Transform old Hardware

This is a great little tip for those of us who don't want to spend the money on new Hardware.

We often find dressers and lovely pieces, but they're either missing some hardware, or it's just plain outdated and ugly.

When you go to replace the hardware on older pieces, you often find that it's going to cost as much or more than you paid for your "Goodwill" find and the new sizes don't work. The screw holes of your older piece is 2 3/4" and the newer hardware has 3" - 3 1/2" holes. That means you would need to fill the older holes and re-drill. The problem is often that when you drill into the filler - it chips or falls out. Also, this is a lot of added work.

I have found two lines of spray paint that I truly love. Rustoleum and Krylon. With these paints, you can change that old hardware in a few minutes and refresh you're entire look.

Out of the two (remember this is MY opinion) I prefer Krylon. Both adhere well to metal hardware, they're durable and come in a selection of colors. Krylon has many more colors and styles. I like the metallic shades of Krylon.

Prices are comparable, Rustoleum is around $3.50   Krylon roughly $5.50. I feel that you get better coverage with the Krylon, so the product goes further.

Preparation before you paint:  Clean old hardware with soap and a stiff toothbrush. Get all the grime off that has been building up for years. Wipe dry, I then take a piece of sandpaper and gently rub it over the handles. Not hard enough to put deep scratches in the finish, just enough to make it a bit less shiny. Then I wipe it down again to remove the sanding dust and let it sit a while to be sure it is completely moisture free.

When you spray the pieces, do it in even light coats. If you put it on to heavy, it'll run and you'll lose the smooth finish. Let it dry completely between coats - to soon and it will remain sticky and tacky.

At this point, you can choose to use the hardware as is or put a top coat of clear on. I like to use a matte or satin finish on both. I often don't use the top coat, it depends on the hardware. If you chose to do a top coat... again light coats.

Hope this helps with that "Ugly" hardware problem. It's amazing how a little coat of paint can transform a brassy looking piece into a classy-chic adornment for your decor.