
Check out my new spray-painting “tent.” I don’t have a garage, and I don’t like to spray paint inside my apartment. Spray painting outside is also problematic because of the lovely ocean breezes. Then I found a plastic wardrobe discarded on the side of the road. It wasn’t sturdy enough to hold clothes, and it was covered in rips. A few pieces of white duct tape, and it was good to go. I simply turned it upside down and laid down a sheet of cardboard to create a spray-painting tent. Works like a charm. The tent blocks the wind while spraying and keeps what’s inside dust free while it dries. Plus it keeps the overspray from floating everywhere. The trick: Zip the flaps closed after each coat and wait about 30 minutes while the paint dries and the dust settles.
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November 15, 2010 at 3:57 pm
Genius!
November 15, 2010 at 4:26 pm
That’s using your head! Although, I might take the ocean breezes over spray painting any day! : ) With the colder weather coming here, outdoor spray painting days are numbered. I have a garage, but it winds up smelling so if I spray paint anything, it will be things that are important to me to get done. Otherwise, it’s the old paint can and brush way until Spring!
November 15, 2010 at 4:29 pm
I have the same issue with apartment dwelling, my question is how do you deal with the cold? It seems like it says on the can not to use below 65 degrees or thereabouts.
November 15, 2010 at 4:32 pm
BRILLIANT!!!!
November 15, 2010 at 4:40 pm
Brilliant! I’m definitely going to keep my eye out for one of those at garage sales!
November 15, 2010 at 6:50 pm
AWESOME!! Genius!! you’re so smart!
November 15, 2010 at 9:02 pm
Swoodson – The cold is a problem. It’s best to follow the temperature guideline on the can. However, I painted last week in slightly colder weather, and it came out just fine. It just took longer to dry.
November 15, 2010 at 9:34 pm
Monica, thanks for letting me know! I am relatively new to spray painting (not that you could tell from my collection of paints, ha!) and I thought maybe it would make it crack or look dull. Wouldn’t it be nice if it was just 70 degrees every day!! Thanks!!
November 15, 2010 at 9:49 pm
Now you have added to my Christmas list! Thank you. :) ~Kelly
unDeniably Domestic
November 16, 2010 at 1:22 am
How absolutely brilliant! It’s impossible to spray paint outside this time of year in Norway and when living on the 5th floor it’s not very practical running up and down the stairs either. And with my lack of neatlyness (if that’s a word) spraying inside the appartment would be a disaster! IKEA here we come I think!
November 16, 2010 at 4:18 am
Now that’s innovation Monica! Well done!
November 16, 2010 at 4:33 am
This is just amazingly simple! Last summer I did my first spray painting jobs and the wind was a problem for me (so was getting the coat even) and it felt like spray paint was everywhere else but on the object intended. Great job and thanks for sharing!
November 16, 2010 at 5:07 am
What a smart idea! Featured at Craft Gossip :) http://homeandgarden.craftgossip.com/diy-spray-paint-tent/
November 16, 2010 at 5:59 am
Ingenious!
November 16, 2010 at 6:26 am
Absolutely genius
November 16, 2010 at 6:58 am
that is really awesome ! I know my husb flips too when i mention the spray painting words, we also live on water so wind is usally always a issue too, this is so great and free too, now ya cant beat that one !
November 16, 2010 at 9:32 am
Genius!! The best part I have one of those already taking up space in my garage!!
November 16, 2010 at 9:53 am
I was actually just running something thru my head last night about maybe using a childs tent or even an regular type smaller tent for the bigger projects like tables. We have a garage but with so many motorcycles in and out all the time the overspray/paint dust is a concern. I just started DIY projects and I am loving it, but not the creative things I have to do to prep a surface area…haha
Lynn
mycreativityunleashed.blogspot.com
November 16, 2010 at 6:06 pm
You are so smart! I don’t even like to spray paint in my backyard because the spray tends to float to the fence, dogs, etc. Now I’m on the lookout for a plastic wardrobe!
November 17, 2010 at 9:00 am
Perfectly clever!
November 18, 2010 at 12:39 am
Genius. Patent it.
November 18, 2010 at 7:06 pm
WOAH! Awesome!!!!!! great idea =) i usually almost pass out painting in my tiny garage.. eek! no more of that!
xoXOxo
November 20, 2010 at 10:31 pm
what a fabulous idea!!!
December 4, 2010 at 8:56 pm
I’m so excited about this because I am ALWAYS spray painting something! It is cold in the midwest….I’m all over this…THANK YOU!
December 7, 2010 at 9:03 pm
This is brilliant! I’ve been looking for a way NOT to spray paint all over my kitchen floor (or my landlords’ back yard :) ). Genius, genius, genius.
December 7, 2010 at 9:27 pm
Oh, and two more ideas… Do you think that it is possible to rig up something similar from an old vinyl shower curtain and some corrugated cardboard from shipping boxes? Also, I’d be curious to see what happens with the back surface of the “tent” after you paint a number of objects in a number of colors. You could end up with a beautifully messy DIY “canvas” that can be stretched over a frame… Just an idea.
January 2, 2011 at 9:12 am
This is brilliant! I have the same problem of wanting to spray paint more often and not having a good spot. I was JUST dreaming up something like this the other day! Many of your ideas are similar to things I think about as well! The oatmeal covered containers for gift wrap….just thought of that the other day as well! Too funny… great repurposing minds think alike! ;-) Thanks for a great blog to find all these ideas in one place and inspire me to use some things I’ve been saving but just haven’t figured out why yet!
January 18, 2011 at 6:47 pm
This is pure genius!!! You are one clever gal. off to see more of your blog!!
blessings
barbara jean
January 28, 2011 at 9:24 am
So clever! I love this idea.
March 21, 2011 at 10:11 pm
I am definitely going to find some sort of tent for spray painting in my screened in porch. Or, since I’m on the ground floor, I could probably drag it outside. Apartment living makes spray painting difficult! Thanks for the awesome idea =)
DIY Spray-Painting Tent | Shelterness said,
June 8, 2011 at 8:10 am
[...] wardrobe, repaired it and turned it upside down. The tent she got works like a charm. Visit her blog to find out what else she’s [...]
August 5, 2011 at 8:50 am
You are my hero. This will save me from a new case of blue spray paint feet. Thank YOU!
September 29, 2011 at 5:54 am
Priceless-ly clever – thanks so much for sharing!!
September 29, 2011 at 1:36 pm
You saved me just in time! I was just about to throw one of these away, at the same time winter’s coming and my poor basement tends to fill up with fumes and drive my husband away while I’m hard at work. Problem solved! Thank you!
October 4, 2011 at 12:09 pm
I spray paint all the time and think you are a GENIUS! Now I’m going to be scouring Goodwill for one of these babies! :)
October 10, 2011 at 6:01 pm
As an apartment dweller, where do you store your spray paints? I’m trying to figure this one out for myself… Mine are currently out in the carport (too small to be called a garage) but it is getting cold and I don’t know if that is bad for the paints…
October 10, 2011 at 8:36 pm
Kate – I store my spray paints in a cabinet in my carport too. Some of them have spent a couple winters there to no ill effect, but I do live in a rather mild climate. I wouldn’t worry; I think heat is more of a problem than cold, but read what the can says just to be sure.
November 23, 2011 at 9:02 am
this would make a great lightbox for photographers too! :o)