How to Repaint Yard Ornaments

Clean the ornament. Hose off any dust, caked-on dirt and other debris. Use a stiff brush to remove stubborn debris, like bird droppings and hardened mud. Use sand paper to smooth down any rough edges where the paint is flaking or dull so you can repaint onto a cleared surface.

Prepare and repair the ornament. Make any necessary repairs, such as gluing pieces back together, reinforcing weak areas or otherwise fixing up any part of the ornament that may be broken. Sand down any dried glue that may have seeped out of the cracks and left the surface uneven.

Protect any necessary areas. Use painter's tape to cover any areas of the ornament that you don't want to repaint. Cover the base, eyeballs or other areas that are still in pristine condition and therefore don't need a new paint coat.

Pick the right paint. Opt for a paint specifically designed for the type of yard ornament you are repainting. Use outdoor latex acrylic paints for wood and metal. Pick an outdoor paint specifically designed for plastics to redo your plastic ornaments. Opt for an acrylic concrete paint for concrete or terra cotta ornaments and for those made of other stone or masonry.

Paint the ornament. Use spray paint or a soft brush or sponge brush, depending on the coverage and design you wish to achieve. Paint each color separately, allowing to dry thoroughly before moving on to the next color. Use permanent paint markers for the finer details if you are more comfortable with them than a fine brush. Remove any painter's tape once the paint is completely dry.

Seal. Spray the ornament with the proper sealer once the paint had dried thoroughly. Use an all-purpose outdoor sealer for wood, metal and plastics. Pick a sealer specifically designed for concrete to protect stone and masonry ornaments.