Chalk Painted Typewriter Makeover

Happpppppy Spray Paint Saturday!! Kidding. I just made that up. But it’s kinda catchy, right? And it’s actually perfect because today I have a fun little project that involves spray paint and an old typewriter I recently found at one of my favorite thrift stores. This typewriter wasn’t a very interesting find, in fact it was kinda ugly. But it was $30 and I thought maybe it could be something fun. So I brought it home, put it in my decor storage closet and that’s where it’s been for a while now. Well I was digging around in that closet the other day when I found the typewriter, so I brought it out and decided to do a little spray paint experiment with it. I wasn’t sure how it would go, but I actually love the way it turned out so I thought it would be fun to share this project with you guys today. Okie dokie, let’s start with the before photo:

Kinda blah, right? I feel like I’ve seen a million typewriters like this over the years and I think it’s from the 1950’s. The tan and green combo just wasn’t doing it for me, so I grabbed my chalky spray paint and got to work.

For this project I used the Rust-Oleum chalked matte spray paint in the color Charcoal. I really wanted it to have a matte finish, so this was a great option. I did two heavy coats and it went on super easily, which I was kind of surprised at because the typewriter is such a slick surface! Here’s how it looks now:

Chalk painted typewriter makeover. Cheap farmhouse style decor. Chalk painted typewriter makeover. Cheap farmhouse style decor. Chalk painted typewriter makeover. Cheap farmhouse style decor. Chalk painted typewriter makeover. Cheap farmhouse style decor.

SPRAY PAINT FOR THE WIN! You guys, I really LOVE how this turned out. I honestly never would have used the typewriter in my decor with the tan and green color, so this was a really easy way to make it a little more my style. This dark gray color is great because it’s timeless and can go with so many different things, but it would also be fun to do a pop of color like minty green or even pink for a girls’ room.

Chalk painted typewriter makeover. Cheap farmhouse style decor.

Chalk painted typewriter makeover. Cheap farmhouse style decor.

It’s been a while since I did a good ol’ fashioned spray painting project and this one was really fun. And I seem to have a growing obsession with typewriters lately. I don’t know why, I just think they are really cool and make interesting decor. And I kinda want to start collecting them (remember that really old one I shared last year?). I just wish I had more room for them! Anyway, I still haven’t figured out where I’m going to put this typewriter, but for now I’m loving it here on my card catalog. It makes a fun centerpiece–the kids especially love playing with it.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Hopefully this gives you an idea for any ugly typewriters you might have sitting around! Just don’t paint the really old ones, ok?!

More posts like this you might want to wander over to:

Chalk Painted Vintage Metal Cubby

DIY Painted Pots with Vintage French Labels

DIY Coat Rack With Vintage Tin

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The Comments

  • Vicky Morris
    March 9, 2019

    Did you tape off any areas so they wouldn’t get painted or just spray painted entire typewriter?

  • Corinne
    March 9, 2019

    I got an underwood typewriter for 5 bucks from a guy that had a tag on it and actually honored the price. I thought that was awesome! Yours looks so cute!

  • Lori
    March 9, 2019

    What a great find!! Looks great! I think I would take a little steel wool and chip some of the paint around the edges of the keys for a worn look to keep with the vintage feel. Thanks for sharing!

  • Rachel Copeland
    March 9, 2019

    This is SUPER cute! What a great idea!!

  • Suzi
    March 9, 2019

    It looks so good Sarah! It’s amazing what can be done with a little paint! Happy Saturday! ❤️

    • Sarah
      > Suzi
      March 11, 2019

      Isn’t it amazing what a little spray paint can do?!

  • Melissa Filson
    March 9, 2019

    How cute!! I love how this turned out! I’ve seen several cute typewriters lately but I don’t really have anywhere that I think I could use one. Maybe I can figure something out 😉😉

    • Sarah
      > Melissa Filson
      March 11, 2019

      yeah they’re kinda big and bulky, so it is hard to find a good spot for them. Still not sure where I’ll put this one!

  • Angela Servello
    March 9, 2019

    Morning sweetie,
    Love it, great idea. I am now on the hunt for typewriters, thank you very much. Have a blessed day. 🙏

    • Sarah
      > Angela Servello
      March 11, 2019

      thank you so much Angela, hope you can find one!! xo

  • Carol Holtorf
    March 9, 2019

    Typewriter looks great. I didn’t know you could get chalk paint in a spray.

    • Sarah
      > Carol Holtorf
      March 11, 2019

      yes!! It’s so convenient.

  • Leigh
    March 9, 2019

    Hi love how it came out! Looks so great love the color❤️ Love your table too. Sent you a message asking about your eyelashes. So long and beautiful. Your make up is so soft and beautiful. Have a great day!

    • Sarah
      > Leigh
      March 11, 2019

      HI Leigh! I’ve been using Latisee lately on my lashes. I can’t believe how well it works!

  • Jan
    March 9, 2019

    Looks great!

    • Sarah
      > Jan
      March 11, 2019

      thank you Jan!

  • Leigh
    March 9, 2019

    Hi love how it came out! Looks so great love the color❤️ Love your table too.

    • Sarah
      > Leigh
      March 11, 2019

      thank you Leigh!

  • Becky A Johnson
    March 9, 2019

    Spray paint is our friend! Lol. It really turned out cute! Fun diy! Thanks Sarah! Becky🌷🌷🌷😄💗

  • Velma
    March 9, 2019

    Hey that Typewriter is Neat Great Job.!!!!

    • Sarah
      > Velma
      March 11, 2019

      thank you Velma!

  • Leo
    March 10, 2019

    I feel like I just watched someone paint a Snapchat puppy dog filter on the Mona Lisa. Perhaps I’m being a little dramatic, but you destroyed a classic piece of American craftsmanship for a vulgar centerpiece. I know. Why would anyone ride a bike when we have cars? If you’d left it intact your kids could have experienced the Zen like nature writing with a percussive instrument. They don’t make manual typewriters anymore and that is one less that future generations will have access to.

    • Sarah
      > Leo
      March 10, 2019

      Oh for heavens sake Leo, that’s a little dramatic! They’ll still have access to it–it just won’t be gray and green! Sorry to offend you, but there are bigger things to worry about in life.

  • Debbie
    March 11, 2019

    I gotta say I got a little excited when I saw the “Spray Paint Saturday”. No joke!!! Lol! Love typewriters and LOVE what you did with that one!!!

    • Sarah
      > Debbie
      March 11, 2019

      aw thank you so much Debbie!! It was a fun little project.