How to Use Two or More Colors to Paint Wrought Iron

Using two or more colors when painting wrought iron can add visual interest and coordinate the pieces into the rest of your interior design scheme. You are not limited to black and white with this timeless material, as specialty metal paints come in all shades of hues. All it takes is a little preparation and time to change your old metal decorative accessories into up-to-date decorations that will fit into any decorating style or theme easily.

Materials Needed:
Wire brush and sandpaper (If needed)
Strong detergent and water
Primer (with rust inhibitor)
Pictures of your other decorative elements
Metal paint (spray or can)
Brushes (if needed)

Preparing the Wrought Iron for Paint
Use a small wire brush to remove any surface rust on the piece. Sand everything afterwords to ensure that you got it all and to leave a smooth finish.

Wash the entire piece with a strong detergent to remove any flakes and residue. Do this whether or not you had to remove rust to ensure a clean surface for painting. Allow to dry throughly.

Wash the entire piece with a strong detergent to remove any flakes and residue. Do this whether or not you had to remove rust to ensure a clean surface for painting. Allow to dry thoroughly.

Spray with a rust converter product to prevent any further rust if you are using it for decorating outdoor spaces and allow to dry according to the manufacturer's instructions, depending on the product. Spray on a metal primer.

Choosing Colors for Painting Wrought Iron
Decide if you want metal spray paint, or a brush on paint. Spray paint is faster but using a brush on paint allows you to mix two or more colors on the same piece easier and in more intricate detail.

Consider the colors that are in other decorative elements of the space. Take photos of pillows, artwork and other accessories with you when you go shopping. Look closely at the shades available in both spray paint and canned metal paint to find a good match.

Use the standard color wheel as your guide if you are not sure what scheme you want for the space. If you are looking for complimentary colors, for example stay in close range shades of one another, like blues and greens. If you are looking for the perfect contrast pair blues with some orange hues.

Painting Wrought Iron Two or More Colors
Cover the area surrounding the piece with plastic or newspaper. If spray painting, tape up the separate areas of the piece in terms of what color they are going to be. Spray paint the lighter coat first, remove the tape and allow to dry before taping it off and spray painting the next color on. Skip to step 3.

Use different size brushes, if you are using canned paint, to get into every crevice. Wipe the brush slightly on the edge of the can in-between strokes to remove any extra paint, putting on light coats to avoid drips and pools in the seams or joints of the piece.

Spray on a clear-coat sealer after you have allowed the paint to dry according to the manufacturer's instructions, which will vary between brands and products. When using two or more wrought iron colors for decorating, it is important to not ruin all your hard work by not waiting long enough.