With paint pastel color and several decorative moldings can be turned old refrigerator into a real art object. The advantage of this project is that sloppy painting will not only spoil appearance, but will only add charm to the overall design.
2. Mirror surface
An original mirror attached to the door is a simple way that will completely change the appearance of not only the refrigerator, but the entire kitchen.
3. Camouflage
An old, shabby refrigerator can be transformed with wood paneling.
4. Safe
Chalk paint, decals, and a safe lock can make a big difference in the appearance of an old refrigerator.
5. Wallpaper
A refrigerator covered with colored wallpaper looks interesting and fresh. In addition, this design can be easily changed at least every month.
6. Built-in refrigerator
A homemade wooden shell in a vintage style will help hide an unsightly refrigerator.
7. Slate board
Self-adhesive slate paper is the simplest, but no less stylish way to transform your refrigerator.
8. New color
It is better to paint refrigerators with rounded doors as it is very difficult to apply self-adhesive to smooth lines. For a new design, choose any bright color and apply a thin, even layer of paint to the lightly sanded surface of the refrigerator.
9. Unique design
Use matte paint, decorative molding and one bright vinyl decal to transform a white mismatch into a sophisticated piece of art.
10. Kaleidoscope of Memories
Print out all your favorite photos and lavishly decorate your old refrigerator with them.
11. Decoupage
In addition to visual transformation, an old, unsightly refrigerator, thanks to the decoupage technique, acquires improved thermal insulation properties. Since this decor involves covering the surface with several layers of varnish.
12. Wardrobe
Amazing refrigerator transformation that can be realized using wood panels, moldings and painting.
13. Funny pictures
Painting and shiny stickers with funny inscriptions will help make the refrigerator interesting and modern.
16. Creative project
Paint the surface of the refrigerator yourself. These do not have to be highly artistic masterpieces; primitive images of flowers, leaves and feathers are also suitable.
After kitchen renovation Many people have a question: what to do with an old refrigerator? It's quite a few years old, but luckily it still works great. Change? I don't think this is a good idea.
What to do if the clothes of the old “breadwinner” do not fit into the interior? We have prepared 7 wonderful ways for you update the refrigerator at no extra cost.
How to update your refrigerator with your own hands
- Refrigerator stickers
For those who don’t like to bother too much, there are self-adhesive films or photo stickers. Remove the refrigerator handles and thoroughly wash its surface. Take measurements and cut out the desired piece of film. Lightly moisten the surface of the refrigerator with soapy water using a sponge and gradually apply the film, pressing it to the surface.
- Simple, fast, bright
Not every refrigerator can be covered with self-adhesive tape. Therefore, there are a few more ideas - painting, for example. Before the procedure, wash the surface, degrease it, and sand it. Cover all parts that cannot be removed with masking tape. Apply paint with a roller or using a spray can. You need to paint in a thin layer, wait until it dries and apply more layers. Here you need to be patient, but the result will undoubtedly please you.
- Just napkins - nothing more
Many people have probably heard about the decoupage technique. So, you can update your refrigerator with its help. You will need napkins, PVA glue, brushes, acrylic paints and acrylic varnish.
- Colored tape
If you want to decorate a refrigerator in a rented apartment, you can safely use colored tape. It is easily removed, and marks can be washed off with a washcloth and warm soapy water.
- Romantic shabby chic
Those who love french style, can turn a refrigerator into a work of art. You will need textured wallpaper, glue, paints, baguette or molding.
- A place for creativity
So that you can draw and write the necessary notes on the refrigerator, cover it with special black paint. It is sold in construction stores or in departments with goods for creativity.
- Patchwork style
What is patchwork? This is a type of needlework in which the product is sewn from separate pieces of fabric. You can decorate your refrigerator in this style. You will need fabric, glue and flat magnets. In general, nothing complicated.
Is your old refrigerator still functional, but very worn out and rusty in places?
Or maybe it seems to you that this large metal “box” does not fit into the interior? Or do you just want to add a little variety to your kitchen?
In this material we will talk about 8 ways to decorate a refrigerator, from DIY painting to decoupage, and also present 80 photo ideas for original modifications.
