How to Spray Paint Floor and Wall Vents
April 09, 2013
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How to prep and spray paint floor registers for an easy upgrade.
Yes, you can spray paint your heat registers! Giving them a fresh coat of paint with this DIY project will make your floor vents look brand new and give your rooms an updated look.
Years ago I started spray painting something in our house that was sticking out to me – our floor registers. We used to have laminate floors that were a darkish reddish tone and I noticed immediately after they were installed that the light colored vents were sticking out like a sore thumb.
So I sprayed them. And wouldn’t you know it, four years later they are still looking pretty darn good! This air vent is in the kitchen and we walk on it daily: 
There are a few scratches on it but nothing major – I’m actually surprised at how well they have held up. This is after four years people!
So, it’s been a year and a half since we got our new finished on site hardwoods put in, and it’s taken a year and a half for me to continue the spray painting makeover throughout the rest of the main floor.
It’s just a little thing, the lighter registers bugged me EVERY time I took a photo of a space. Not enough to actually do anything about it for 18 months, obviously, but I did notice them.
Spring to a DIYer means many things – one if which is the ability to spray paint outside again – ‘tis a glorious thing. So I got to it.
1. Clean the registers well.
I always say the prep is the most important part of any spray paint project!
I took the register out (and covered up the hole because we have small animals that would go for a ride through the HVAC system), then cleaned it off:
You don’t have to go crazy here, give it a good wipe to get the dirt and grime off. If they are really bad, wash them in the sink with warm, soapy water. Make sure to clean between the slats well -- you can also run these through the dishwasher if yours are especially dirty.
Just make sure the vent is completely dry before painting!
If you have any imperfections in the surface like scratches or rust spots, knock those down with a wire brush or steel wool and then wipe away any dust. Wood vents should be prepped with a sanding block to remove any top coats.
While the vents are drying, you can vacuum the debris out of your air ducts while you have access!
2. Spray your registers!
We have dark hardwood floors, so I wanted the vents to blend in a little more. I've shared how much I love oil rubbed bronze spray paint:
It’s been a while my friend. I’ve missed you.
I went outside in the glorious warm weather and started spraying:
Then I waved at my neighbors, trying not to look like a freak for spray painting my registers and standing there taking a picture of myself while doing it. :)
I recommend opening the register and laying it in a cardboard box so you can spray from all angles. The box prevents the wind from affecting your spray.
I'm not concerned with covering every single spot inside the floor grates, but get what is most visible.
A few tips for a perfect spray paint finish:
- Good prep (cleaning and sanding) will prevent crackling and allow for the best adhesion.
- Thin, light coats are ideal -- if you hold the nozzle down and spray too much you'll get drips.
- Numerous light coats will look better than fewer heavy coats.
- Lighter coats dry much faster, so you'll be able to move on quicker!
Here’s a look at them in the floor in our old house, one painted, one not:
See how the the darker one kind of disappears and you don’t notice it as much? I don’t want to notice floor registers. :)
If you leave them outside to dry they’ll be ready to put back within ten minutes – as long as it’s not humid out. Avoid walking on them for a while so they can cure well:
Each one took me about five minutes start to finish, and then some drying time.
Again, it’s not a big change but I love it. Our floor vents are no longer the first thing I see when I walk in the room!
I doubt the lighter ones were standing out to anyone else, but I’m weird and it’s my house so I changed them. :)
You can also update metal vent covers on the walls or ceiling using this same process!
Have you spray painted your floor vents? It's a little thing that I find makes a big difference in our home!
Check out all of my spray paint projects and reviews here!
I agree with you, the dark registers make one of those indefinable differences that really improve a room. I've noticed the departure of ORB too. I've actually seen a lot of black metal coming in to replace it. My curtain rods are all black, for example.
ReplyDeleteI love the oil-rubber bronze, I am still changing out door knobs throughout the house to them. We bought the house will all shiny brass (ewww) and slowly it is turning into oil rubbed bronze.
