$10 home update: Reviving discolored light plates

If you read this post then you know our roof leaked the first night in our new house and our AC died the second week. Needless to say our money is going towards necessary (but boring) home repairs rather than fun updates. But we didn’t let that stop us from a few quick, easy, and super cheap improvements!

We had a bunch of recessed lighting plates that had been discolored. To replace one cost $8. With 18 lights that was going not happen. Instead, a little sanding and a few coats of spray paint and they look good as new. I’m thrilled how well these turned out and they were so easy!

What you need

• Fine grain sand paper (180-220)
• Rustoleum White Spray Paint - $4.48/can (for 18 light plates I used 1.5 cans)
• Rustoleum Satin Clear Enamel - $4.27/can (for 18 light plates I used 1 can)

I love a good before and after.

1. Sand with 180-grit sandpaper. This is the most tedious part. I tried skipping this step, but quickly realized it is a very necessary. Sand more than you think. Then wash and dry the plates.
2. Spray with white paint. Do a light coat to avoid paint lines. Wait at least 30 minutes then do a second coat. 2 coats was enough.
3. Spray with a clear protective paint. This is optional, but it makes the finished project much more professional looking.

I’m an aspirational DIYer, meaning 9 times out of 10 it would have been cheaper (and WAY less time consuming) to buy whatever I was trying to make. But this is one of the rare instances where DIYing paid off, and I couldn’t be more thrilled.