Method 1. Painting with slate paint and painting with crayons (+ master class)
The slate-coated refrigerator door is an ideal place for notes: shopping and to-do lists, recipes and reminders, messages for household members and cute notes. And, of course, it’s very convenient for children to draw on such a “board” while mom cooks. To turn your refrigerator doors into whiteboards, you can choose one of the following four methods:
Method 1. Painting with slate paint. This method is somewhat more complicated than the others and, moreover, it eliminates the possibility of returning the surface to its original form. But you can paint not only the doors, but also the entire body of the equipment with slate paint, and the coating itself will be more durable.
Method 2. Finishing with chalk wallpaper. Chalk wallpaper is easier to work with, and most importantly, it can be peeled off without leaving marks on the surface of the equipment. However, the coating is not very durable and needs to be changed periodically. In addition, it is more difficult to use chalk wallpaper to decorate rounded doors, corners, and to go around handles, displays, and protruding parts when gluing. If you want to cover the entire body, the coating will have visible seams. For this reason, it is best to decorate only the door or part of the door with chalk wallpaper.
Method 3. Attaching a magnetic slate board. Such a board can be mounted and dismantled as easily as one large magnet, and you can not only draw on it, but also attach small magnets. Most often, ready-made magnetic boards are not too large, and it is possible to purchase a large panel only to order.
Method 4. Attaching the slate board to neodymium magnets. This method is good because it allows you not to paint the refrigerator and, if desired, you can easily remove the chalk board.
How so big chalk board hanging on the refrigerator? The secret is simple - several neodymium magnets are glued to its back
Please note that the refrigerator does not have its own handles; its doors open using handles screwed to a chalk board
What you will need:
Thin sheet of plywood (3-6 mm); Slate paint, primer (preferably), paint brush/roller, ditch; Moldings for framing boards; Jigsaw or hand saw; Neodymium magnets with holes for screws (the price of one magnet is about 80 rubles, their number and adhesion strength depend on the weight of the board).
This super magnet, the size of a ruble coin, can easily hold 3 kg of weight.
Screwdrivers (according to the number of magnets), screwdriver; Stickers for furniture legs(they are needed to avoid scratches on the surface of the doors, as well as chips on the magnets themselves. Such covers are sold in Ikea and hardware stores. If desired, pieces of thin rubber or fabric such as fleece can be glued to the magnets); Furniture handle for each board/door and screws for fastening.
Instructions:
Step 1. We measure the parameters of one or two refrigerator doors.
Step 2. Cut boards from a sheet of fiberboard exactly to the size of the doors.
Step 3. Paint the board with primer and wait for it to dry. Next, apply the first layer of slate paint, let it dry, apply the next layer and again leave it for the time recommended by the manufacturer. Finally, apply a third coat of paint (optional).
Step 4. While the paint is drying, unscrew the original handles of your refrigerator.
Step 5. Cut and install the moldings on the board (you can use wood glue). If desired, the moldings can be painted.
Step 6. Now we glue a protective pad on each magnet, then screw all the magnets onto reverse side boards. Be careful and strictly (!) follow the rules for working with neodymium magnets.
Neodymium magnets are small magnets, but very powerful. They are sold in special online stores in a variety of shapes, sizes and capacities (adhesion strength is indicated on the packaging). For our project, flat magnets are suitable so that the gap between the board and the door is not too large. The main thing is that the total adhesive force of the magnets exceeds the weight of your board twice (!), otherwise it will slide down.
Step 7. Hurray! The board is ready. Now we attach furniture handles to it.
Step 8: Now it's time to install the board(s). Try opening each door by pulling the handle, if the board doesn't move and the door opens easily then your project is complete. If you feel that the board is not magnetized to the door tightly enough, add a few more magnets.
Method 2. Vinyl stickers
Vinyl stickers are easy to stick and come off without a trace, they are inexpensive and are sold in the most different designs, and therefore they can be changed often according to your mood. For example, they can decorate a refrigerator geometric figures, images of animals, plant and floral motifs, words and phrases.
Vinyl stickers can be purchased at hardware stores, craft stores, various online stores (for example, Aliexpress), and can also be ordered from a printing house. You can cut simple refrigerator stickers with your own hands from self-adhesive paper.
Method 3. Film or magnetic panels with photo printing
Want to turn your refrigerator into a realistic phone booth, a retro soda fountain, or a bottle of your favorite drink? Or maybe you just want to transfer it to the door beautiful photo your authorship? Then your choice is vinyl film or magnetic vinyl (magnetic panel) with photo printing. Both coating options can not only decorate the refrigerator, but also protect its facades from scratches and dirt.