ReplyDeleteI too love spray painting anything that is laying in one place to long. I just wish spring would come to Minnesota, expecting another 6 inches of the fluffy stuff tomorrow night...arrgghh. And spray paining in the garage makes my husband nervous, oh well.
www.grandmaagnesattic.blogspot.com
I hope orb doesn't ever completely leave us. I have gone through countless cans of orb spray paint. I love it mainly because it looks black when you need black and it looks brown when you need brown.
ReplyDeleteI'm okay with mixing finishes, so the lighter stainless is okay and I still have brass doorknobs and such. I would really hate to see antique brass come back. It's just not my favorite.
I agree, the dark registers look soo much better!
ReplyDeletelurve it. we're installing tile in our bathroom and i realized the stark white is not going to fly. spray paint will probably come to the rescue!
ReplyDeleteI'm with you about the crazy picture taking. I'm sure the neighbors wondered why I was taking pictures of cleaning out the garage on Saturday!
ReplyDeleteChristy @ Creating a Beautiful Life
I hope ORB isn't going away, I *love* that look! We're slowing renovating our house and I'm changing everything over to ORB. The Hubs isn't gonna like it if we "have" to change out again in a few years, HA! ;) (btw, thanks for the ORB definition...so much easier than typing it all out!)
ReplyDeleteI am on an ORB bandwagon and have been for awhile now. I prefer it over the antiqued brass that was around in the 70's and early 80's (and now again. :) ). I do mix finishes a bit throughout my house, mostly in the picture frames and decor pieces. Though I do not like my brass door knobs. The ones the builder put in are as cheap as they come. So, they are being replaced. Over the last couple of years, we have managed to get the main level and most of the 2nd floor switched to a quality ORB knob. Need to make sure to grab a few and put them away for if we *ever* finish the basement.
ReplyDeleteNo spray painting has commenced here yet this year. :( We have more snow coming in the forecast... The Twin Cities and Western WI is expecting 5-7 inches Thursday. It is cold and raining right now. I do have some spray paint projects and would really like to get them done... darn weather. I have sprayed brass picture frames to ORB. Last year, we sprayed the brass piece at the bottom of the glass storm door changing it to ORB (bought a new handle for the door in ORB. The brass was all pitted and looked terrible).
spray paint and garage sale season - they coincide for a reason :)
ReplyDeleteThis is so true! :)
DeleteHooray for spray paints!
ReplyDeleteIt looks so much better painted. We don't have floor registers here in the south (ours are on the ceiling), but they also need to be painted white since they have started to turn yellow.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure my neighbors think I'm nuts for taking pictures outside all the time, too. I had my husband hold my backside when I climbed up on the bumper of my car to get a better pic of my flowerbox on the second floor. He didn't complain ;) but I'm sure the neighbors were thinking we're kind of strange.
Agreed!! Luv spray paint!!
ReplyDeleteI luv them painted. I live in the South now, and we have them in the ceiling. I do miss the warmth of the heat coming from the floor vents though :-)
Yeah for spray paint!
Hugs, Gee
On the ORB bandwagon and attacking all the light switches and outlets!
ReplyDeleteLove it - they really do disappear. I laughed out loud when you mentioned the most boring photo albums ever. The other day, my husband and I were laughing at the screen saver on my computer. See, it randomly pulls images from the computer and shows each for 5-8 seconds. Before I blogged, it made sense...but now that I blog, it includes super random pictures like an empty frame, cupcake wrappers, and other post pictures. Oh well. :)
ReplyDeleteI like ORB in certain styles and homes. Use what ya want! :) I'm spray painting a bistro set that was left behind when we moved in. It's taken me a month to finish it. Using old paint stripper will do that to you. :)
ReplyDeleteYour ORB looks great where ever you use it. I have been using Rustoleum Hammered Brown on our registers and they blend in with our medium colored wood floors. The floors are a little lighter than yours. I hope ORB stays around!! I see stockpiling in my future?!
ReplyDeleteIt is nice to see a before and after. I was jut looking at mine and was wondering what they would look like painted. Soooo, going to spray mine.
ReplyDeleteJust say no to brass--didn't like it the first time around and I don't like it now, either. Spray paint is the bomb. So easy.
