When it comes to spray painting, even do-it-yourselfers (DIYers) aim to create projects with professional-looking finishes. Whether your next project takes you indoors or out, Krylon® has plenty of spray painting tips, expert techniques and best practices to help you create quickly, safely and confidently.

Color lies at the heart of all design decisions. Using spray paint to refresh décor pieces and furniture is a seamless way to bring trending colors into the home without updating your entire space.

Your chosen spray paint colors will serve as your project’s foundation and can impact both the mood and flow of your space. Whether you lean on trending shades for smaller craft projects or look to experienced designers for popular styles and do-it-yourself project inspiration, here’s how to find your ideal spray paint color palette. 

Before spray-painting, select and set up an adequate workspace. We recommend finding an outside space or other well-ventilated area. Regardless of where you end up working, it’s always a good idea to wear a painting mask. When choosing your workspace, overspray is something else to keep in mind. Make sure your space is set apart from surfaces you don’t want to get paint on and that you’re working on an absorbent material, like cardboard or a drop cloth. You can always reference the back of the label for instructions.

Spray painting tip: Use a cardboard box to create your own spray booth for added protection against overspray.

While you can spray paint indoors in a well-ventilated area for a more controlled environment, we recommend tackling all your spray painting projects in an outside space for optimal safety*. Spray painting outdoors means there are several additional considerations to keep in mind prior to diving into your next DIY endeavor. You can’t control the weather, but it is a key factor in determining the best time and place to spray paint.

Best conditions for spray painting

Ideally, dry conditions with minimal wind, low humidity and some cloud cover work best for spray painting**. 

Humidity: Because high humidity slows spray paint dry time, we recommend spraying when humidity is below 60%. Additionally, high humidity can lead to condensation on surfaces, resulting in lifting or peeling after coating rather than a smooth, long-lasting finish.

Temperature: It’s best to spray paint in temperatures between 55° and 75°F but be sure to check your can label as some spray paints require varying ranges. When applied in temperatures above or below this range, spray paint can set too quickly, resulting in air bubbles. For the same reason, avoid painting in direct sunlight and keep in mind that the time it takes spray paint to cure and dry tends to be longer in cooler conditions. 

Wind :Avoid spray painting on windy days. Windy weather makes it difficult to control the direction of your spray and interferes with paint coverage. This results in more work—and cleanup—once your project is finished. If you are painting on a breezy day, be sure to set your workspace up with the wind at your back—blowing away from both you and your project.

Some spray paints, like Krylon’s Fusion All-in-One, don’t require sanding or priming. However, since all spray paints are different, it’s important to make sure your surface is free of debris for the smoothest possible finish.

First, remove any loose paint, rust or other previously applied coatings using a wire brush or sandpaper. Next, wipe the surface with a damp rag to remove any debris and allow it to dry completely.

Perhaps the most important of all spray painting tips involves application. How to spray-paint a variety of surfaces to ensure a smooth, seamless and professional-looking finished product comes down to just a few simple techniques.**

Tip #1: First, check the Krylon spray paint can label for dry time and other important instructions.

Tip #2: To minimize drips and areas of excess paint, hold your Krylon spray paint the recommended distance away from the surface of your project. This will be outlined on the can.

Tip #3: The best way to spray-paint is by using several thin coats, rather than a single thick coat. This results in a smoother, more consistent-looking finish, with fewer flaws.

Tip #4: Always start and finish your spray pattern off the object being painted and release the tip at the end of each pass to ensure even coverage across the entire surface area.

Tip #5: Use a smooth, even sweeping motion and overlap your spray pattern by about one-third with each pass.

Repeat the steps above until you’ve achieved your desired look.

Spray painting tip: For the best finish, avoid spray-painting in direct sunlight or hot, humid weather.