Film with photo printing differs in that it is glued by smoothing it manually or under the influence of warm air(at home this is done with a hairdryer). The latter easily fits even on rounded doors and corners of the refrigerator. Both types of film are suitable for decorating the entire body of equipment.
How to glue a sticker with photo printing on the refrigerator with your own hands? The first step is to degrease the surface with any degreaser or alcohol solution. The handles on the door must first be removed, and other protruding parts should also be removed. Then the film is carefully applied and simultaneously smoothed with some flat object (for example, a bank card), bubbles and folds are smoothed out. Next, the film is folded along the edges, also smoothed, and the excess is cut off stationery knife. Finally, the handles are screwed into place.
Magnetic panels are flexible sheets of vinyl 0.5 mm thick with a magnetic back side and photo printing on the front side. Essentially, these are just large magnets that are made exactly to the size of the doors (but no more than 60 cm in width). Most often, doors are decorated with magnetic panels, but they can also be used to decorate the sides of the refrigerator. Magnetic vinyl is easy to install and remove without leaving any traces.
Method 4. Painting in a bright color, matching the headset or walls (+ master class)
You can update an old refrigerator or fit appliances into the interior simply by painting it with metal paint. The main thing here is to choose the right color.
If you paint the refrigerator to match the wall or cabinetry, it will seem less bulky. This technique is especially good for small kitchens.
If the interior of your kitchen seems too boring to you, then the refrigerator can be painted in a very bright color.
In the interior of a kitchen in retro, country or Provence style, a refrigerator in red or pastel color - powder pink or soft blue - will look great.
The best and easiest way to paint a refrigerator with your own hands is with spray paint. Ideally, it should be a particularly durable alkyd enamel or acrylic paint on metal. Canned paints will also work, but in this case it is important to use a quality paint brush to achieve a perfectly smooth finish.
Instructions:
Step 1. Lightly sand the surface to remove the gloss. If there is rust or chips somewhere, then we also remove them and smooth them out with sandpaper.
Step 2. Clean and degrease the surface with an alcohol solution.
Step 3. Use masking tape to cover everything that we want to protect from painting; cover the refrigerator compartment with film. Don't forget to lay film or newspapers on the floor and open the window.
Step 4. Shake the can well and begin to spray the paint in an even thin layer and let it dry, then apply the second and third coat (if necessary). Remember that instead of one thick coat of paint, it is better to apply two thin ones.
To increase the durability of the paint and make it easier to apply, it is advisable to first coat the surface with a primer.
Step 5. Cover the surface with matte or glossy varnish, which will make the new coating more durable and moisture resistant.
Method 5. Hand painted
Hand painting can turn a refrigerator into a unique art object or simply into a very nice and “animate” piece of furniture. You can paint the technique with paints and brushes, special acrylic markers or airbrushes.
It is better to trust complex compositions to professionals, but you can draw a simple picture with your own hands, use a stencil or masking tape (to create stripes). Here is a large selection of photos simple ideas refrigerator paintings that even a beginner can do.
From this video tutorial you will learn how to decorate an old refrigerator with your own hands using a stencil in the form of a lace tablecloth.
Method 6. Decoupage (+ master class)
Decoupage is a simple and great way to update an old refrigerator, adapt it to the interior of a kitchen in a rustic or traditional style, or complement it with hand-painted or decorated moldings.
Decoupage of Side by side refrigerator
To decoupage the refrigerator you will need:
Multi-layer napkins with the desired print, or better yet, special cards for decoupage (they can be large in size, and the drawings themselves are already compiled into a composition); Scissors; PVA glue; Brushes: flat squirrel (for decoupage and applying varnish) and thin synthetic (for drawing details); Pencil (for marking and sketching); Acrylic paints; Acrylic varnish (matte, glossy or with craquelure effect).
Instructions:
Step 1. Prepare the surface: degrease with an alcohol solution if you plan to glue the design onto a factory finish, or paint the refrigerator in the desired color and wait until the paint dries.
Step 2. Separate the layer with the pattern from the napkin and cut it out with scissors required element along the contour. Cut as many pieces as needed.
