It’s the Den-DIY Week around here! We’ve been doing a big project this summer if you haven’t been around you can check out All Things Home DIY posts HERE!
Today I want to show you a super easy project that saved us (no kidding) hundreds of dollars.
When we painted the stained heavy moldings and the wainscoting in the den (Behr Ultra Paint with Primer: Sandstone Cove), the wood blinds screamed: Hey, what about me? Paint Meeee!
It was glaringly clear we’d have to buy new wood blinds or paint the old ones…
You know what we did don’t you?
And when I say we, I mean I had the idea and The Husband did the painting.
Blinds Before…
The Husband fears nothing. He’ll take apart absolutely anything. And the slats need to be removed before painting soooo he jumped right in…
There’s a knot at the bottom of the blind with a wooden cap holding it all together…this has to be removed so the 2 cords that run through all of the slats can be removed.
After you pull the cords up and out, the slats are left positioned in little hammocks. Slip the slat out of it’s hammock home.
He did one window at a time. Our windows are almost floor to ceiling so there were lots of slats with each window.
He set up some covered tables in the basement and using the trim color we used everywhere, Behr Ultra Sandstone Cove (which is in Semi-Gloss) he painted the slats.(Lots of Behr Ultra Before and Afters HERE.)
Now…our blinds are 20 years old and they did not have a shiny finish. The Husband is brave and didn’t sand them one bit. The Behr Ultra has primer in the paint…(cue the Hallelujah Chorus…) so the normal 2 steps is mercifully cut in half! If you decide not to use Behr Ultra, after having your sweet head examined, you’ll need to prime before you paint!
The Husband has a spray-gun so this was really easy…load the paint and spray. (He could have used my BFF The Paintbrush, it just would have taken a bit longer.)
The thing about this project is the time…paint-let dry completely-turn the slats over-paint-let dry completely…repeat on the next window.
When the slats are dry just tuck them back into their tiny hammocks and run the 2 cords from the top to bottom back through the holes…tie off the cord and WaaaLaaa!
This project is such a big bang for your buck and since I’m doing our entire DIY Project for next to nothing…one more time that Behr paint with primer has saved me!
Have a big bang kind of day my friends…xo
(ps… Some of you have asked when I’ll start back with some heart-posts…I promise, I’ll get back to them soon! Thanks bunches for being patient~)
I’ll be linking…
You Create , Transformation Thursday!, I’m Lovin It ,
A Fine Craft Guild~DIY Thursday!
Julie Garmon says
August 17, 2010 at 8:11 amOkay, so when are they going to do the Mike Gay TV show? Who knew you could paint blinds??? I can’t imagine being brave enough to take them apart, much less paint them. Then he even knew how to put them back together!
Lenora Gambrell says
August 17, 2010 at 10:00 amAll I can say is Mike is a patient man!!!!! I would have the strings so knotted up and tangled that they would end up in the trash. You both have done a great job with this makeover. Looking forward to seeing you.
.-= Lenora Gambrell´s last blog ..New Theme- Oulipo =-.
Lou Cinda says
August 17, 2010 at 10:35 amI LOVE this paint! I used it painting my OAK cabinets in my kitchen and it was AWESOME!!! The blinds look brand spanking new!! You would never know you didn’t go out and purchase new ones!!
Great job! And great idea!
Lou Cinda 🙂
Pinky says
August 17, 2010 at 11:52 amHoly macaroni! Who would have THOUGHT to paint the blinds!!!! AWESOME….and thanks for letting us know you CAN! You guys DO need your own show! Have a great day! XO, Pinky
gitz says
August 17, 2010 at 3:02 pmThat is AWESOME!
Ok, I have a question. When Mom and Dad were here a few days before he was gone, we laid in my bed discussing how my house is too dark, and decided to paint my room a light blue. Mom is SET on doing this now since it was something Dad really wanted. So we’re going to spruce up my bedroom a bit since that’s where I am most of the time.
