Does your outdoor light need a refresh? Here’s How to Spray Paint Outdoor Light Fixtures – without taking it off the wall!

I like to spend each January doing home maintenance and small tasks that got put aside over the holiday season.

One of those tasks for us was updating the light over our garage door.

This is a black metal light (maybe even oil rubbed bronze) that was there when we moved in. It was covered with splotches of rust stains.

While I feel like the average person didn’t notice when walking by, it bothered me.

I considered buying a new exterior light fixture, but decided to save the money and installation time and just give this one a paint job instead!

Let’s talk about how to restore outdoor metal light fixtures – without taking them off the wall!

Best paint for outdoor metal light fixtures

You want to be sure that you use a paint that says both METAL and OUTDOOR on the can. I highly recommend a spray paint that is paint and primer in one.

Outdoor light fixtures are typically painted one of these colors:

• Black
• White
• Oil rubbed bronze
• Brass/Copper

What kind of paint do you use on outdoor light fixtures?

Outdoor light fixtures are exposed to the elements, which will wear them out. It’s important to choose an exterior paint to help it last as long as possible outdoors.

What kind of paint do you use on a metal light fixture?

Metal is more likely to rust so it is important to grab a can of spray paint that is labeled safe for metal use.

How to paint outdoor light fixture without taking it down

Here’s how to restore faded outdoor light fixtures using spray paint in just a few minutes!

Supplies needed:

• Rag and soapy water
• Painter’s tape
• Cardboard
• Scissors
• Spray paint for metal + outdoor use
• Step ladder (if needed)

Steps to paint an outdoor light fixture:

STEP 1: CLEAN

Remove the light bulb. Clean your light with a soapy damp cloth to remove dust, dirt, or debris.

If there are any flakes of metal/paint coming off, you might need to lightly sand it.

Anything you leave behind will be painted on, so don’t skip this step! Make sure it’s smooth.

STEP 2: PREP

Cut a piece of cardboard to have a slit and a hole for the light fixture base to fit into.

STEP 3: TAPE

Apply painter’s tape around the base of the light to protect the backing in case any paint gets past the cardboard.

If the fixture has glass, remove the glass or tape it off.

STEP 4: SPRAY

Place your cardboard template over the base of the light and spray with the spray paint. Hit from all angles so you don’t miss a spot.

Use small sprays starting just past the fixture and crossing it.

Repeat, if necessary, and spray again while using a whole piece of cardboard to protect from any overspray.

We used two pieces, one to spray the fixture closer and one to set around the base. You could probably do just one.

This is a super simple project that only takes a few minutes, but makes your outdoor light fixture look brand new.

Plus, the added protection from the paint will help add years of life to the light and you’ll save some money!

Any more questions about painting outdoor light fixtures?