$5 Galvanized Bucket Makeover

So a few weeks ago I was blissfully browsing around Target by myself when I decided to take a quick stroll through the dollar spot. I was actually looking for some cute Valentine’s day goodies for my kids when I found a stack of full size galvanized buckets. And the best part is they were only five bucks each! FIVE BUCKS. I couldn’t believe it, so of course I grabbed a few and brought them home. Well I ended up doing a little DIY galvanized bucket makeover on those babies and I gotta say–they turned out pretty darn cute. I shared a look at them in this post last week, but I figured it would be fun to share how I actually did it. Ok, first up let’s start with how the buckets looked before:

$5 Galvanized Bucket Makeover

They’re definitely cute buckets and I especially fell in love with those wooden handles. But I wanted to make them look a bit more vintage and a little less shiny. So first I started by using a toilet bowl cleaner to take some of the shiny/new look off the buckets.

$5 Galvanized Bucket Makeover

This is an old trick that can work to make metal look more antiqued. You basically just cover the metal in a thick layer of an acidic toilet bowl cleaner, then leave it for thirty minutes to an hour. The longer you leave it the more vintage it will look. After you wipe it off the metal looks more aged and less shiny.

$5 Galvanized Bucket Makeover $5 Galvanized Bucket Makeover

Next up I painted each bucket with my Magnolia Home Chalk Paint. I applied one light coat and while the paint was still wet I used paper towels to wipe it down. I did this to give the bucket more of a white washed, uneven look.

$5 Galvanized Bucket Makeover

$5 Galvanized Bucket Makeover

Finally I sanded down the buckets with a very light grit sandpaper (I used 320) just to give them even more of an aged look. Here’s how they turned out!

Galvanized Bucket Makeover

Not too bad, right? I kinda love how they have an imperfect, aged look now. I feel like this will be great for spring and summer decor. And they’d even work for fall–you could put a big ol’ pile of pumpkins in there. And even a mini Christmas tree. Lots of fun possibilities with these buckets.

Little spring decor in the living room. A fresh and easy spring decor idea for the living room.

I still can’t get over the fact that those buckers were only five dollars. Talk about a bargain! And now I kinda want to go back to Target and grab a few more. You know, just in case one of these would happen to break or who knows I could lose one. Every girl needs a couple extra buckets on hand at all times, right? Right.

Well I hope you enjoyed this quick and easy little DIY galvanized bucket makeover. Thanks for dropping by the blog today!! xo

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Leave a Comment!

35 Comments

  1. 2.14.19
    Tammy said:

    I am going to Target!!!!!

    Have a blessed Valentine’s Day

    Love your blog friend
    Tammy

    • 2.18.19
      Sarah said:

      hope you found some Tammy!!!

  2. 2.14.19
    Lisa said:

    Love the idea! I found some last year at the Dollar General for $5 and absolutely love how they looked, but this year I might do that technique with them but use a light teal with the white!

    Thanks for sharing and Happy Valentines Day!

    Lisa

    • 2.18.19
      Sarah said:

      oh that sounds awesome, Lisa! Good luck. xo

  3. 2.14.19
    Candy said:

    Good Morning Sarah
    Thank you so much for the DIY on how to paint the wonderful buckets. When I saw them last week on your site I feel in love with them and now I am going to do this. First I better go buy these treasures…toilet bowl cleaner blew my mind, who would have thought!
    You are amazing

    • 2.18.19
      Sarah said:

      haha thanks Candy!! That’s an old trick with the toilet bowl cleaner!

  4. 2.14.19
    Angela Tomaselli said:

    Hi Sarah, I enjoyed how you love your coffee post so I bought it all on Amazon. Am waiting for my package to arrive. Can’t wait 😊 I really enjoy reading your email daily. Thanks oh Happy Valentine Day 🌹

    • 2.18.19
      Sarah said:

      oh yay!! Hope you enjoy it as much as I do Angela!! xo

  5. 2.14.19
    Carol Holtorf said:

    Thank you for the tip on how to age metal. I would never had thought of toilet bowl cleaner. I like how your buckets turned out.

