All the Colors of the Rainbow…
Painting aluminum Venetian blinds can be fun and fulfilling, especially when you take a step back and look at what you've done. You could add some sunshine, a few colors of the rainbow, and the infinity of the sea and the sky by simply changing the color of your aluminum Venetians in a few easy steps. When you chose this type of window treatment you were probably guided by their durability and easy maintenance. However, as it usually is the case, people tend to get bored of looking at the same window scene over and over again. That is probably the right time to start a remodeling project which includes repainting your aluminum Venetian blinds which is a more cheap option to buying new ones. Since you are probably looking for a budget solution, I herewith offer some tips on painting aluminum Venetian blinds in a few easy steps.
If you have decided to paint your metal Venetian blinds, this is what you should do.
1. The first thing you will need to do is to remove the blinds. Do not worry, it is not as hard as it may seem at first. Simply use a screwdriver to take off the end caps from the bottom of the blinds. Then untie the string connecting the blinds and remove the slats. If you have previously installed your Venetians, this should be a piece of cake for you. On the other hand, if everything looks to complicated or you are simply not that crafty, simply follow the manufacturers instructions that you received when purchasing the blinds or ultimately ask someone to help you.
2. The next step involves cleaning the blinds. Your aluminum Venetians need to be properly cleaned and all the dust, dirt and debris properly removed, since paint should be applied only to clean and smooth surfaces, otherwise your painting job will be hindered and you could face some inconsistencies. Cleaning aluminum blinds is very easy. For a more thorough cleaning, you could soak them into water (bath tub for instance), wash them using some mild soap or detergent and rinse them with shower. You could also use a cloth or a sponge and a bucket of clean, cold water. Simply add some soap to the cloth, apply it to each slat and rinse it with another clean, wet cloth. That is it. Note that your blinds need to be completely dry before adding paint, so use a dry towel to collect the remaining water or better yet leave them outside to dry.
3. Now let's move on to painting your aluminum Venetian blinds. It is best done outside, since it involves using spray paint which could spray and damage surrounding objects. If you decide to paint the blinds inside, always take some precautions, that is properly protect your floors, walls and furniture. Before adding the paint you will need to add a bonding primer. The primer especially designed for metal will allow the paint to stick to your metal blind surface and also cover any existing stains. Apply the primer on each slat of the blind and make sure to cover entire surface equally. The primer will have to be left to dry (for about an hour) when you can apply it to the other side of the blind.
4. When the primer is completely dry, you can start painting your aluminum Venetian window blinds. Choose spray paint for metal surfaces. You should add the paint in more than one layer in order of getting the color intensity you probably want and preventing the paint from pealing off or fading in time. Add two or three layers of paint to each slat and leave them to dry (again for optimally one hour, but this may depend on the paint). Repeat the process on the other side of the blind. When the paint is dry, you can reassemble and attach your Venetians. Consider your job done.
Always bear in mind that you are not limited by using only one color for the blinds. You could mix colors, make some patterns, paint each slat a different color. It is entirely up to you. However if you think that painting your metal Venetians is a tedious and boring job, you could always get the real deal, that is some colorful, new aluminum blinds in a whole diapason of colors.
