So you want to paint a crib...

As a follow up to my post from yesterday about painting my own crib, I figured I'd give any tips I can think of if you do decide to take on this horrendous project.

Before you even consider this project, you should really ask yourself the following questions:

1. Is my free time something I value and want to spend relaxing?
2. Am I already rocking a big belly?
3. Am I the type of person that includes the amount of time I spend on a project in the overall "cost" of the finished goods?
4. Does monotony make me want to claw my eyes out?

If you answered yes to any of these questions I really don't think this is the project for you.  You may end up in a padded cell, or at the very least you'll start dreaming of throwing in the towel on the project and turning the crib into this:

Source

I cannot stress enough that this is a time consuming and monotonous project.

Now, if you've answered no to all these questions and have decided to paint your own crib, here's my advice...

If you're buying a used crib from someone outside of your friends and family obviously, first and foremost, do your research.  Find out the exact model and serial number and make sure that there weren't any recalls on the crib.  If everything looks good, go and check it out!  Just because you go to see something posted on Craigslist (or a similar site) doesn't mean you have to buy it.  The aesthetics of the crib don't really matter since you'll be refinishing it, but make sure it seems structurally sound.  And please, please, please take the time to check that the hardware they're giving you (if it isn't already assembled) is the hardware for the crib.  And I would recommend only trying this on a light colored crib.  Even though the crib I purchased was really light wood, it still needed two coats of primer and two coats of paint to properly cover it.

Now, once you've acquired a crib and you're ready to get started you have to sand it down.  I don't care if you're priming it or not it has to be sanded down in order to have an attractive and lasting finished look.  On that same note, I strongly recommend that you prime it.  A) It helps the paint "stick" to the project.  B) I promise, in the end, it'll save you a few coats of paint.  And personally, I really don't like those "paint and primer in one" paints.  For your walls, maybe.  For a project like this, definitely not!

Don't try to paint a crib with a big roller, for sure get a mini roller.  I don't always follow the "rules" on what type of roller sponge to use; for this project I used a foam roller and it worked really well.  While you're painting, prop the pieces up against a wall so that you can use a roller to paint the space between the slats (which is why you need a small roller):

Personal Photo

You will also have to use a small brush to do touch ups at the end of each coat of primer and paint.  I used a sponge brush for this (this is the super monotonous part - it takes forever):

Personal Photo

I started off with them laying flat on the ground and I had to use the brush (instead of the roller) to paint between the slats (the part circled in purple in the first photo) and it don't cover as well and was a way bigger pain in the ass.

And my biggest piece of advice is to give yourself plenty of time for the project and spread it out across many sittings.  I sanded it one day, then took a few days off.  Then I did a coat of primer on one side of the pieces, then took a few days off.  Then I did my first coat of primer on the other side of the pieces, then I took a few days off.  You get the point.  If I had tried to get it done faster, that sucker definitely would have been turned into firewood instead of a lovely yellow crib.

And if you make it to the end - congrats!  Show it off and enjoy your one of a kind crib.  I hope that my tips and tricks help at least one person either decide this isn't the project for them or make it through the project without ripping all their hair out!

Until next time...