Step 3. Start gluing the first drawing: coat the underside of it with glue, place it in the desired place, then carefully smooth out the bubbles and folds with a brush, remove excess glue with a damp cloth using a tamping motion. Next, glue all the other blanks, moving from the center to the edges, starting with large and ending with small elements.
Before gluing the napkins, it is advisable to apply markings to the surface of the door.
Step 4. When the whole composition is in place, draw small parts and contours.
Step 5. Apply matte or glossy varnish to the drawing in two or more layers to give it greater strength and moisture resistance.
For a more detailed master class on decoupage of a refrigerator in Provence style, watch this video.
Method 7. Decoration with moldings and “carved” parts (+ master class)
If your kitchen is decorated in classic style, then a grandiose project of converting the refrigerator into... an antique sideboard will help you fit a free-standing refrigerator into its interior.
View of an old refrigerator before and after renovation
What you will need for decoration:
Moldings made of wood or PVC; Carved furniture decor made of wood/PVC or stucco molding made of plaster/polyurethane in the shape of a crown, as well as patterned corners (if possible); Saw for cutting moldings; Glue for metal.
What you will need for painting:
Adhesive primer; Chalk paint white(you can make it yourself using recipes from the Internet or buy it, say, from designer Daria Geller); Chalk paint of the main color; Painting brush, 1 round brush with a diameter of 8-7 cm (useful for both painting and waxing), a medium flat brush (for waxing); Dark-colored wax (can be replaced with a mixture of colorless wax and dark brown paint); The wax is colorless; Painting supplies: film, masking tape, etc.
Sometimes you want to refresh your design and bring something new and modern into your interior. There are different ways to do this.
Many people are interested in the question of how to cover a refrigerator with self-adhesive film and not overpay for a new unit. It is important to know which film to choose and how to apply it correctly.
Which film to choose
A refrigerator is an indispensable item in the kitchen. But it can also become a decoration. Magnets no longer surprise anyone. There are many new ways to update. You can always find a solution that suits you.
There are colored refrigerators on sale. They are very expensive. You can independently give the unit modern look and cover the refrigerator with film. Try to make it fit into the design of your kitchen. You can update an old Soviet refrigerator and a modern unit.
First you need to measure all parts of the refrigerator in order to buy the right amount of film. Vinyl films are often sold in rolls with widths of 36cm, 45cm, 67cm and 90cm.
Currently, the choice of self-adhesive films is very large. It is better to cover it with high-quality vinyl film. It is more expensive, but will look much more impressive. Cheap adhesive film can dry out over time and come apart in the corners.
The kitchen is a place with enough high humidity, therefore the protective film must be water-repellent. Choose well-known manufacturers, then the coating will last longer.
We sell a wide variety of vinyl films for refrigerators. Your refrigerator may become shiny or mirror-like. In one kitchen, an adhesive coating in the form of leather will look good, in another - in the form of wood, velvet, marble, etc. You can cover it with a plain film, or you can have it with an ornament.
Films with some kind of panorama, as in the photo, look original. It could be a city at night, some landscape, street or sea...
Vinyl film will help make the refrigerator a bright accent and stylish addition to the kitchen. It transforms ordinary things and makes the design exclusive. This is a self-adhesive film with different patterns. Due to this, you can get an almost new surface. How to cover with vinyl film is shown in the video.
There is also big choice vinyl stickers. Black stickers are often used. It is easy to paste such a picture. Remove the bottom lining and apply it to the surface.
Usually on protective film The size is indicated in pixels. To avoid mistakes, know that there are 38 pixels in 1 cm. For example, in order to cover a refrigerator 1 m 80 cm high and 55 cm wide, 6800 by 2090 pixels are needed.
What do you need for work?
In order to cover the refrigerator, we will need:
- self-adhesive film,
- scissors,
- water sprayer,
- putty knife,
- dishwashing detergent or alcohol,
- - soft dry cloth.
If all this is at hand, you can get to work. Try to do everything carefully and take your time.
Surface preparation
Self-adhesive film for refrigerator requires preliminary preparation surfaces. Before pasting, empty the refrigerator of all products and defrost it. The unit must be clean and dry.
Be sure to remove the fittings, doors and seal. This will help to stick the film without wrinkles at the corners and joints.
When gluing the door, it is better to remove the handles from it so that there are no unnecessary cuts. The surface of the refrigerator must be degreased. Any dishwashing liquid or alcohol will work for this. We wipe the unit, remove foam and remove excess moisture.