    • 2.18.19
      Sarah said:

      of course! It was a fun little project and that toilet bowl cleaner it’s an old trick!

  6. 2.14.19
    Rene Wintere said:

    I love your ideas & different ways of styling furniture tops & shelves. I’d love if you can show ideas for styling over tall bookcases or armoires esp if room has high ceilings.

    • 2.18.19
      Sarah said:

      I can definitely try to do the soon Rene!

  7. 2.14.19
    jennifer bacon said:

    So cute! What a great idea! Now I wanna antique all the metal in my house!

    • 2.18.19
      Sarah said:

      haha go for it Jennifer!

  8. 2.14.19
    Sandee Coules said:

    Love this and I love the table they’re on!! Where did you get it from?

  9. 2.14.19
    Debbie said:

    Hi Sarah, Thanks for sharing the DYI on making the buckets looks more vintage. I couldn’t believe how easy it is to do. I’m heading to the Target Dollar Spot tomorrow and plan on picking up a couple of buckets and trying this technique. I can’t wait to see how they turn out! Thanks for sharing friend. ❤️👍

    • 2.18.19
      Sarah said:

      hope you found some buckets Debbie!!

  10. 2.14.19
    Sheila Nokes said:

    Great Idea love it!

    • 2.18.19
      Sarah said:

      thank you Sheila!

  11. 2.14.19
    Teresa W said:

    What a great deal! I love the aged look you gave them. I am wondering if you know of a way that one could give those wooden handles an aged look as well? I am not by any means saying that yours needs it. Just asking if you have any tips on how to do it! Thank you. I really enjoy your blog 🙂

    • 2.18.19
      Sarah said:

      That’s a great question. I have no idea actually. I should have tried the toilet bowl cleaner on them. Might be a fun experiment!

  12. 2.14.19
    Kristi said:

    Sarah, this is such a great DIY. I’ve done the aging with the toilet bowl cleaner before but then never painted them and I am in love with this. Can’t wait to run to target and give this a try! Thank you for sharing!

    • 2.18.19
      Sarah said:

      Thanks Kristi!! It was such a fun little project!

  13. 2.14.19
    Lisa said:

    Thanks for the easy craft lesson.. I must go find some buckets and make some of these cute buckets !!
    Hope you have a beautiful Valentine’s Day 🙌🏻💖🙌🏻💗

    • 2.18.19
      Sarah said:

      thanks for stopping by Lisa!

  14. 2.15.19
    Melissa Filson said:

    These turned out super cute and I love the ferns!! Have you ever tried to age copper? I found a cute little copper canister for $2 🙌 at a thrift store a few days ago but I kinda want to give it an aged look so it’s not quite so shiny. I thought it would make a cute little flower pot! Hope you’re having a better week and have a great weekend!!

    • 2.18.19
      Sarah said:

      Thanks Melissa! I haven’t tried to age copper but I want to. Worth a try!!

  15. 2.16.19
    Freda said:

    I love your blot can’t wait to see more ideas 💡

  16. 2.17.19
    Stella said:

    Awesome can’t wait for more. Thanks

  17. 2.18.19
    Fiona said:

    I went to Target and unfortunately no cute galvanized pails!! Quite disappointed!!

    Also, the cute French seed packets – I believe the name of the seller is simplyfrrenchvintage – instead of simplefrenchvintage!

    No worries I found the vendor but not the deal you found!

    • 2.20.19
      Sarah said:

      Hi Fiona! What a bummer you didn’t find those buckets. I wonder if Hobby Lobby has any similar?

  18. 2.20.19

    I LOVE THESE!!! I am so impressed by how easy and simple they are! I am for sure going to be picking some of these up and copying this!!

    • 2.20.19
      Sarah said:

      hope you can find some Anna!!

  19. 2.24.19
    Sharon Isaac said:

    Love this diy Sarah! So easy but very effective! Am gonna have to buy myself some galvanised buckets!