How To Update All Your Fixtures for $3!

by Living in a Fixer Upper

$3.00

1 Hour

Easy

You don't always need new fixtures for a new look! If you like your fixtures but not the color or dinginess, here's an easy and very budget-friendly fix.

how to update all your fixtures for 3, diy, how to, painted furniture

I got an old buffet at an estate sale and had just finished painting it. Turning to the last step of adding back the fixtures, I noted that I liked the original fixtures that came with the buffet, but they were a faded metal; you could see a little luster left to them, but only if you saw them up close.

It was a fact in my mind when I started that I wanted to have gold to compliment the dark blue of the painted buffet and give the piece that extra "pop". I didn't have the budget for all-new fixtures, so that wasn't an option. I know some people spray paint their fixtures metallic colors, but I wanted a bit more of a natural semi-worn coloring, and was also concerned that the spray paint wouldn't hold up to use.

Somewhere in my search for alternatives I came across "Rub 'n Buff", a finish you can work into metals and other surfaces and comes in different shades of gold, silver, and bronze. Armed with a coupon, I got the stuff at a craft store for approximately $3.

For prep, the fixtures had some built-up grit, so I just washed and sanitized the fixtures and then set them aside to dry.

Once they were dry, I took a toothbrush (you can get cheap packs of 6 at the dollar store) and squeezed out a tiny bead of the rub 'n buff onto the brush, then worked the brush in small circles on the fixture.

If you look at the picture above, you can see in the circled area the bit that I've just brushed the rub 'n buff and the contrast with the rest of the untouched fixture.

When I finished rubbing the gold into all the fixtures, I let them dry overnight and was able to affix them onto the buffet the next day.

It's already been a few months, and the color has held up very well so far with no signs of wearing. Love how easy and inexpensive this was!

P.S. - To all wondering about the color, it is Miss Mustard Seed's milk paint in Artissimo, finished off with hemp seed oil. :) Can find out more on it here: http://dravenmade.blogspot.com/2014/08/say-hello-to-artissimo-blue-buffet.html

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1 question

Car28688875 on Aug 02, 2017

I love the results you get with this product. I used Rub 'n Buff on some engraved jewelry to fill in the engraving, and it rubbed off! What do you do so that it is permanent on places like drawer handles? thank you so much!

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David Roddis on Mar 25, 2015
@DravenMade Beautiful results, I'm inspired. And I really love the blue-grey color you've chosen. I take it milk paint is an old-fashioned type of paint?

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- Living in a Fixer Upper on Mar 25, 2015
  @David Roddis Thanks! Yup, milk paint has been around for thousands of years and is made of naturally found ingredients - non-toxic. I have a post about it here if you're interested in learning more :) http://dravenmade.blogspot.com/2014/08/milk-paint-mixology-101.html
  
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- David Roddis on Mar 25, 2015
  @DravenMade I will check that out for sure, I googled the term and found guess who? Martha Stewart of course, with an informative article. Fascinating. Thanks for the info.
  
  1
Regina on Nov 17, 2016
Gorgeous job!

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