After a long tiring day, all you need is a perfect ambiance to relax the head. Home decors like soothing lighting can be a great solution. However, we all know how costly those fancy light bulbs are.
But not so expensive if you decide to paint the light bulbs yourself into the colors you love!
Can you only use colored light bulbs for home decoration? Well, there’s more, For instance, by painting light bulbs with warm colors, you can create a relaxing ambiance at home, hang the multicolored bulbs in the outdoor get-togethers, parties, and so on.
Now that you know several opportunities you have with colored lighting. There must be a few unanswered questions wandering in your head, like-
Can you spray paint light bulbs?
Spray painting seems like the easiest and quickest painting solution, especially when you have several light bulbs to cover. But can you? Fortunately, yes, you can! However, before we get into the details and how-to-dos, remember that it is safe to paint only those light bulbs with a power of less than 40W. For the rest, let’s dig deep into the article.
At the end of the article, you’ll know-
- Paints that are appropriate and inappropriate for painting light bulbs
- How to paint a light bulb?
- Different materials for painting a light bulb and some relevant top-notch product details
Yes, everything you need to know in one place! So, let’s get going!
Table of Contents
What Kinds of Paints Are Safe to Paint Light Bulbs With?
Earlier I told you the suitable light bulb watt for painting them. But not only is the power of the light bulb important, but the right paint type is of great significance too.
Safe light globe paints-
- You can use glass paints on light bulbs that are non-water-based. Such colors allow the prevention of evaporation while the bulb is lit; otherwise, the water evaporation would damage the light. Glass paints can also withstand high temperature and heat, so they seem like the perfect choice for painting light bulbs.
Even if you are using spray paint, remember to go for non-water-based colors with heat-resistant features.
Unsafe and non-recommended light globe paints-
- Do not apply water-based glass paints on the light bulbs as they will evaporate and ultimately damage the bulb.
- Do not use oil-based or acrylic paints, as these regular paints may cause your bulb to explode once you light it on.
Now, if you are looking for a particular product that seems ideal for spray painting your light bulbs, then the Rust-Oleum High Heat Spray Paint appears like a paint you can use unhesitatingly.
Let me brief you a little on the features to know what you should be looking for in the spray paints for light bulb painting.
- It is a non-water-based translucent paint for glass.
- Withstands high temperature
- Gives off a nice even coating
- Offers easy application
- Fast-drying paint
- All the prep work you need is to clean up the surface and get rid of the dust and dirt.
- It’s even trouble-free to take off with a bit of paint thinner wipe.
How to Paint A Light Bulb?
Well, you certainly know how you can paint those light bulbs for a party or an exclusive home decor. But aren’t you looking for the right guide on how to do it? Here you go, fellas!
Materials you’ll need:
| Cotton Wool | Tape |
| Spirit | Paint (Of course!) |
| Sticky surface/ clay | Cold oven |
Procedure:
- Get rid of the dust from the light bulb surface. Use cotton wool and dip it into the spirit and apply it on the surface. Doing so helps to take off any stubborn dirt. Wipe off the spirit gently and let the bulb dry.
- You can use some clay or a sticky surface to hold the bulb still so that you can relax and paint on it. Be very careful because you don’t want to break those bulbs!
- Tape out the part of the bulb or the bottom area where you don’t want to color. Then start applying the paint evenly on the exposed surface.
- You might need more than one coat on excellent coverage. So before you apply the layers, make sure to give ample time to dry off one layer and then move on to another.
- Be very gentle with the procedure with steady hands. Leave one side to dry completely before you paint the other side.
- After the painting is done, the glass paint usually offers a nice semi-matte transparent finish.
- You can also add patterns to your light bulbs if you want to go an extra level of fancy.
- When you are done with the painting, give it about 4-5 hours to completely dry off before using them.
- For faster drying, you can place the bulbs in a cold oven preheating them for a while. Once the bulbs are dry, let them cool down before you get them out of the range.
Can You Spray Paint Light Bulbs Considering The Safety?
There’s nothing trouble or unsafe to paint your LEDs as long as you know the correct procedure and have access to the right tools.
Considering the safety in painting light bulbs, there are a few things you should keep in mind-
- A coat of paint acts as insulation which makes it challenging for the light heat to escape.
- The glass coating acts as a heat dissipation tool that releases the extra heat building inside.
- However, since you have painted the bulbs, the heat is trapped inside.
- In the case of conventional fluorescents or incandescents, the heat production is maximized, which, if trapped, can result in an explosion of the bulb.
- But for LED bulbs, the heat generation is minimized, so painting on them isn’t risky.
- However, since the heat is being trapped inside, the LED bulb intensity will gradually lower, resulting in lumen degradation, which ultimately lessens the lifespan of your bulb.
Besides, your modern LEDs will most probably be covered with shatterproof epoxy resin or linked to a transformer to regulate the electricity supply. So, there’s nothing to worry about! Chill, folks!
Can You Paint Light Bulbs with Nail Polish?
Yes, you can. Nail polish seems to be an easy and handy way to paint the smaller light bulbs because it’s almost always available at home and in different colors. But, there are a few things you need to keep in mind before painting the bulbs with nail polish.
- Make sure the light bulbs you are about to paint on have a power of less than 40W.
- If the nail polish is thick, do not forget to thin it. Otherwise, the thick layer of paint will trap the heat inside, and the bulb may even explode.
- Refrain from using nail paint on incandescent or fluorescent lights.
- You can only paint on with the nail polish that comes in solid colors rather than glitters and other additives.
Can You Paint Light Bulbs with Acrylic Paint?
Why only use heat-resistant glass spray paints? Why not standard acrylic paints? But the question is, can you?
Yes. But, since I already told you that glass-based paints are a no-go for painting LEDs, acrylics do not seem like a practical option as they are water-based.
Yes, it is safe to use acrylic paints on LEDs because it doesn’t harm the bulb. However, the water in the acrylic color evaporates as the bulb is lit, making the color fade, modify, or even burn off. So, if it’s simply a one-day party decoration or just the Halloween night lighting you need, then acrylic painting on the LEDs is okay. But if you are trying to preserve the colored bulbs for a long time, it isn’t an ideal choice, my friend.
If you are looking for a glass paint that is easy to apply just as traditional acrylics, then you can have a look at the HOMKARE Glass Paint Set. Some of its features include-
- It is a non-toxic paint with rich pigments and safety standard conformation.
- It has versatile usage, like painting on the window, fish tank, ceramic pieces, wine bottle, light bulbs, etc.
- You can heat dry it without harming the color consistency.
It- Very easy to use, so even the children or the newbies can use the paint.
Is It Safe to Color A Light Bulb With A Marker?
Yes, there is no harm in using a marker to color a light bulb. But it is better if you opt for glass paint markers.
You can find many heat-resistant markers in the nearby craft store or Amazon or within an affordable price range. You can even combine the colors to make interesting patterns for more fancy decor.
If you are interested in heat-resistant glass markers, then here is the DecoArt Glass Paint Marker.
Some of its features include:
- Non-toxic, non-evaporating marker specialized for use on glass
- Adheres to the surface, particularly
- Gives a glossy finish
- Can be baked in the oven, which makes it even more long-lasting.
- The marker is even dishwasher safe, so it will not come off quickly.
Yes, painting light bulbs for an aesthetic ambiance in the room is no big deal anymore because you can spray paint it without any hassle. So, even a few minutes ago, you were confused about whether you can spray paint light bulbs; now you know all that you should know about it. So, who’s up for some creative light bulb decoration for the all-nighter party?