Sand any existing scratches or imperfections, otherwise they will appear under the film.
How to remove old film
If there is already a protective film on the refrigerator, and you want to remove it, then there are several ways to do this. You must try not to damage the surface of the unit. You can try moistening the film hot water and after a few minutes separate it using sharp object. This should be done carefully.
If you can’t remove it this way, try heating the adhesive film with a hairdryer or fan. When it becomes softer, pry up a corner and pull the film towards you.
Remove particles of glue remaining on the surface with solvent or alcohol. Now you can paste the refrigerator over again.
We glue the film correctly
Self-adhesive film is applied to the refrigerator using the dry and wet method. It is more convenient to glue the unit together. But if necessary, one person can do it.
Dry pasting method:
- Degrease and dry the surface. There should be no small specks, hairs, etc. on it.
- We try on the film, making reserves for the hems.
- Bend the upper left corner and remove the base in this place.
- Smooth the corner down and to the sides with a dry cloth or glove.
- Very slowly and carefully remove the base, moving down and to the sides. We try to produce a pasting without bubbles and folds.
The edges on the door will be hidden under the rubber band. We remove the sections into the cracks with a thin spatula. Remove excess film using a utility knife.
The wet method of pasting is carried out almost in the same way as the dry one. This method is recommended for beginners. If you are limited in cash, then you can buy inexpensive self-adhesive film, which sticks very quickly. You can cover it with designer film, which is much more expensive.
Spray soapy water from a spray bottle over the surface. During pasting, we expel the liquid to the edges. Unlike the first method of pasting, the film can be folded back and glued again to prevent bubbles and folds from forming.
Irregularities and seams can ruin the whole job. It will look artisanal. Therefore, you should try.
You can apply the film in two layers. The first solid layer will serve as the background, and the second will be decorative, with the selected shape.
Wait about 3 hours for the vinyl film to dry and begin attaching the fittings.
Well, everything is ready, look at the photo. Now your refrigerator has become a bright piece of art in the kitchen. It will add a new atmosphere and bring joy to the whole family, and guests will admire and envy.
Is your old refrigerator still functional, but very worn out and rusty in places? Or maybe it seems to you that this large metal “box” does not fit into the interior? Or do you just want to add a little variety to your kitchen?
In this material we will talk about 8 ways to decorate a refrigerator, from DIY painting to decoupage, and also present 80 photo ideas for original modifications.
Method 1. Painting with slate paint and painting with crayons (+ master class)
The slate-coated refrigerator door is an ideal place for notes: shopping and to-do lists, recipes and reminders, messages for household members and cute notes. And, of course, it’s very convenient for children to draw on such a “board” while mom cooks. To turn your refrigerator doors into whiteboards, you can choose one of the following four methods:
Method 1. Painting with slate paint. This method is somewhat more complicated than the others and, moreover, it eliminates the possibility of returning the surface to its original form. But you can paint not only the doors, but also the entire body of the equipment with slate paint, and the coating itself will be more durable.
Method 2. Finishing with chalk wallpaper. Chalk wallpaper is easier to work with, and most importantly, it can be peeled off without leaving marks on the surface of the equipment. However, the coating is not very durable and needs to be changed periodically. In addition, it is more difficult to use chalk wallpaper to decorate rounded doors, corners, and to go around handles, displays, and protruding parts when gluing. If you want to cover the entire body, the coating will have visible seams. For this reason, it is best to decorate only the door or part of the door with chalk wallpaper.
Method 3. Attaching a magnetic slate board. Such a board can be mounted and dismantled as easily as one large magnet, and you can not only draw on it, but also attach small magnets. Most often, ready-made magnetic boards are not too large, and it is possible to purchase a large panel only to order.
Method 4. Attaching the slate board to neodymium magnets. This method is good because it allows you not to paint the refrigerator and, if desired, you can easily remove the chalk board.
How does such a large chalk board hang on the refrigerator? The secret is simple - several neodymium magnets are glued to its back
Please note that the refrigerator does not have its own handles; its doors open using handles screwed to a chalk board
What you will need:
- Thin sheet of plywood (3-6 mm);
- Slate paint, primer (preferably), paint brush/roller, ditch;
- Moldings for framing boards;
- Jigsaw or hand saw;
- Neodymium magnets with holes for screws (the price of one magnet is about 80 rubles, their number and adhesion strength depend on the weight of the board).
