A handsome pair of statues of a farmer and his wife moved from attic to awesome with a fresh spray-paint treatment. This easy DIY is a great way to keep grandma’s heirlooms in your home while giving them a new look and feel—fresh yet timeless, cool and colorful, while still classic.
Here’s How:
1. Find a statue (or two) and big savings at Goodwill
In addition to great deals on unusual and unique items, Goodwill nonprofit retail stores are a wonderful place to take a break from your routine. Inspiration—and sometimes humor—is everywhere in the aisles.
During a recent visit to my family in Toledo, my mom, Barb, and I donated items from my parents’ house and then wandered the store just enjoying the treasures on the shelves. It was great entertainment—and free!
Later, back home in DC, I spotted this distinguished couple in the homewares section at Goodwill’s New York Avenue NE store. Their detailed clothing, expressive faces, and quirky accessories—a garden shovel and a hungry duck—caught my eye. This seasoned pair clearly deserved a new chapter, so into my cart they went.
2. Spray on some style
One of the easiest ways to refresh a dated treasure is with spray paint. For just a few dollars, you can give an item a completely new look and vibe. Or, if you’re like me, the cost might be zero—because you already have a stash of spray paint waiting for its next project.
Set your statues outside on cardboard or a drop cloth to protect the ground. Luckily, the day I tackled this project was beautiful, which made painting outdoors even better.
3. Choose your colors
You can choose colors based on the room where the piece will live, your favorite palette, or simply what you have on hand. In my case, I had three satin-finish colors: beige, blue, and copper. My plan was to test each color and then pick one for both statues.
First, I sprayed the bottoms of each statue with a warm neutral color, beige. Then I tried blue on the man’s upper half and copper on the woman’s.
And then something unexpected happened—I loved them all together. The beige and blue flowed beautifully, and the copper over beige created a rich glow. There was something really cool and unusual about having them be two-toned, too. Sometimes things come together in ways better than we planned.
4. Cover your pieces completely
Apply several light coats rather than one heavy layer to avoid drips or runs. Move around the statues to reach all the nooks and details.
Then allow plenty of time for the paint to dry completely—no fingerprints or smudges allowed!
5. Set the stage
Once dry, place your refreshed statues wherever you want a little elegance and whimsy. Style them with books, vases, artwork, and other treasures—many of which you can also find at Goodwill.
Their flowing, ombré tones now feel modern, playful, and just a bit majestic.
A Fresh Finish
With a few cans of spray paint and a little imagination, this once-dated duo now feels fresh, fun, and ready for its second act. That’s the beauty of upcycling. With a bit of creativity, something old can become something wonderful again.
Next time you’re browsing the aisles of Goodwill, keep your eyes open. That slightly dated statue, vase, or lamp might just be waiting for its colorful new life.
Happy thrifting—and happy creating!
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Tim Kime
Artist, Motivational Speaker, Life Coach
