Here's How I Gave My Refrigerator a Facelift, Saving at Least $1,200

Of all the homes I've owned, it's easy to remember my favorite. It was outside a tiny village in Michigan, on a lake frequently infiltrated with lily pads. There had been very few updates to the home, but as they say, it "had good bones." It turned out to be my family's favorite because it's where we lived when our boys attended junior high and high school. It's where we were when two nieces and a nephew came to live with us, and the house was filled with laughter.

The house came with the ugliest refrigerator I had ever laid eyes on. It was avocado green, with ugly scratches from years of use. Worse yet, all the other kitchen appliances were stainless steel, which only made the refrigerator stand out more. When we finally resigned ourselves to buying a new one, the model I wanted was $1,200. That was a lot of money at the time.

I dislike few things in this world more than feeling as though I have no options, so I researched the possibility of giving the fridge a makeover with paint. The big advantage was having time to pad my savings account for a new one.

The operation gets underway

If maintaining our home wasn't so expensive, I would have probably hired someone to do the job, but I decided to tackle it myself. Truth be told, I was not 100% confident that I could make it work. I have never been particularly artsy, and I'm famous in our family for giving up on painting jobs mid-project.

However, by following these instructions to a tee, I was able to transform our ugly old refrigerator (and spare my personal finances the hit of buying a new one).

Prep work

• Empty the appliance (which, for me, meant moving items from the kitchen refrigerator to an even uglier fridge we kept in a storage room).
• Unplug the appliance. I don't want to brag, but I can unplug an appliance like a pro.
• Move the appliance to a well-ventilated space. For the first time, we were grateful for our uninsulated, terribly leaky, always freezing garage.
• Place a drop cloth under the appliance. This bit was a little tricky as I forgot all about drop cloths until the refrigerator had already been moved.
• Remove all knobs and handles. This part was so easy, it boosted my confidence.
• Clean the appliance. All the fingerprints, dirt, and grease that collect on the surface of appliances need to be removed. The easiest way to do that is by wiping them down with a mixture of detergent and hot water. And using a microfiber cloth will ensure no fibers are left behind.
• Look around for any rust spots. If you find rust, use a paint scraper to loosen any flaking paint.
• Look for dents and small holes. If you find any, standard auto-body filler is the perfect material to fill those areas. It dries hard and is easy to paint over.
• Give the appliance time to dry. If you've used auto-body filler, give it an hour to dry. While experts say it will dry in 20-25 minutes, it won't hurt to give it more time.
• Sand doctored areas. In the event you find rust or filled holes or dents, use a palm sander and 220-grit sandpaper to smooth those areas out.
• Clean away dust. Use denatured alcohol to wipe away dust.
• Take one more look. Look the appliance over from top to bottom to ensure there is no dust, dirt, or grease to be found.
• Cover areas you don't want painted. Use painter's tape here. I may have taken more time doing this than just about anything else because I didn't want the fridge to look as if it had been painted by a monkey.
• Purchase appliance paint. Appliance paint is made specifically for use on appliances. If you're unsure of which one to buy, ask a store employee for advice.

The fun part

• Slip on eye goggles and a face mask. I did not use goggles or a face mask, which may help explain a thing or two.
• Prime (maybe). Whether you should prime before painting is a matter of opinion. While some experts recommend brush-on primers like Sherwin Williams Extreme Bond and Insl-X Stix, others say to skip the primer. I did not prime the refrigerator before painting and thought it held up well. According to the website Hunker, appliance paint is designed to paint over factory appliance coating, which means you don't need primer. But check the instructions on your appliance paint before you begin.
• Apply the new paint color. Holding the can 12 to 16 inches from the appliance, spray in a steady motion. As you spray, slightly overlap each row of paint. Give the paint a solid 30 minutes to dry, then determine whether it needs another coat. If so, repeat the process.
• Be patient. Give the paint another 24 hours to dry before removing the tape, reattaching the handles, or using the appliance.

Three quick additional tips:

1. If you need a primer, make sure it's heat-resistant, particularly if you're painting the outside of your microwave.
2. If a drip occurs, allow it to dry and sand it away before touching up the area.
3. Having a drafty garage that was freezing cold in the winter meant the refrigerator had to be painted when the weather (and garage) was warm enough to allow the paint to dry properly.

If you have an appliance (or two) you would like to replace but don't have the funds in your checking account right now to purchase new models, a paint job may be enough to hold you over until you're ready to buy.