How To Spray Paint Ceramics

How to spray paint ceramics. This is one of the easiest transformations ever. All you need is a project, sandpaper and spray paint. Its an easy, fun and inexpensive way of updating old home décor.


The process of painting ceramics is easy, with a few slight variations it does requite some special preparations and supplies. You can use spray paint or a paintbrush to apply paint to ceramic, and you can add fun details with paint pens and brushes.

These ceramic bunny ornaments have been in storage since we changed the theme in our bedroom, but I just couldn't bare to part with them. We have a thing for cute bunny décor in this household. So I thought that it was time to give them a fresh new look and give them a new lease of life.


Before spray painting any kind of ceramic, remember preparation is an absolute must! If you want a clean, precise finish, you cannot skip the prep work! To begin your upcycling project, you will want to make sure that the pieces are thoroughly cleaned. You could pop them in the dishwasher or pop them in some warm soapy water and a sponge.

Paint will stick to glazed ceramics as long as you prep the piece before painting. With the right prep work any paint will stick following these spray painting steps. Lightly sand the surface with 100 grit sandpaper to rough up the surface to provide something for the primer and paint to stick to. Then wash and allow to fully dry. Next use a spray primer or a all in one primer and paint spray paint. Shake the can well and apply a light coat and let it dry for 10-15 minutes. 


Next, shake the spray paint can and apply one even coat, let dry for about 5-8 minutes and then add another light coat, allowing plenty of drying time. It's very important to lightly coat with a spray and layer it evenly. Apply the paint in zigzag line all over including the top, front and sides.

We used Plasti-kote Super Spray Paint which is a highly versatile spray paint that is tough, hard wearing and resistant to scratches. It's very UV absorbent, water resistant, and will not fade or yellow. You can choose from a range of different colours and finishes. For this upcycling project I decided to use a matte finish for my ceramic bunnies.


There is nothing worse than spray painting something and you see a drip. The best thing to do is prevent drips before they start. The two causes of drips are spraying too close to the piece and spray painting when the weather isn’t great, 

To prevent this from happening it is best to stand back and spray paint in light even coats. Too much spray paint in one area will cause a drip, which I did on the first bunny! It is also worth mentioning that you shouldn't spray paint in humid weather or keep your project in the direct sunlight, it can leave little bubbles between layers. If you do get drip, just blot and wipe it smooth where you can.

After a couple of learning curves, I was super happy with the final result. They are going to look great on my kitchen shelf or in my daughter's bunny themed bedroom. 

What do you think? Will you have a go at spray painting ceramics to give it a fresh new look?

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