How to Paint Glass Bottles
You want to have a unique and ecological decoration in your home? Reusing everyday objects is the order of the day because, besides being a very sustainable practice for the environment, it makes the inside of your house unique and tailored to your tastes. Rather than choosing to buy a vase for flowers, why not do it yourself by using a bottle of wine that is already empty? In this oneHOWTO article we will tell you how to paint glass bottles so you can convert them into precious decorative objects for your home. Give it a go!
Choose the correct type of paint
The paint type you use will depend on where you want to put these decorative items. Therefore it is important to know that:
- Latex paints are flexible so they are the best option if you are putting them outside your home as it can withstand changes in temperature without breaking or damaging their appearance. You can find latex paints in most drugstores and specialized shops as well as online.
- Oil-based paints should only be used on the bottles that you are placing inside your house because they will not withstand temperature changes because the plastic paint could expand with heat. Acrylic enamel paint is also a good option for this purpose.
Prep the bottle
Before beginning to find out the different ways there are to paint a glass bottle you should know that the first thing you have to do is clean the bottle so that it is free of debris and grease. Therefore, we recommend that you rinse both the inside and the outside of the bottle rinsing it with soap so that it's perfect for painting.
Don't worry if the bottle has a painted label, at oneHOWTO we show you how to remove it too.
We also recommend that at the time of decorating the bottle you use latex gloves so you do not stain your hands, and that you wear old clothes in case they get stained. Once you're ready, you have to wait for the bottle, after being washed, to be completely dry so that the paint will set.
Add the paint through a syringe
We begin with the first technique to paint glass bottles. This involves pouring paint inside the container so that the result is more homogeneous and so, if you want, you can play with two very different planes (you can create a background of one color and then write something on the outside or draw a symbol, creating a design with more depth).
To do so you just need a syringe. Fill it with the paint color you have chosen, and insert it inside the bottle. For it to expand and distribute well on all sides, you will have to rotate the bottle and cover the sides completely. Once you see that it's ready, you have to put the bottle in the oven at 150 degrees Celsius (302 degrees Fahrenheit) and leave it for 40 minutes.
Varnish your bottle
But, if you prefer, you can also decorate a glass bottle by painting it on the outside. For that we need to choose the desired color (we recommend a bright color so that it covers the glass and gives a good result) and with the help of a brush start painting the outside. So the paint does not flake, it is advisable to put the bottle in the oven at 150 degrees Celsius (302 degrees Fahrenheit) for about 40 minutes.
If you prefer, you can also refine your creation with a varnish layer when the paint has dried. This will leave it looking shiny and almost new.
Tape it to create patterns
Now we will suggest a very original way of painting glass bottles. It's very easy to do and the result is very striking. This involves combining paint with tape to create a unique design that will look like your bottle has come from a shop.
We begin by putting tape on the bottle leaving a gap between each piece. As we show in the picture, you can play with distance so that the design is uneven or if you prefer, you can make the distance the same and get it more homogeneous. Once you have the bottle covered with strips of tape, you only have to paint the outside with a brush with the color you've chosen.
When painted, you have to let the paint dry completely (more or less you should let it dry for 1 hour) and, after this time, you just have to extract the pieces of tape carefully to avoid flaking off the paint. The result, as you see, is very original.
Spray paint it
Another good way of decorating a glass bottle is by painting it with a spray. The result is more homogeneous, you avoid the appearance of the dreaded drops of paint that can disfigure the result, and you get a smoother texture.
To follow this technique you just have to get an aerosol, shake it and maintain a safe distance when painting so as not to get it in your eyes. It is also recommended that you cover your nose and mouth with a mask and you cover the area where you are painting with newspaper or plastic.
Apply nail polish
And finally, if you are looking for a minimalist design in which you only want to decorate the bottle with some element like spots or specific drawings, you can use nail polish. As we've said, acrylic paints can also be used on glass, this is why nail polish will also work.
With the nail polish brush you can draw the design you want on the bottle and get a perfect finish in minutes. It is one of the easiest ways out there to get a personal object, decorated your way.
If you want to read similar articles to How to Paint Glass Bottles, we recommend you visit our Art & handicraft category.