This super magnet, the size of a ruble coin, can easily hold 3 kg of weight.
- Screwdrivers (according to the number of magnets), screwdriver;
- Stickers for furniture legs (they are needed to avoid scratches on the surface of the doors, as well as chips on the magnets themselves. Such stickers are sold in Ikea and hardware stores. If desired, you can glue pieces of thin rubber or fleece-type fabric to the magnets);
- Furniture handle for each board/door and screws for fastening.
Instructions:
Step 1. We measure the parameters of one or two refrigerator doors.
Step 2. Cut boards from a sheet of fiberboard exactly to the size of the doors.
Step 3. Paint the board with primer and wait for it to dry. Next, apply the first layer of slate paint, let it dry, apply the next layer and again leave it for the time recommended by the manufacturer. Finally, apply a third coat of paint (optional).
Step 4. While the paint is drying, unscrew the original handles of your refrigerator.
Step 5. Cut and install the moldings on the board (you can use wood glue). If desired, the moldings can be painted.
Step 6. Now we glue a protective cover on each magnet, then screw all the magnets onto the back side of the board. Be careful and strictly (!) follow the rules for working with neodymium magnets.
Neodymium magnets are small magnets, but very powerful. They are sold in special online stores in a variety of shapes, sizes and capacities (adhesion strength is indicated on the packaging). For our project, flat magnets are suitable so that the gap between the board and the door is not too large. The main thing is that the total adhesive force of the magnets exceeds the weight of your board twice (!), otherwise it will slide down.
Step 7. Hurray! The board is ready. Now we attach furniture handles to it.
Step 8: Now it's time to install the board(s). Try opening each door by pulling the handle, if the board doesn't move and the door opens easily then your project is complete. If you feel that the board is not magnetized to the door tightly enough, add a few more magnets.
Method 2. Vinyl stickers
Vinyl stickers are easy to stick and peel off without a trace, they are inexpensive and come in a wide variety of designs, so they can be changed frequently to suit your mood. For example, a refrigerator can be decorated with geometric shapes, images of animals, plant and floral motifs, words and phrases.
- Vinyl stickers can be purchased at hardware stores, craft stores, various online stores (for example, Aliexpress), and can also be ordered from a printing house.
- You can cut simple refrigerator stickers with your own hands from self-adhesive paper.
Method 3. Film or magnetic panels with photo printing
Want to turn your refrigerator into a realistic phone booth, a retro soda fountain, or a bottle of your favorite drink? Or maybe you just want to put a beautiful photo of yourself on your door? Then your choice is vinyl film or magnetic vinyl (magnetic panel) with photo printing. Both coating options can not only decorate the refrigerator, but also protect its facades from scratches and dirt.
- Film with photo printing differs in that it is glued by smoothing it manually or under the influence of warm air (at home this is done with a hairdryer). The latter easily fits even on rounded doors and corners of the refrigerator. Both types of film are suitable for decorating the entire body of equipment.
How to glue a sticker with photo printing on the refrigerator with your own hands? The first step is to degrease the surface with any degreaser or alcohol solution. The handles on the door must first be removed, and other protruding parts should also be removed. Then the film is carefully applied and simultaneously smoothed with some flat object (for example, a bank card), bubbles and folds are smoothed out. Next, the film is folded along the edges, also smoothed, and the excess is cut off with a stationery knife. Finally, the handles are screwed into place.
- Magnetic panels are flexible sheets of vinyl 0.5 mm thick with a magnetic back side and photo printing on the front side. Essentially, these are just large magnets that are made exactly to the size of the doors (but no more than 60 cm in width). Most often, doors are decorated with magnetic panels, but they can also be used to decorate the sides of the refrigerator. Magnetic vinyl is easy to install and remove without leaving any traces.
Method 4. Painting in a bright color, matching the headset or walls (+ master class)
You can update an old refrigerator or fit appliances into the interior simply by painting it with metal paint. The main thing here is to choose the right color.
- If you paint the refrigerator to match the wall or cabinetry, it will seem less bulky. This technique is especially good for small kitchens.
- If the interior of your kitchen seems too boring to you, then the refrigerator can be painted in a very bright color.
