The Smart Hack That Makes Painting Small Cabinet Knobs A Breeze

Paint is a great way to change your decor without spending a fortune. Decided all your frames need to go from black to gold? A little gold paint will do the trick. Changed out your bedroom's color palette? Try painting your furniture to match. There's no decor crisis a little paint can't fix (except maybe fabrics, although that is debatable). 

Spray painting knobs is an easy way to add a pop of color and visual interest to a monotone dresser or to give your kitchen an upgrade on a budget. However, it can be more difficult than you'd think to spray paint small, lightweight items. This is because the force of the spray can actually knock the knobs over, creating smudges where the knob falls and where your hands inevitably grab to place it upright. There's also a good chance they'll get knocked over before they're fully dry, and the bottom edge of the wet knob will often stick to the protective tarp beneath and pull off the paint. Fortunately, there's a smart hack that makes painting small cabinet knobs a breeze — just as it should be. 

Place toothpicks into a piece of cardboard, and place the knobs on top. You'll be able to get every angle of the knob (including the bottom) without smudges, it will remain safe from tipping over, and the cardboard will provide a protective surface you can accidentally spray until your heart's content. 

Whether you're spray painting a small cabinet knob or a large piece of furniture, you can master spray painting with a few simple tips. Never spray paint in an enclosed area. Before moving outside, wait for a day with no rain and temperatures between 50 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Even outside, it is a good idea to protect yourself from fumes and paint spray with a mask and protective goggles. Spray paint travels farther than you'd think, so cover all nearby areas with a protective cover.

The toothpicks and cardboard method is a paint hack worth trying for your cabinet knobs, but you may need to make adjustments. If you are spray painting outdoors and find small gnats and mosquitoes are getting stuck in wet paint, try using a cardboard box instead of a single piece of cardboard. The sides of the box will protect your knobs from bugs, wind, pollen, and debris and also protect the surrounding areas from rogue spray paint. Just make sure your box is large enough to get your hands in and spray all sides.  

If you find your knobs are sliding around precariously on the toothpicks, you can use a screw or thicker wooden skewer instead of a toothpick. Using the same type of screw found in the cabinet, push it through the bottom of the cardboard so it comes out the other side. Screw the knob onto the screw, leaving enough space to paint the bottom. You can also use a piece of foam instead of cardboard as the base.