A frosted glass lamp shade is intended to diffuse the light coming out of a wax. This effect makes for a softer glow from the room in which the lamp will be installed. To achieve this effect, the shade itself might be chemically etched, which produces bumps and scrapes from the glass. But more frequently with modern shades, the frosting effect has been painted on. In either circumstance, painting the colour demands precisely the same technique.
Wash the glass which is going to be painted. Mix up a soapy dishwater solution and scrub the lamp colour using a brush. The brush will enter the crevices and cracks of the frosted glass medium and remove any dirt or grime which has settled. Rinse with fresh water when completely washed. Allow it to dry completely.
Put a dropcloth about a table if you will be painting indoors. Cover any furniture nearby. If you can, move the table into the middle of a room. An empty garage or even a work shed is an perfect spot to spray-paint. In each situation, it is ideal to perform the painting outside to dissipate overspray. Most spray paints adhere to the glass surface if the ambient temperature is 60 degrees or higher. If the temperature is lower than 60 degrees, the shade must be painted inside.
Hold a can of glass spray paint, or even a multi purpose spray paint which will cover and adhere to glass, about 8 inches away from the shade to be nourished. In most cases, you will use a solid color paint or a metallic-colored paint. Begin spraying at a back-and-forth motion, always keeping the can moving while working your way across the lamp shade. Do not quit moving the the paint will focus in 1 place and might begin to drip and run down the colour.
Finish the initial coat. Turn the can upside down and spray on the paint via the nozzle until only air is escaping. This is going to keep the nozzle from clogging up. Enable the paint to dry and determine the efficacy of the paint job. Whether there aren’t any missed spots, wait until the paint has completely dried and then spray another coat.