repainting A Fridge With an Existing Layer of Paint
Maybe your fridge does not have a stainless steel surface. If it is already painted, then it’s important to know what kind of paint was used before.
If it was painted with oil-based paint, then you can not just cover it with water-based paint. It will start to peel in a couple of days. If you are unsure to check what kind of paint is the existing layer, use some acetone and if the paint comes off, then it’s water-based, if not – then it’s oil-based.
As a rule, you should use oil-based paint on top of oil-based paint, but if you want to go for a water-based new layer of paint, use an oil-based primer to create a bridge between oil-based existing and water-based new layers.
Painting stainless steel surfaces
Needless to say, just like stainless steel surfaces, any other surface must be cleaned.
If it’s your DIY project, then I would assume you want a paint that is easy to use, dries fast, has low VOC and does not smell like hell. In this case, I assume you should go for water-based paints. Rust-Oleum High Performance 3100 System Speedy-Dry DTM Acrylic Enamel is a great choice.
This high-gloss, water-based acrylic paint provides one-coat coverage and dries ultra-fast, typically within 15-60 minutes. It delivers long-lasting color and gloss and can be applied directly to metal surfaces without needing a primer. However, the color choices are quite limiting.
Another great choice is Another great option is Appliance Epoxy Spray. Make sure you do the project in a very well-ventilated space. This one does not need a primer, and it can be applied to both, stainless steel and previously painted surfaces.
Where To Paint Refrigerator?
Ideally, you want to do your Fridge Painting project in the open-air. However, this is not always possible. You can do it indoors, but keep in mind two things: keep the windows open while painting the fridge, and while the paint dries completely. Make sure you purchase paints that have low VOC and are less toxic.
If you are painting the fridge indoors, do not go for oil-based paints – they usually have significantly higher VOC and smell like hell. Water-based enamel paints are a good substitute for oil-based ones.
Cute Colorful Fridge Ideas
Here are some aesthetic colorful fridge ideas for your kitchen to get you inspired:
Conclusion
Painting a fridge can be a fun and cost-effective way to give your kitchen a fresh new look. Several paint options are available, including appliance paint, acrylic, and enamel paints.
It’s important to properly prepare the fridge surface by cleaning and sanding it. By dedicating time and effort to this step, you can transform your fridge into a unique and stylish appliance.
For those seeking a retro fridge aesthetic without the painting process, many brands provide authentic designs while maintaining modern performance standards. Smeg is one of those brands, but more on that in the next post.
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