Spray paint. Again. Who’s surprised?
I’m nothing if not predictable when it comes to fixing things with spray paint. I’d been meaning to ORB (that’s oil-rubbed-bronze) the legs of an old chair in our living room for a while. In person the legs were a clashy, orange-red tone that didn’t coordinate with the rest of the room’s darker, more muted finishes.
They contrasted with the deep ORB legs we added to Karl the Sectional and with the gray-washed beams above, plus the richer brown tones of the console table we built for behind the sofa. We plan to refinish the floors eventually in a hue closer to the console, so those orange undertones won’t be sticking around for long.
To get the look I wanted, I picked up a can of Rust-Oleum Universal Metallic spray paint in Oil Rubbed Bronze—the same finish we used on Karl’s legs. It’s a metallic that gives a subtle sheen without being flashy.
Prep took me about fifteen minutes. I protected the upholstery by taping two large black garbage bags around the plush seat, poking holes for the legs, and sealing the edges with painter’s tape so no spray got through. I made sure to cover the tops of the legs too, so there wouldn’t be visible orange rings near the seat.
Once masked off, spraying took only a few minutes. The legs were dry and not glossy, so they didn’t require sanding—just a few even coats of paint. I rested the chair upside down on a recycling bin to reach the bottoms of the legs easily. Quick projects often have prep that takes longer than the actual spray job, but the outcome is worth it.
A few spray-paint tips I always follow:
- Invest in a quality can—skip the cheap $2 varieties. A good spray paint (around $7 or more) usually has a better nozzle and delivers a thin, even coat.
- Keep the can moving in a smooth sweep rather than holding it still; this helps avoid drips and uneven coverage.
- Hold the nozzle about 8–10 inches from the surface, aiming for a fine mist rather than a wet, heavy layer.
- Apply three thin coats rather than one thick one to reduce runs and achieve a smooth finish.
- Spray paint contains VOCs, so work outside with a mask and follow the can’s cure time—typically 24 hours; when possible, we allow extra time for safety.
- To reduce ongoing off-gassing after bringing the piece indoors, consider sealing with two thin coats of a low-VOC, non-toxic acrylic topcoat such as Safecoat Acrylacq.
The finished legs look much better—subtle, darker, and more cohesive with the rest of the room. The oil-rubbed-bronze finish adds a quiet metallic gleam that blends with other mixed-metal accents in the space.
For comparison, here’s the before again so you can see the difference:
Now the chair legs blend in rather than shouting for attention. Someday we’d like to replace this chair with something more special—maybe a thrifted upholstered armchair with turned legs or castors—but for now a $7 can of spray paint (and only about $3.50 worth used) was an easy and effective update. And yes, there’s still half a can left, so I’ll be finding more things to ORB around the house.
Psst—I’m sharing a list of summer activities over on BabyCenter today; there are so many fun things to try with C this season.
Pssst—Did you catch Design Star last night? When Cathy said “camel tone” it sounded funny—anyone else notice that, or have other thoughts about the cast?