Repaint your old KitchenAid Mixer and give it new life and color! Follow these steps to ensure a great result.
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Back Story: When my husband and I were putting together the gift registry for our wedding back in 2008, one of my most hoped for items to receive was a KitchenAid stand mixer. Our wedding came and went and I didn’t get it. A couple of years later, my husband came home with his mom’s old KitchenAid mixer because she had gotten a new mixer. This old mixer worked perfectly fine and I was happy to inherit it. Sure, it wasn’t the color that I wanted, but beggers can’t be choosers, right?
Fast forward 10 years later and we still have the same KitchenAid. It still works perfectly and I use it all the time, especially for making breads. But I still hated the plain color that it was. So I decided to take matters into my own hands and repaint it to a color I liked!
Below, I’ll take you through the process I used to repaint a KitchenAid stand mixer. It’s an inexpensive way to update your mixer and you’ll be so proud to have it on display in your kitchen.
Supplies Needed to Repaint A KitchenAid Stand Mixer
- Spray Paint in color of your choice (I recommend Rustoleum 2X Paint + Primer) *Note* I used the color Vintage Teal in a Satin finish
- Clear Protective Top Coat (I recommend Rustoleum Acrylic Enamel 2X Paint + Primer) *Note* I chose a Gloss finish
- painters tape
- Cardboard or spray paint tent
- sandpaper, if needed
- pen knife
- paper towel or wet wipes
- painters plastic or plastic bag
What type of spray paint should I use?
Before starting, I made sure to select a high quality spray paint. I love all the Rustoleum products I’ve used so that was the section I looked at in the store. You also want to choose a spray paint that specifically says it will adhere to metal. Next, choose your color and finish. I chose a Satin finish but if you prefer a gloss, then there’s nothing stopping you as long as it meets the criteria above.
Let’s Get Started
First, you’ll need to disassemble your KitchenAid. I recognize that there are different models. (Mine is a lift stand mixer which means I use a lever to lift the bowl up to the attachment to mix the food.) Keep it in as many big pieces as you can. If you have to remove screws or bolts from the base like I did, get a zipper bag and put all the pieces in it. You can see below that I only had 4 separate pieces after disassembling.
Next, sand down any areas of your KitchenAid that have rust. (Depending on the age of your machine, you might not have any. In this case, you can skip this step.) If you’re mixer is a little older, the original paint may have started to wear away and you might have some rust. The goal with sanding is to create a smooth transition between the rusted area and the non rusted area. Once it has been painted over, you shouldn’t be able to see a line or bump. I used a fine grit sandpaper for this step.
Wipe your KitchenAid down with damp paper towels or wet wipes. (I used baby wipes.) You want to keep your mixer as dust free as possible.
Then, use painters tape to cover any areas you don’t want sprayed. This includes any levers, buttons, logos, screws, etc. To make sure you have really clean, straight lines, I recommend using a pen knife to cut the tape. Be very precise on this step because it would be disappointing to finish spraying and find out your lines are crooked!
Now you’re ready to start painting!
To prep for painting, I put down a big piece of cardboard outside on the gravel next to my driveway. If you have a paint tent or something similar you can spray inside of, that would work too! Choose an area where you can spray your KitchenAid in that isn’t windy. This will help you achieve a smoother coat and avoid getting any bugs or other smell debris stuck in your paint.
Wipe your KitchenAid down one more time before moving on to the next step.
Shake your spray paint really well. You will also want to shake it in between spraying to help the paint stay mixed well inside the can. I love using a spray paint gun attachment for my paint. It saves my finger from getting paint on them as well as preventing fatigue in my pointer finger. They are perfect for any type of spray paint project and I highly recommend getting one.
Choose your first piece* (see note) and set it in the middle of your cardboard. Do a little test spray to make sure it comes out well. Position your spray paint about 8-12 inches away, then start spraying to the side of the KitchenAid piece before moving to the piece itself. Use this motion to cover the entire area as evenly as possible. I did one coat, then came back 20 minutes later and added a second coat, followed by a third coat a couple of hours later. Repeat this process for the remaining pieces.
*NOTE* I started by spraying the 3 base pieces first and letting those dry completely. Then I reassembled the base and the motor. I covered the base with painters plastic to protect it, then I sprayed the motor, repeating the process above to achieve the 3 coats.
Once your entire KitchenAid has been painted and reassembled, it’s time for the clear coat. I waited for 2 days to make sure the color was completely dry before applying the clear coat.
To apply the clear coat, shake the paint can well. Put your paint gun attachment on and do a test spray. Then follow the steps used above to add 2-3 coats of the clear coat. I did notice that the clear coat seemed thinner than the color so be careful not to get too close to the KitchenAid while spraying or you may end up with drips* (see note).
*NOTE* If drips happen, do not touch them! This applies whether you’re using the color or the clear coat. Depending on the drip size, it may actually even itself out and touching it could make things worse. However, if it dries and there is a paint drip in a place that is noticeable (or just bothers you), you can try sanding it down very carefully and repainting that part.
I recommend letting your newly repainted KitchenAid dry for a few days before using it. This will allow the clear coat to harden really well. I’ve been using my KitchenAid since the middle of May (2020) and haven’t had any problems with the paint coming off, chipping, flaking, etc. Now, when I look at my KitchenAid, I can’t help but smile because it is a color that I love!
What color would you repaint your KitchenAid stand mixer?
