Turn a rusty piece of furniture into a beautiful & useful furniture item with this step by step guide on how to use spray paint for a metal cart makeover. This 3 tier rolling cart got a whole new look with spray paint for metal!

3 tier rolling cart (that is a vintage metal cart) that has been painted with white spray paint and has chrome handles.

Tucked away in my storage area was this old beauty in the rough ~ a vintage metal cart.

Rusty 3 tier rolling cart before its makeover ~ a vintage metal cart that is rusty and worn

She had survived multiple purging escapades despite her very rusty shelves and crazy rubber covered legs.

Common sense whispered gently in my ear years ago that I should just get rid of it. But my heart just couldn’t let it go.

You see, it was my mom’s. I remember it sitting proudly in the dining room at the farm perched under the windows and holding the latest plants Mom was trying desperately to keep alive. I seem to recall that at one time it also ended up in the kitchen with yellow daisy contact paper…

I’ve always dreamed of someday restoring it to it’s former glory and turning it into a “party cart”.

That someday finally arrived!

After pondering it for so many years, it’s funny to discover that it didn’t take long at all. Why, oh, why didn’t I do this before? Here’s the step by step process.

How to use Spray Paint on Metal for a Vintage Cart Makeover

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Gather Supplies:

Step by Step Instructions

1.Dismantle the shelves from the handles by unscrewing the screws on the sides.

2.Lay each shelf on the workbench and sand off the rust with the random orbital sander.

rusty tray of a vintage metal cart that has been removed from the 3 tier rolling cart — To ensure spray paint will adhere well to metal, be sure to sand off all the rust spots first.

I read the key to spray painting over rusty metal is to sand off all the rust first. For some reason I was really scared about this step. But, it ended up being quick and painless. The key is to get all the bumpy and rough spots off the metal and make sure it’s perfectly smooth with no loose paint.

Whenever I use a random orbital sander, I like to use safety goggles. I don’t want any little bits of things flying in my eyes!

The sanded shelf of an old metal cart before it gets spray painted. — Using a random orbital sander makes quick work of sanding off rough, bumpy bits of rust on a metal surface. You want it to be as smooth as possible before spray painting.

3. Once sanded well, lay them in a well ventilated area (or outside) and protect adjoining areas from overspray.

You’ll want to protect surfaces from the overspray of spray paint, so be sure to prep accordingly. I didn’t have anything fancy ~ just a tarp and some boxes.

spray painting metal ~ 3 metal trays from a 3 tier rolling metal cart laid out on a tarp

4. Following the directions on the spray paint can, prime the pieces with a few thin coats of spray primer.

The directions on the spray paint can will instruct you to shake the can well before starting. This is very important.

Once it is shaken well, spray on the primer in a thin, fine layer – moving your arm steadily and quickly from one side to the other.

The sanded off spots may show through the primer, but since the primer’s job is to just help the top coat stick better, you don’t need to worry about that.

A tray of a metal cart that has been primed with spray paint specifically made for rusty metal — {after primer}

5. Using the color of choice, spray on thin layers of paint ~ waiting a few minutes (about 8) in between coats.

I used white satin spray paint for this project, and sprayed it on in thin layers.

Again, follow the directions on the spray paint for specific instructions regarding how long to wait between coats. Little by little it will coverup nicely until it becomes a new, fresh color.

3 shelves from a 3 tier rolling cart that have been spray painted and are drying while sitting on a tarp.

6.Wash the chrome handles with baking soda and vinegar and then re-assembled it all back together again once it is completely dry.

Now it’s all ready for its new life as a “party cart”!

What’s a party cart, you ask?

Well, it’s a cart that helps you when you’re entertaining guests.

3 tier rolling cart vintage metal cart after its makeover

In the summer time it can be wheeled out on the deck when you’re having a barbecue to hold all the cold drinks ~ You can even add a fun paper bunting banner to it if you’d like.

The top of a 3 tier metal rolling cart with a jug of ice water and tray of glasses on the top

Like some fruit infused ice water and a bucket of ice with cans of pop.

a 3 tier rolling cart set up for a bbq party with a yellow paper banner on the front

You can add pretty flowers,

a plant sitting on the top of a vintage metal cart as part of the decorations for a Summer party

and put whatever on in that might save you from making a 100 trips back into the kitchen ~ things like silverware in metal buckets or napkins held down from the breeze by a cute enamelware bowl.

vintage metal cart makeover ~ see how to transform an eyesore into a thing of beauty again!

Then when you’re finished with it, you can wheel it back into your house and it can hold whatever floats your boat ~ like perhaps some houseplants that you’re trying desperately to keep alive!:)

In the winter time, I’ve seen these made into really cute hot drink carts, too ~ think of hot chocolate, coffee and tea.

For more spray paint projects, you may want to check out:

3 tier rolling cart vintage metal cart makeover ~ see how to transform an eyesore into a thing of beauty again!

I can’t wait to put this little party cart to use.:)