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While you can buy plastic storage containers in a wide variety of colors, most of the time you will find your basic solid colors: red, blue, yellow, and so on. You are not as likely to find pink, or purple, or an unusual shade of green, blue, yellow, or orange. That means if you want your bins in other colors (for example, to match the décor in your house), you will have to do it yourself.

The good news is that it is easy to spray paint plastic containers. Not only does this work great for changing the bins to a color that matches the rest of the room you’ll be putting them in, but you can also use it to create a different texture. Metallic spray paint can create a convincing gleam.

What are the steps to spray paint plastic bins?

1. Start by cleaning your plastic bins thoroughly using soap and water. Make sure that they are completely free of debris, and that no soap residue is left over.

2. Wait for your plastic bins to dry.

3. You don’t want your bins to be too smooth, or it will be hard for the paint to adhere. If they are brand new, chances they are. So grab some sandpaper and rub it over the surface. You want to use the ultra-fine grade. Clean up any residue so it won’t get trapped under the paint.

4. Apply clear plastic primer to the bins. Wait 15 minutes, and then add a second coat.

5. Wait an hour while the primer dries.

6. Get some enamel spray paint and spray it on. Wait for it to dry (this may take some time), and then flip your bins over and finish painting them.

7. Wait several days before you make use of your bins. Why? It takes that long for the enamel paint to completely dry. While you can theoretically use them before that, the paint will still scratch easily. If you wait several days though, the paint will have time to really set.

8. Finish up with a clear spray polyurethane coat to protect your paint. Only do this if you used a standard paint color; do not use it on metallic paint, as it will dull the shine.

9. While you are at it, you may want to add a square of chalkboard paint on top of all the other layers. You can use that to label your bins in a way which is both convenient and stylish.

There you go! It does take a few steps to properly spray paint plastic bins so that they look nice and will hold up well to use, but it is worth it to take your time and do it right the first time. After you try it, you will find it really easy to do in the future. All of your plastic storage totes can look just the way you want and fit in perfectly with your existing décor!