ReplyDeleteMy parents have copper, yes, REAL copper!, registers in their home. A few of them were badly damaged when they bought the house and they couldn't find similar to replace them. My mom busted out the copper spray paint and went to town. This was 47 years ago and she's been painting them (the replacements) eve since. We have iron registers throughout our home, so I leave them alone. Although, I did paint one of my bathroom grates white because it stuck out like a sore thumb against the white wall.
ReplyDeleteYes, I love the painted registers. For those one the walls, you can have your local paint store put regular wall paint into a spray can and the registers can be the same color as the wall. Super handy!
ReplyDeleteThey look great! I can't wait to get the spray paints out for spring. Unfortunately, here in MN it's currently snowing and we're under a winter weather advisory for the rest of the week :( If you do notice the paint chipping with use, another idea would be to have your floor people make grates to match the flooring. When we had hardwood put in a few years ago they made custom grates that sit flush with the floor, the same wood and finish so they really disappear. I think they were only about $20 per register, and they are one of our favorite features.
ReplyDeleteMy sister in law told me to check out your blog today because I just barely put up a post on spray painting door knobs! Great timing right!? Love your post
ReplyDeletecarefreeblonde.blogspot.com
I am in Minnesota too and counting down the days until I can get the spray paints out!
ReplyDeleteI'm fairly certain we were born with spray paint in hand (problem? Nah!). Two patio sets knocked out already this year! After re-doing ceilings, the vents HAD to be painted -- but we used white for those!
ReplyDelete<3 www.twobrokewives.com
I haven't even gotten on the ORB train yet. Maybe if I procrastinate long enough, my shiny brass will come back in style. LOL
ReplyDeleteso funny - my husband was just saying how he wanted to buy new register covers for the vents in the hardwoods and I was like "let's just spray them!".. he loves ORB, but I'm more of a brushed nickle kinda gal.. :o)
ReplyDeleteyou just gave me the boost I needed, we redid our bathroom a *few* years ago & went ORB on the faucets so I bought a can of ORB for the vents (ceiling & floor) but have been scared to take the plunge.. its now on my list to JUST DO IT this weekend! THANKS!! BTW, ORB will always have a place IMO!
ReplyDeletebut, i would use ORB on the vents!! I like brushed nickle on stuff like door knobs and sink faucets! weird huh
ReplyDeleteActually they do stand out to me, like baseboards and trim in white while the walls are a different color. But that's just me. I like disappearing non-decor items too!
ReplyDeleteI am also wondering if your neighbors found your blog and is reading this one saying "Now that's why she was taking pictures of the registers!"
ReplyDeleteORB can't go away!!!!! I love it so much!! We were using the ultra flat brown camo when I found orb and loved it so much. I was pretty new to your blog back then and it took me a while to realize, "Oh! This is the paint she's always talking about!!!! And yes! It's so awesome!!!!" I finally bought my mom a can because she was still using the camo and I knew she would like this even better- she just tried it on her outdoor furniture and she LOVES it!! Better start building a stockpile of it.
ReplyDeleteAfter spending all the cash on replacement door knobs, interior and exterior as well as lock sets to go from classy brassy to stainless....I am cheaping out and planning on spraying the closet doorknobs. Did a test and they look great. $$$ yay!
ReplyDeleteYup, already been spray painting and chalk painting. Been beautiful here the last few days so I can't resist. And yes, I will spray paint anything at this point too! Love how the registers disappear into your floor!
ReplyDeleteJeanine
I'm a huge ORB fan and never want it to go away. I'm still working on fixing up my 1974 house with all of the original finishes and ORB is helping cover some of that ickiness! I like the silver finishes as well, but never EVER want brass, antique brass or the black/hammered copper crap I currently have!