- In the interior of a kitchen in retro, country or Provence style, a refrigerator in red or pastel color - powder pink or soft blue - will look great.
The best and easiest way to paint a refrigerator with your own hands is with spray paint. Ideally, it should be a particularly resistant alkyd enamel or acrylic paint for metal. Canned paints will also work, but in this case it is important to use a quality paint brush to achieve a perfectly smooth finish.
Instructions:
Step 1. Lightly sand the surface to remove the gloss. If there is rust or chips somewhere, then we also remove them and smooth them out with sandpaper.
Step 2. Clean and degrease the surface with an alcohol solution.
Step 3. Use masking tape to cover everything that we want to protect from painting; cover the refrigerator compartment with film. Don't forget to lay film or newspapers on the floor and open the window.
Step 4. Shake the can well and begin to spray the paint in an even thin layer and let it dry, then apply the second and third coat (if necessary). Remember that instead of one thick coat of paint, it is better to apply two thin ones.
- To increase the durability of the paint and make it easier to apply, it is advisable to first coat the surface with a primer.
Step 5. Cover the surface with matte or glossy varnish, which will make the new coating more durable and moisture resistant.
Method 5. Hand painting (+ video tutorial)
Hand painting can turn a refrigerator into a unique art object or simply into a very nice and “animate” piece of furniture. You can paint the technique with paints and brushes, special acrylic markers or airbrushes.
It is better to trust complex compositions to professionals, but you can draw a simple picture with your own hands, use a stencil or masking tape (to create stripes). Here is a large selection of photos of simple ideas for painting a refrigerator that even a beginner can implement.
From this video tutorial you will learn how to decorate an old refrigerator with your own hands using a stencil in the form of a lace tablecloth.
Method 6. Decoupage (+ master class)
Decoupage is a simple and great way to update an old refrigerator, adapt it to the interior of a kitchen in a rustic or traditional style, or complement it with hand-painted or decorated moldings.
Decoupage of Side by side refrigerator
To decoupage the refrigerator you will need:
- Multi-layer napkins with the desired print, or better yet, special cards for decoupage (they can be large in size, and the drawings themselves are already compiled into a composition);
- Scissors;
- PVA glue;
- Brushes: flat squirrel (for decoupage and applying varnish) and thin synthetic (for drawing details);
- Pencil (for marking and sketching);
- Acrylic paints;
- Acrylic varnish (matte, glossy or with craquelure effect).
Instructions:
Step 1. Prepare the surface: degrease with an alcohol solution if you plan to glue the design onto a factory finish, or paint the refrigerator in the desired color and wait until the paint dries.
Step 2. Separate the layer with the pattern from the napkin and use scissors to cut out the desired element along the contour. Cut as many pieces as needed.
Step 3. Start gluing the first drawing: coat the underside of it with glue, place it in the desired place, then carefully smooth out the bubbles and folds with a brush, remove excess glue with a damp cloth using a tamping motion. Next, glue all the other blanks, moving from the center to the edges, starting with large and ending with small elements.
- Before gluing the napkins, it is advisable to apply markings to the surface of the door.
Step 4. When the whole composition is put together, draw small details and contours.
Step 5. Apply matte or glossy varnish to the drawing in two or more layers to give it greater strength and moisture resistance.
For a more detailed master class on decoupage of a refrigerator in Provence style, watch this video.
Method 7. Decoration with moldings and “carved” parts (+ master class)
If your kitchen is decorated in a classic style, then a grandiose project of converting the refrigerator into... an antique sideboard will help you fit a free-standing refrigerator into its interior.
View of an old refrigerator before and after renovation
What you will need for decoration:
- Moldings made of wood or PVC;
- Carved furniture decor made of wood/PVC or stucco molding made of plaster/polyurethane in the shape of a crown, as well as patterned corners (if possible);
- Saw for cutting moldings;
- Glue for metal.
What you will need for painting:
- Adhesive primer;
- White chalk paint (you can make it yourself using recipes from the Internet or buy, say, from designer Daria Geller);
- Chalk paint of the main color;
- Painting brush, 1 round brush with a diameter of 8-7 cm (useful for both painting and waxing), a medium flat brush (for waxing);
- Dark-colored wax (can be replaced with a mixture of colorless wax and dark brown paint);
- The wax is colorless;
- Painting supplies: film, masking tape, etc.