Painting New Brackets to Look Like Rusted Metal

Just before the end of the year I finally finished up my faux, wood plank wall.  While I was working on it, I used a cedar board to measure out all of the “planks” for painting.  Once the wall was done, I really wanted to incorporate the cedar board into the room somehow.  My BFF came up with the idea of turning it into a shelf and I loved it! Because I wanted to get it up right away (and had her help for the evening), we set off to Home Depot to find some metal brackets.  After looking over the entire store, these were all we could find.  These were literally the only ones they had!

I was… let’s just say… unimpressed with them.   They certainly weren’t what I had envisioned (in the hour since she had come up with the idea) to hold up my new shelf.

With no other options, I grabbed 4 and figured I could paint them and at least make them look a little better…My Living Room has a bit of a Farmdustiral look to it so I wanted the brackets to look like rusted metal or wrought iron.

I stated by giving them a coat of black paint. I was not careful at all and just haphazardly blotted it on.  I didn’t even cover all of the silver figuring they would look more authentic if some of it showed through.  To get the look of rust, I dabbed brown paint randomly on top of the black.  I couldn’t believe the transformation.  I have to admit that I was actually starting to love the once ugly silver brackets.  The Home Depot cast offs are at least easy to attach.  They only needed some short wood screws and voila.

Tip: By placing two brackets closer together at each end, it gives the shelf a more unique look than spacing them out evenly.  I used longer screws and plugs to attach the whole piece to the wall.  With the longer screws being new and silver, I dabbed the heads with a little black paint.   They now blend right in and you don’t even notice them. 

I am crazy amazed at how old these look now! I was completely unimpressed with them when I bought them and I love, love, love how they turned out! This simple paint process completely changed the look of these cheap brackets and they now look like they belong.

Paints used in this project:

[easyazon_link identifier=”B00O2JNZ3Y” locale=”US” tag=”recredesig20-20″]Fusion Mineral Paint Coal Black[/easyazon_link]
Country Chic Home and Decor Paint in Chocolate Tart

**Please note that this post includes Affiliate links, for your convenience, for products that are used in this project that I have tried and use regularly.  By using the link, it in no way increases the cost of the product to you should you choose to buy.  However, by using the link, a small portion of the sale is given back to me to help fund this blog.**

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