ReplyDeleteOh dear, now my floor vents are bugging me. ;)
ReplyDeleteI loved this post! I always spray paint our registers too! Btw, I have the same thoughts when I am painting outside and taking pics. I am sure my neighbors think I am nuts! Oh well. Our registers look good! ;)
ReplyDeleteWhen you originally painted yours (ok, some of yours) I immediately went to the store and copied off of you.... color, brand, everything! And, just like you, it took me weeks to do them all- and I only had seven to do! Love it- I wouldn't have thought to do mine the color you chose unless I saw yours first. Now I have to get thsoe wood floors redone. I LOVE your blog! Yours is the only one I check every day!! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI have a few floor vents that drive me crazy every time I see them and I think.. I really need to paint those!! I hadn't decided which way to go, light or dark - but after seeing your before and after I definitely think you're right on the darker vents disappearing more! I might just go ORB too. Thanks for posting this!
ReplyDeleteI love spray paint for projects like this, so easy and a dramatic change. Oh, and the smell :-)
ReplyDeleteI agree that the ORB is a trend on the out, but when it comes to a floor register, I think it'll be fine for good. The light ones weren't bad but the ORB looks better. And nothing screams "LOOK AT ME" than a brass one!! I have the same light fixture beside my bed and want them light stainless now!
ReplyDeletelol - I do the same exact thing. I spray painted the register AND the exhaust fan vent cover in my sons bathroom in ORB. LOVE how it makes those plain things look much nicer. :) I have used white paint, too. No more blah, blah weird tan color. ;) And yes, I am one of those people that spray painted every little detail on my register (top, bottom and flap things). Why? Cause I am neurotic like that. ;)
ReplyDeleteI also did the exact same thing! Such a simple change with such and impact and yes, ORB....I really enjoy reading your blog - thanks for all the ideas.
ReplyDeleteYou are certainly not alone on this one! We bought a new home, new to us, in the fall. I noticed the registers did not look right so part of them are spray painted and looking brand new. Now that its getting warmer, its time to become one with the spray can again.
ReplyDeleteI love that you posted this now because I've been thinking about replacing my ugly registers-now I'm just going to spray them instead! I still like the ORB too - I'd like to replace all of my brassy door knobs and hinges too, but we have an awful lot of doors . . .
ReplyDeleteI got mine for a good price online Kerry! You can find more info here: http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/03/how-to-install-new-knobs.html
DeleteThis week spring has finally hit in PA and we've been loving the warm weather. I spray painted a picture frame ORB the other day. Hmmm, my registers are looking pretty bad too, maybe they need to be painted. Thanks for the tip.
ReplyDeleteThe dark registers look way better, Sarah! You made me laugh with what your neighbors might think about you taking such pictures! :) That's what I'm always thinking while taking pics of the many pieces of wood I keep on cutting! :D Spray paint rocks!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the inspiration! After reading this post, I gathered up all my mismatched registers and ORB'd them up. They look fantastic and I feel like I've actually accomplished something today.
ReplyDeleteI was going to take out all of my first floor registers and do this, too. Luckily, the other two floors have the registers in the ceilings. So much easier for placing furniture. Why don't they do this on the main floor, too? I haven't done it yet because we have only had cold or wind or humidity, but at least when we get a warm dry day I will know I'm not the only weirdo who pulled out all her registers and spray painted them!
ReplyDeleteHi...I'm looking for a tall etagere like the one in your post. Where did you find it?
ReplyDeleteI found that one at HomeGoods a couple years ago. :)
DeleteI agree! Your registers look great!!! Yeah I do see less ORB. However, I was spray painting a fresh coat
ReplyDeleteof satin black on my wrought iron patio furniture and all I saw at Walmart was ORB spray paint. I heard brass is making a come back. Figures...I am never on top of a trend.... ;-)
This project has been on my to-do list in a while. Nice touch :)
ReplyDeleteWe just built a new addition onto our house for my father-in-law and all the fixtures are ORB. My husband loves it and I do, too. My second choice is the brushed nickle. This is one time I will just have to be behind the trend again. I have noticed some different bronze and copper finishes showing up, too.
ReplyDeleteWhen we had the heat and air added to the new space, they left white registers for the room and it has hardwoods. We went to purchase new ones, but I hated paying the price. I suddenly remembered your love for spray paint and ORB and headed to the paint aisle. If the wind has settled, today is the day they will be changed. I am so glad I saw this post this morning!
Thank you for this! Just bought a new house and im trying learn hoe to fix everything myself.
ReplyDelete