How To Paint Light Fixtures (DIY With & Without Removal)

Spray painting your light fixtures offers a fast and easy way to totally transform the entire vibe of your room without breaking the budget. 

However, you may be wondering if it is safe to spray paint a light fixture, or is this an activity to be avoided? The simple response to can you paint light fixtures is a resounding yes - this is a fairly simple task, as long as you remember a few basics. 

The good news is that almost any light fixtures can be sprayed - and in most cases, you can even spray paint light fixtures without removing them from the ceiling to make the task even easier. You are also free to paint almost any type of light fixture like bathroom light fixture. 

So if you are wondering how to spray paint a metal light fixture, how to paint over a metal light fixture, curious about how to paint exterior light fixtures or bathroom light fixture, or have questions about spray painting glass light fixtures, then you will be pleased to know that all of these surfaces can be spray painted and upgraded as you wish. 

You will just need to take care to stay safe and follow the required processes while completing your project. 

One of the most important considerations to bear in mind when updating old light fixtures to new new light fixture is keeping yourself safe, which means having the right tools on hand. There are a few must-haves that you will need to collect before apply few coats of spray paint for painting a light fixture with light coats, and these include: 

It is important to collect all of the tools that you need before starting, to ensure that you have them to hand for ease and convenience. 

There are two options when it comes to spray painting your light fixtures: you can leave them up or take them down.

We will cover both options, starting with taking down your outdoor, dining room and other light fixtures, and this requires just a few simple steps: 

The most important thing to ensure is that you turn off the electricity before you paint light fixtures, whether you are leaving them up or taking them down - if you skip this step, you could end up with a nasty electric shock! 

Go ahead and switch off that circuit breaker. Next, use the screwdriver to remove the black light fixture from the ceiling - this usually has a few screws and, depending on how new it is, should be fairly easy to take down. 

However, if this is the first time you have removed the light fitting, or it has been a while, you may find this step a struggle. In the worst case, you could bring down plaster and paintwork, and may need to sand and possibly repaint the ceiling surface prior you reattach the entire fixture. 

Once you have your light fixture down in front of you, it is time to give it a good clean. You can use rubbing alcohol to wipe over the surface of the light fixture to prepare it and make sure it is clean and neat - this will help the paint to adhere. 

The next step is to add tape to the area of light bulbs you do not want to paint - use painters’ tape to block these off. 

Now, go over the surface of the light fitting with the sandpaper - don’t worry too much about scratching the surface, as these will be spray painted over. 

The next stage is to choose the paint you want to use. We have established that the answer to “can you paint a light fixture?” is a resounding yes, but you may be wondering - can you spray paint a light fixture?

The answer here is once again, yes; you can use both spray paint and brush paint (avoid brush strokes), such as chalk paint, to revamp your light fitting in breakfast nook and pendant lights in breakfast nook - the most important thing to establish is that you use heat resistant paint.  When you're painting the walls and priming them to block the color/odor a Paint Stick will save you a ton of time.

Apply paint in the appropriate and specific direction. Hold the can about eight to 12” from the object you're painting and keep the can moving to avoid excess paint that can drip.

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It is important that you allow the first coat of paint to dry completely before applying second coat. Then reattach the light fixture - try and leave it somewhere in well ventilated area.

Once the painted light fixture is dry, you can reattach the painted light fixture to the ceiling, turn on the light switch, and then sit back and enjoy your stunning new look that will be totally changed! 

In some cases, taking the light fixtures down to paint them may not be possible - you may lack confidence in your DIY skills, not have the time, effort or resources to remove the light, or you may be living in a rented home, and worried about the risk of taking things down. 

If any of these are the case - or you just can't be bothered to take the fixture down - then all is not lost; you can also learn how to paint a light fixture without taking it down in just a few simple steps. 

As before, you need to ensure that you turn off the power before spray painting light fixture models of any type - and this is particularly important if you are not taking them down, as you are likely to have increased contact with the current and with the power. 

Remove any glass shades from the light fixture, and set these aside somewhere safe. 

Use the screwdriver to loosen the light fixture just a little bit - this will allow you to place painter's tape underneath and around the bottom of the fixture to prevent the spray painting from getting on the ceiling. 

When you remove the fixture, this could cause a little damage if you have never removed the entire light fixture before, so be prepared for this. 

You can also choose to tape sheeting or covers across the ceiling around the outside of the light fixture if you are worried about making a mess - just make sure that the edges are neat and sharp so that you spray painting all of the light fixture. 

Just as before, you will need to choose the right type of new paint for your needs; both spray and brush paint can be used here, though spray paint is likely to be easier if you are not removing the fixture, as this is less delicate and intricate. 

If you are using spray paint, take extra care to protect the ceiling around the light. Add a tiny bit of water to the paint can if the paint is too thick.

Once everything is in place, you can spray paint the light fixture with spray paint or use the brush to apply your chosen paint. Leave it to dry completely before using the light again. 

Once the fixture is dry, remove the tape and reattach the fixture to the ceiling. 

When everything is done, turn the power back on and enjoy your stylish new fixture! 

Different fixtures will have different requirements, and you may be wondering how to paint outdoor light fixtures without taking it down?

The process for this is almost identical to the steps above, with two main differences: you will need to remove any rust before you apply the paint, and use both a primer and a sealant to make sure that the paint stays in place. 

This extra step will also be necessary if you are painting bathroom light fixtures. This post on paint bathroom light fixtures will show you how to paint bathroom light fixture.

Spray painting your light fixtures is a great idea to transform your space and add a new lease of life to any home without breaking the bank or experiencing the drama of a total revamp.

With our top diy project tips, you will have stunning new light fittings in no time!