How to Paint Metal Lockers

4 Materials
Painting a salvaged set of metal lockers is easier than you may think!




Okay, let me start of by saying EASY doesn't mean it's not time consuming, because this project definitely takes some patience as you take each step. It will take several days to complete.





I rescued two sets of metal lockers from storage for FREE!
But they were filthy and a little rusty in spots so the first thing I had to do was clean them. I used TSP mineral spirits to wipe them down.





Then, I used a metal bit in my drill to remove as much rust as I could.





Then, we removed the top six doors, simply because that's the look we wanted.





Next, I used Rustoleum over the spots that were still a little rusty.









To paint, I used FolkArt chalk paint and a Homeright sprayer.





This sprayer was a lifesaver and got in all the nooks and crannies.
They took two coats of chalk paint.





The last thing I did was coat the lockers with several coats of clear polycrylic sealer. I did this by hand and with a brush, simply because it was raining outside for days so I didn't use my power sprayer.





These have been in my sons room for about 2 months now, and I've had very very minimal wear. There's a few spots that something hefty hit the paint and left a scratch or two, but very little.


These lockers look amazing!
Suggested materials:
  • Chalk paint
  • HomeRight power sprayer
  • Rustoleum
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Molly - Just a Little Creativity
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
  3 questions
  • Diane Bishop Diane Bishop on Mar 13, 2017
    I heard that spraying chalk paint can cause a clogging issue. Did you experience any problems?
  • Sim8336156 Sim8336156 on Apr 03, 2017

    Where can I get a set of lockers like this?

  • Rachel Marie Rachel Marie on Oct 29, 2017

    Hey this looks great! :)but how did you get the doors off??

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