Did you know you can paint your baseboard heat covers? This is such a quick and easy DIY project that makes a big impact.
After painting the door and baseboard trim all the same color as the walls in my basement, the white baseboard heat covers really stood out and this wasn’t something I wanted to draw the eyes to. So I decided to paint them!
The Before
The first step of the prep process was to make sure the surfaces were thoroughly cleaned. I laid out all the covers over my workhorses and then used a microfiber cloth with some degreaser to wipe down the baseboard covers and remove any dust, dirt or grime that would prevent the primer from adhering to the surface.
These are newer baseboard covers so they already had a smooth and even surface. If your baseboard covers are older and have some areas of imperfections, you might want to consider using a fine grit sanding block to smooth out the surface. This will also allow for better adhesion of the primer and paint, which is ideal for baseboards in areas with higher traffic. Because my baseboard covers are mostly located behind the tv stand in my basement with no traffic, this wasn’t a concern for me and the primer will be plenty sufficient for my project.
I applied one coat of primer using a small paint roller to the entire front surface of the baseboards that will be painted. Once the primer was applied and dried, I was ready to paint.
I used a paint sprayer for quick application and a smooth finish, but you could also use a paint roller if you prefer. Honestly for this small of a project rolling would have been much easier to avoid all the prep and cleaning that goes into using a sprayer, but I wanted a smooth, even finish and was also curious to try out my new sprayer for the first time.
I let the paint cure overnight before reinstalling them on the baseboard heaters. Once they were in place I caulked and painted all the seams where the baseboards meet the baseboard trim.
The After
At one point I contemplated whether or not to paint my baseboard heat covers, but I’m so glad I did! I love how they now blend in with the walls and trim and don’t steal the show from the rest of the basement.
Materials I Used:
- Microfiber cloth + degreaser
- Small paint roller
- Zinnser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 Primer
- 1 Gal Paint (Vintage Pewter by Benjamin Moore)
- Graco Magnum Airless Paint Sprayer
- Baseboard heat covers
Thanks for your support and following along in this project! I hope you found it useful or it sparked some inspiration in your own home.
Cheers,
