School of Decorating

Decorate with Confidence and Create a Home You Love

  • Free Class
  • Videos
  • Blog
    • How to Decorate
    • Simple DIY Projects
    • Life Tips
    • Success Stories
    • Our Home Tour
  • Classes
  • About
  • Contact

4 Easy and Cheap Ways to Make Anything Metallic

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, on purchases made after following an affiliate link. See my full disclosure here.

May 2, 2017 By Jackie

I never expected how to mix metallics to be one of the hottest topics in the Color Flow Challenge.

One of the things people went crazy for was simple ideas for making any decor metallic.

Have a mirror frame that needs a fresh look?

Vases in a color you no longer like?

Want to give your thrift store find a quick and easy makeover?

Then you’re going to love my tricks to turn anything metallic.

Give any decor a metallic finish with these 4 easy and cheap ideas.

Metallics add a touch of glamour and sparkle to a space. I like to think of metallic elements as the jewelry for your room. Metallic finishes appear on:
  • Knobs and handles
  • Light fixtures
  • Decorative accents
  • Trays
  • Furniture
  • Frames

But you don’t have to buy metallic objects to get the metallic look. Here are four easy and cheap ways to make anything metallic:

This post contains affiliate links to the products I use and recommend. I may receive a small commission on purchases made after following an affiliate link. See my full disclosure here.

1. Rub ‘N Buff

Rub ‘N Buff is a super cool wax finish that can work on almost any surface. I’ve used it before to add a metallic touch to picture frames just by rubbing it on the raised edges of the frame. It also works really well on odd shapes, like figurines.

2. Spray Paint

Some metallic spray paints don’t work well. But over the years I’ve found two favorites that look amazing like you’d never know it was spray paint. For a great gold finish, I love the soft look of Krylon ShortCuts Gold Leaf. Now, don’t be confused…this will look nothing like gold leaf (for the real deal, see below). The finish is more satin than shiny, which I like because most of the shiny metallic spray paints come off really fake looking.

The ShortCuts cans are just enough for a small project. I used a full can on the base of this accent table.

Gorgeous idea - cover a table top in pretty fabric!

I also like to keep a can on hand for odd, small jobs. I loved the shape of these vases that I found at the thrift store, but they weren’t a good color. So I turned them gold.

Coffee Table Styling

I’ve also used the ShortCuts spray paint to give old tarnished brass dresser handles a sleek makeover. These handles have held up really well.

Modern Brass Dresser Pulls

Another great metallic spray paint is oil-rubbed bronze. Again, because you’re not trying to fake a shiny metallic look, you can get a really nice finish.

3. Gold Leaf

This is the trickiest of the three suggestions here, but the result is so worth it. You need a special adhesive, so I recommend getting this starter kit for your first project. Gold leaf works best on flat surfaces. If gold isn’t your favorite metal, it also comes in silver leaf and copper leaf.

My favorite gold leaf decor to date are these stars. They are inexpensive paper maché stars I found at a craft store. I used gold leaf on each triangular section, not minding if some parts didn’t get covered. The result is a slightly distressed metallic look.

You can also use gold leaf to pull off some pretty amazing tricks.

Try this technique to apply gold leaf to vases or glass candle holders. Or try “stenciling” with gold leaf.

how to gold leaf on glass

how to stencil a vase with gold leaf

It also works on glass table tops like this herringbone end table I made. This would be a fun project on a glass coffee table.

how to create a gold leaf herringbone pattern on a glass table top

Also, try writing in gold leaf. It’s a fun way to embellish greeting cards or to make DIY art.

How to make custom gold leaf art prints | tealandlime.com

Lastly, just for fun try gilding leaves. So delicate and gorgeous.

4. Metallic Paint

For everything else, there’s metallic paint. I love the Modern Masters line of metallic paints. They have a beautiful iridescent quality and they have every metallic finish imaginable. You can get small 6-ounce jars or full gallons. The Modern Masters finishes can also be used on walls or ceilings…maybe to stencil a metallic design.

I used Modern Masters Brass to give this basket turned light fixture a metallic makeover. The paint applies really smoothly and covers well.

how to turn a basket into a pendant light

I also used it to give this big square tray a DIY brass monogram.

Styling an ottoman tray or coffee table

I hope you have fun with these ideas to give some of your decor a metallic makeover. If you have a space that feels a little flat or lifeless, try adding a metallic element. It will instantly brighten up any space with a little shimmer and sheen.

Want some help choosing colors and metallics for your home?

Ever wish someone could just tell you what colors look best together? You’re in luck.

Free Color Flow Decorating Challenge - click through to join in!

Join me for Color Flow – a free five-day decorating challenge that will show you how to unify your home with accent colors.  You don’t need any past decorating experience. And you won’t need to paint a single wall to give your home a color makeover.

This free five-day challenge starts on October 16, 2017. Although this challenge is free, you won’t be able to join after the challenge starts. Click here to sign up now.

 

Previous Post
Before & After: Kalyn’s Cheerful Home Office
Next Post
My New Office Space and Standing Desk

Comments

  1. Holly Walters says

    May 2, 2017 at 7:24 am

    Great tips, Jackie! Thank you for putting all of this in one article.

  2. Lisa J Wood says

    May 2, 2017 at 8:53 am

    Fun ideas! That makes me want to go run out and do some shopping. :)

  3. Denise Cartiglia-Alberti says

    May 2, 2017 at 12:58 pm

    My hubby says thanks for giving him more work! (I asked him to paint the cabinet hardware in the new home, which I chose prior to taking Decoragraphy & DYS, you’d think he’d be happy with not buying new ones – men! Thanks Jackie!!

  4. Laura - The No Pressure Life says

    May 2, 2017 at 3:11 pm

    Love these tips! I used a mixture of two gold craft paints to transform a black quatrefoil mirror into a major stunner. A coat of spray primer before the craft paint helped the metallic paint to adhere better. Years later the mirror still looks good!

Hi, I'm Jackie. I believe you are the best person to decorate your home and I'm here to help.

I teach online decorating classes to help you create your dream home. Click on the images below to learn more about each class.

Take an Online Decorating Class

Best for beginners!

12 Class Bundle!

Get a free copy of my book
Free Decorating


Start reading now...

Follow Me Here

Categories

  • How to Decorate
  • Simple DIY Projects
  • Life Tips
  • Success Stories
  • Our Home Tour
I believe you are the best person to decorate your home. You just need a dash of courage and a dose of decorating know-how. That's why I created School of Decorating.

I know how frustrating it is to feel like failure at home. I also know how amazing it feels when decorating finally makes sense and your home reflects you. I want to share what I've learned so you can create a home you love without years of trial and error.

Get a free copy of my best-selling book Free Decorating

  • How to Decorate
  • Simple DIY Projects
  • Life Tips
  • Success Stories
  • Our Home Tour

© 2018 School of Decorating
 · Terms of Use 
· Privacy Policy
 · Disclaimer




This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.

Necessary Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.