In Partnership WithBEHR® Paint

This Kitchen Has a Clever Painted DIY That You Can Do This Weekend

updated Jul 28, 2022
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Credit: Photo: Sarah Crowley; Stylist: Amanda Wolfson Davis

There’s a lot to love in Rachel’s spacious and airy kitchen, which we recently gave a crisp and colorful makeover. Your eyes might go right to the walls (stunning!) or the cabinets (so fresh!). But there’s another painted detail that helps the room feel cohesive: the wall shelves and brackets coated with spray paint. It’s a small job that makes a big impact. Whether you’re working on a whole kitchen or a single piece of furniture, it can help your project look amazing, too.

Credit: Photo: Sarah Crowley; Stylist: Amanda Wolfson Davis

We painted Rachel’s formerly mismatched wall shelves and brackets with BEHR PREMIUM™ Chalk Decorative Spray Paint in Classic Noir. There’s just something so fun about using spray paint, but that’s not the only reason to grab a can. Think of it as a Saturday afternoon shortcut to your new favorite DIY project: an affordable, easy-to-use coat of personality. You can apply it over most surfaces (think: concrete, metal, and wood both old and new) with very little surface prep. The result is a near-instant smooth, matte finish.

“Using spray paint to change the color or texture of an object or piece of furniture can add newness to a room without having to make a new purchase or move all the furniture around,” says designer and visual artist Sara Weissler. It also goes on quickly, with a forgiving matte finish that adds subtle character. The nimble application makes it ideal for items that can stand alone or detach from your walls, like furniture, lamps, and — yes — shelving.

Credit: Photo: Sarah Crowley; Stylist: Amanda Wolfson Davis

Unifying the color helped to create a single visual unit in Rachel’s kitchen. “It also ties back into the countertop color and elements of the light fixtures,” Sara says. “All of these details produce an overall more cohesive look within the entire kitchen.”

Credit: Photo: Sarah Crowley; Stylist: Amanda Wolfson Davis

Chalk-style spray paint gave Rachel’s ho-hum shelves just the right amount of drama. “No one ever thinks to use black, but my new black shelves really help highlight other features in the kitchen, like the lighting,” she says. “And they make me feel daring!”