How to Decorate a Vintage Metal Foot Locker

A vintage metal foot locker can be a sturdy resource for some extra added storage in any room of the house. Many of these types of boxes can be found at thrift shops and yard sales, or maybe there's one gathering dust in the upstairs attic. With a little creativity, any rusty old metal foot locker can be brought back to life for use in your home.

Metal foot locker
Sandpaper
Scouring pad
Mineral spirits
Primer
Paint
Masking tape
Stencil kits
Decals or any other decorative embellishments

Instructions

- 1
  
  Sandpaper works better than paint thinner for an easier removal process.
  
  Strip the paint with sandpaper. Depending on the age and size of your foot locker, you may want to use a grinder, but be careful not to apply too much heavy pressure especially if there are any rust spots. Take all the paint off the metal. Use the scouring pad for any hard-to-reach areas near the latch or in the corners of the locker.
- 2
  Swab away the dust from the stripped paint with some mineral spirits. Now your metal is ready to be repainted.
- 3
  Decide on the new design of the foot locker. If it's going in a heavy traffic room like the kitchen or living room, then it's probably best to paint it to match the room's decorating color scheme. If the foot locker is for the kids, then they will want to decorate it their way. This may include stencils, decals or other creative ideas they might have, but first the foot locker must be painted.
- 4
  Cover the foot locker with a layer of primer. Let dry for about an hour or two, then apply a top coat of paint to the foot locker panels as desired. If adding stencils, apply and paint after the top coat dries for a better result. Use masking tape to cover any areas for a two-tone or striped design. Remove the tape right after applying or the paint could crack.
- 5
  Apply any decorative stencil work to the foot locker. Use small brushes for painting delicate designs or a can of spray paint if restoring the foot locker to its original military design.
- 6
  Spray the foot locker with a coat of sealer or gloss if desired. It will give the foot locker a shiny finish.
- 7
  Affix any labels or decorative embellishments. Make sure the paint has fully dried before using otherwise they will not stick properly.

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