The other thing I want to do in the whole condo is paint all the woodwork some shade of white. (I like that Pottery Barn look) I’m thinking my friends would help with this if I asked, but I want to know first how hard it is. And since you’ve done about everything I figured you’d know. Is it hard to take off and put back on the baseboards and stuff? I’m afraid of starting something that is a huge or hard undertaking. It would also mean painting doors… Do I need a paint gun for this, or will a brush work? Any advice you and Mike have, I am here with open ears 🙂
Robin says
August 18, 2010 at 7:22 amI’m so excited Gitz!!! I’m FB messaging you right now.x0
Ann says
August 17, 2010 at 3:56 pmOh my heavens, Robin! Do you 2 ever have time to sleep?!
I seriously feel like such a slacker compared to you! LOL
The blinds look great and it makes so much sense instead of spending all that money.
Looking forward to your next DIY project.
-Ann
Rebekah {All Thingz Related} says
August 17, 2010 at 7:47 pmSeems like a lot of work to me but oh so worth it to save that kinda money! Thanks for joining us at Anything Related!
Jackie says
August 17, 2010 at 10:01 pmWhat a patient and loving man he must be! Jackie
.-= Jackie´s last blog ..Celebrating! =-.
rose says
August 17, 2010 at 11:35 pmyour husband is a gem. some men would just walk out if they had to help with fixing up a house. i would never thought to paint the blinds. i know i’ll never forget that. rose
.-= rose´s last blog ..IS THIS SPRING =-.
Amanda says
August 22, 2010 at 9:06 amHi Robin! I’ve featured this post this morning on Craft Gossip. http://homeandgarden.craftgossip.com/diy-how-to-paint-wood-blinds/
Carolyn says
May 7, 2012 at 7:48 amI’ve searched the internet for something on How to Paint Wooden Blinds—which I need to do to totally new ones as I changed my mind after ordering (gulp) as to trim color. Your posting is one of only TWO! The very able & professional painter Carlos whom I’ve employed to do other painting is going to try it…but by spreading the blinds out on the lawn on a drop cloth & using a spray gun. I’m worried! I’m thinking…1) maybe they should be HANGING from something, at least….and 2) should we really take each slat out (he’s painting the cloth tape as well)? Any advice would be so appreciated!!!
Robin says
May 8, 2012 at 6:08 amCarolyn, goooood luck my friend! We took the slats out but if I were gonna do the tape, I think maybe I’d try one without taking them out and see how it works! So happy to meet you! xo
marion says
February 1, 2015 at 5:42 amCarolyn, I’d like to paint my wood blinds, too. I, also, am not sure I’d like the strings brown either with the white slats. I’m wondering how yours turned out ….. did the paint hold up on the strings??
Robin says
February 2, 2015 at 9:24 amHi Marion, I left the strings brown and really it was just fine! Good luck with your blinds! ox
Ashley Ridgway says
May 28, 2012 at 12:50 pmThank you Blog world. With your help I can find the solutions and inspiration I need!
Crystal says
February 18, 2014 at 1:33 pmWhat about the ugly brown strings? Do you think the entire set could be painted, strings and all? I have two sets of blinds I want to paint/replace and I don’t think I’d be happy putting them back on the brown strings.
Robin says
February 19, 2014 at 8:20 pmCrystal, we put ours back together with the brown strings! I’ve no idea if painting the strings would work, let me know if you give it a try! Good luck! ox
Charlotte Casey says
June 28, 2015 at 10:26 amExactly what I was looking for thank you! You don’t live in Delaware do you because it sounds like your husband and mine would be BFFs! Haha!
Robin says
July 5, 2015 at 8:14 amCharlotte! Hello my friend! We’re in GA…but I’m so happy our husbands are so much alike! xo Have a great day 🙂
Bethany Lapp says
February 19, 2016 at 1:48 pmI am wanting to paint my blinds white too and I looked at the strings, but they seem like so many to keep together… I really wonder if I cud just spray paint them without taking apart? they seem difficult to put back together!
Robin says
February 29, 2016 at 2:41 pmBethany, I’m not sure how that would look but you could try! I’d love to know if it works well for you! That sure would be an easier way to go wouldn’t it!? xo
Michele says
February 27, 2016 at 9:20 pmSo glad to find this post on painting blinds! I have a natural color wood blind and thinking of changing everything to the gray tones. Does anyone know if new strings can be purchased to match the paint?
Robin says
February 29, 2016 at 2:26 pmMichele, I don’t think new strings could be purchased but I don’t know for sure… good luck friend xo