Tips needed for paint for railing & chandelier

8 years ago

I want to paint my white railings black or a dark gray to make them a little more modern. I also want to paint my chandelier black (and add a black chain).

Would love any suggestion on colors, the finish on the paint, brands, etc! Also if anyone has a tutorial links or even just recommendations on painting things like this that would also be great!

Picture last are of my actual room and then the room photoshopped to include darker rails and a darker light (don’t mind my amateur edits).

I added in both my current orb chandelier - But in black and another style if i decide not to spray paint and just go for new. Let me know if you think my orb style works in this room!

Featured Answer

P Banos

8 years ago

I have successfully painted light fixtures with spray paint. You will need to take it down first, tape off the sockets. If any pieces come apart, remove them and paint separately. Several very light coats are better than heavy which can cause dripping. Are you equipped to take this light down from the high ceiling? Just asking, because if you need to hire an electrician to take it down then put it up again you may spend as much as the cost of a new fixture...

Are you sure about the black? What about a dark bronze color next to your tan rugs and tile?

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Comments (11)

Cassi Cook
Original Author
8 years ago
Good point, i think my dad can take it down (he is a handy man but not an electrician - who has done my others) but if he can’t i think your right in new. I was doing black because if the scones are black and gold. And a neighboring chandelier you can’t see (it’s in the kitchen in that raised platform I’m standing in to take this pic) is also gold. So i wasn’t sure about bringing in another color? But open to suggestions!
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P Banos
8 years ago
Well if dad is willing, then you can for sure save money by painting it yourself. Even if you don't wind up with a factory perfect finish you will never see once it is hanging. I painted my kitchen ceiling light and also metal shelf brackets in my kitchen recently and they look very good. But I went the other way - from dark to silver! Do make sure you prep well by cleaning and then sanding and then cleaning again before you paint.

I really was thinking about the railings in a bronze color due to your tan floors...I also recently spray painted a frame it my bedroom with a bronze metallic paint and it looks very good too. The color works as a dark neutral, and works with the gold accents in the room. I think that color would look great with the tan.
Cassi Cook
Original Author
8 years ago
Ohhh dark bronze for the railings! Not a bad idea at all! Post a pic of of your frame so i can see the color :) Although i don’t think i will be spray spray painting the railings but instead rolling them. But with both chandelier and railings your recommend clean, sand, clean correct? Any primer? I used gripper paint primer when i painted my backsplash (didn’t sand then at all and they were they slippery tile material) and it worked like a charm. So in thought about that for the railings. For sanding, how sanded to you recommend? A light sanding or a thorough job removing current white paint?

Just for kicks. A Little before and after if my kitchen painted
Cassi Cook
Original Author
8 years ago
Oh and do you have a spray paint brand you recommend? Also what finish for a black chandelier?
P Banos
8 years ago
Not at home now, but here are the rustoleum colors. I used the bottom right bronze. The top left is the oil rubbed bronze, it is the darkest. If you went with that color it would probably mesh well with black. The lighter bronze is more neutral, and is my favorite.

Rustoleum makes regular paint in cans as well as spray. Though I think the spray gives a better finish than a brush or roller. The cost is probably worth it.

If you are feeling particularly handy, or if Dad is helping, why not look into renting a paint spray set up. Prep your railings then mask and drop cloth everything well before you paint.

If you have bare metal you surely need to prime. But I did not prime my lamp or frame, just a thorough cleaning and light sanding and cleaning again to remove dust. I'm sure priming would be a good idea, of course. The paint I used was supposedly paint&primer in one.
Cassi Cook
Original Author
8 years ago
Forgot to post outcome! We couldn’t remove the posts so spray paint was too hard. We used the rust oleum hammers paint in black and we love it! Reviews said it was more charcoal then black which is what we wanted. Depending on light it varies (the top ones look different but they aren’t, in pics there is less light there). Up close it looks like metal and not just something we painted on. I’m Pleased with the outcome! Now if i could Afford new carpet lol.
Cassi Cook
Original Author
8 years ago
Oh and i just bought a Black chain for chandelier then painted with with a mix of rub n buff (black on most, antique gold on tubes of lights) and some oil rubbed bronze spray paint.
P Banos
8 years ago
Hoorah great job Cassi! I see you changed the armchair as well.

I use the hammered Rustoleum on my wrought iron outdoor chairs and table. It is a nice finish, a little softer looking. And I used rub n buff on a couple of pieces in my house too. I did decide to refresh it about 10 years on, just rubbed a bit more.

I had to wait a long time for carpet - but then I found a carpet store (not home chain) that sells remnants of high-end wool broadlooms at a discount. We were able to get new wool broadloom for about the same price as a synthetic from a chain store. So maybe you can get some general measurements and start a hunt for nice remnants?
arcy_gw
8 years ago
You painted metal railings with a brush? It does make the railings look more natural somehow. Nice transformation.
Cassi Cook
Original Author
8 years ago
Arcy_cw, yup a brush and roller and a gallon of the paint! No spray paint. And you would never know, looks even and natural up close! I do have a husband who is an interior painter though so that helped ;)