Easy IKEA Frame Makeover

It's one of my favorite times of the month....thrift store upcycle challenge time! I love going to thrift stores and looking for pieces with hidden value. Those pieces that will be just right after a little makeover magic.

easy decor picture frame makeover

Lately when I've visited my local thrift store, I have found items that were perfect contenders for this monthly upcycle challenge. The hard part has been narrowing down which one to work on first! After last months Lego Doll House Tray, I didn't think that I would be able to make something I liked quite as much. Then I found the picture frame that was just begging for a little attention.

This easy makeover gives a fresh look and with the perfect quote, it makes a lovely little decor piece in my oldest daughters room. You can easily update a picture frame in the same way! Follow my simple steps for a cute updated decor piece.

This post contains affiliate links to products

Each month I participate in this upcycle challenge and join with other bloggers to bring you interesting projects that you can do in your own home. These tutorials can help you get some ideas for thrifty projects of your own!

                        Thrift Store Decor Upcycle Challenge

The Rules:

  • Upcycle an item(s) from a thrift store, resale store, or garage sale into a new piece of decor.
  • There's no monthly theme.
  • There's no budget to stick to.

Meet the Hosts

Amanda | The Kolb Corner    Kim | Made in a Day
Maureen | Red Cottage Chronicles    Pili | Sweet Things
Debra | Shoppe No. 5    Marie | DIY Adulation    Sue | A Purdy Little House
Chelsea | Making Manzanita    Ann | Duct Tape and Denim    Karen | Dragonfly and Lily Pads
Kimm | Reinvented    Kathleen | Our Hopeful Home   Megan | C'mon Get Crafty
Victoria | Dazzle While Frazzled    Shirley | Intelligent Domestications    
Angela | Simply Beautiful by Angela       Denise | My Thrifty House 
Michelle | Our Crafty Mom    Jeannee | Shepherds and Chardonnay
Jennifer and Vicki | 2 Bees in a Pod      Ali | Home Crafts By Ali   

Make sure you follow our board on Pinterest for more upcycled decor inspiration!




Easy IKEA Frame Makeover

Visit a thrift store and you will see plenty of picture frames. As I was looking through the frames a while ago, I found a plastic IKEA frame that was just right for a 5x7 print. I decided to buy it, even though it was a bright pink. I knew I could make it over. 

makeover a plastic IKEA picture frame


I had been searching for a 5x7 frame because when I bought a book at the thrift store a few months ago, it had a photo print tucked inside it as a bookmark, and I knew my daughter would like it. I guess this month is actually a double makeover! I bought my frame for .75 and the print came in a .25 paperback book. $1.00 isn't too bad of an investment for this project.

Supplies Needed for Frame Makeover

Picture Frame - Found at thrift store but you can buy similar piece at any store (IKEA)
Spray Paint - I used Rustoleum 2X Ultra Cover in White and Ocean Mist
Tape - Painters tape or Washi tape

Instructions for Frame Makeover

Step 1: Since the frame was made out of plastic, I lightly sanded all surfaces of the frame to make sure that the spray paint would stick to the frame. The paint has a primer and says that it works with plastic....but I did it just to be safe. It only took 2 minutes, so I wasn't worried about wasting time.

picture frame makeover items spray paint printable

Step 2: Wipe with a damp cloth to remove any paint dust. You want a clean surface when painting. Let dry or wipe with a clean dry cloth.

Step 3: Place your project on plastic sheeting in a well ventilated area. Shake your can of spray paint, hold about 6 inches from your project, and spray the frame evenly with the white paint. I only needed to apply 1 coat of the white spray paint. Check your project to see how it looks and add another coat if needed (wait 5 minutes between applications). 

Step 4: Let the paint dry completely - 4 hours or more.

step by step tutorial to update a picture frame

Step 5: Once the paint is completely dry, tape the outside edge of your frame with painters tape or washi tape. I taped halfway in the frame (half an inch) along each of the four sides. Make sure the washi tape along the edge that you will be painting is tight against the frame. You don't want leakage of the second color paint.

NOTE: If you don't let the first color of paint dry all the way, when you peel back the tape, little bits of paint will come with it. Learn from my mistake so you don't get frustrated halfway through your project.

dual spray paint picture frame tutorial

Step 6: Spray a coat of your second color paint...remembering to be in a well ventilated space. Let the paint dry for 10 minutes.

Spray Paint and Washi Tape Photo Frame Makeover

Step 7: Carefully peel the tape from your frame. It works best if you peel the tape at an angle away from the painted edge. Your paint will still be slightly wet. You remove the tape while the paint is wet so you have a clean edge. If you let the paint dry all the way it causes little chips in the paint.

updated decor piece photo frame

Let the paint dry for 24 hours, then add a photo, your favorite quote, or a pretty printable to the frame and display it in your home.

simple tutorial to update plastic picture photo frame

My daughter was excited to add this to the decor in her room. It definitely matches some of her other pieces of teal/turquoise items!

There you go! An easy makeover to a thrifty picture frame. Spray paint makes projects like this so simple! I hope this gives you an idea of how you can update some of your frames.

thrift store upcycle project update picture frame with spray paint how to




And now for more thrifty goodness!

Check out what my fellow upcyclers created below!


26 comments

  1. Your picture frame looks lovely, love the color you chose. Thanks for the tip about drying times, I am too impatient and always forget

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I get pretty impatient too, so it's a good reminder for myself also. =)

      Delete
  2. I love the color combination! Looks great with the other accessories.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Amanda. My daughter really likes that color.

      Delete
  3. Beautiful frame and I love the quote! At first I thought it was a white frame with an aqua coloured mat. I never would have thought of painting the frame like this! Love it :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for your nice comment Maureen! It was fun to paint it in a different way.

      Delete
  4. Love how you added two colors to the frame. It looks very pretty! Visiting from Thrift Store Challenge.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Victoria. I was happy with how it turned out!

      Delete
  5. I can totally relate to narrowing down to one project--I always have so many going on at one time haha. I love the two tone look, it matches the other items so well :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad to know I'm not the only one that has too many projects going on! =)

      Delete
  6. Very cute update for a very vibrant frame. That picture doesn't look at all like it came out of a book!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I lucked out that someone was using the picture as a bookmark and forgot it. My daughter loves it!

      Delete
  7. I love how you took the bright frame and made it over so it is a customized frame. The saying is so inspirational and a good reminder to look at each day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That bright frame definitely needed some toning down. My daughter had it on her bedside table so she can see the quote every morning.

      Delete
  8. Very Pretty ! Great way to make what you've got work for what you need!
    Jeannee@shepherdsandchardonnay

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Jeannee! I like updating items that I find.

      Delete
  9. You used such a pretty color combo. It turned out great and look nice with the other decor. I like the print saying too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The color combo has been pretty popular at our house lately. =)

      Delete
  10. Love this quote! Great makeover 😀

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We love the quote too, a great reminder!

      Delete
  11. Super makeover, love aqua, too! xo Kathleen|Our Hopeful Home

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's such a nice color to work with. It goes well with so many different colors.

      Delete
  12. So much better painted white & teal, it really makes the quote pop. Great makeover!
    Kim

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It does look so much better! I almost passed by the frame because of it's bright color, but knew that I wanted a simple flat frame. I'm glad it worked out so well.

      Delete
  13. Very cute idea! I love the painted version! I always see so many frames at the thrift store.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There are a bunch of frames all the time. I've got a few more ideas for different ways to use them in the future too.

      Delete

Back to Top