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Mini Greenhouse – Distressed Decor Idea

Learn to distress chalk paint with sandpaper on a metal mini greenhouse. This technique creates the perfect distressed decor idea.

There are several different ways to create a distressed look on metal.

  • sandpaper or sanding block technique
  • vaseline technique
  • dry brushing technique

just to name a few.

I am partial to using sandpaper to distress paint (or a sanding block) so that is the process I am showing you today.

If you have read my blog before then you probably know that I used this technique a lot. Not just for metal either. I used it on glass and wood too.

Keep reading to see just how easy it is to distress with a sanding block!

If you love DIY metal projects you can click here to find more metal crafts inspiration!

Finished mini greenhouse painted with chalk paint and distressed with sanding block

Mini Greenhouse – DIY Distressed Decor Idea

I am in love with this little mini greenhouse. My intention is to grow herbs in my kitchen with a grow light.

The problem is that I just cannot have live plants in my house. My cats will eat them, or lay in them or play with them. They just cannot help themselves. It is terrible.

So, I needed to have the covered.

I actually had been looking online and in thrift stores for a small greenhouse but hadn’t purchased one yet.

Our son, Brian was coming to visit and I was making the bed in the guest room and…there it was! This little terrarium, mini greenhouse. I had totally forgotten about it.

This is what it looked like. It had obviously been forgotten since it was so dusty.

Mini greenhouse before it has been painted and distressed

And it opens at the top.

Mini greenhouse before it has been painted and distressed

I am hoping that it works for me and my herbs but I wanted it to be white. Jeff helped me remove all of the glass pieces so I could paint it.

As we were removing the glass we found that two of the pieces were actually acrylic. I had no idea by looking at it.

This is what you will need if you are going to use spray paint and sandpaper to distress metal.

Materials needed:

I have added some affiliate links for your convenience. You can see my full disclosure here.

There are not a lot of materials needed and this is a super easy way to give your metal a new look.

Step 1: Remove and clean the glass pieces

This really goes without saying but I am saying it anyway.

Carefully remove the glass pieces and wash them in warm soapy water.

They looked so pretty when I was done.

Step 2: Dust and clean the metal greenhouse

I just gave the entire piece a good dusting to get it ready for the paint.

Step 3: Spray paint the metal

White is what I wanted when I started so I tried to use my Rustoleum white spray paint and it was coming out of the can weird and botchy.

I have had this happen a couple of times and I hate it.

So I decided to let the white dry then go over it with the gray chalked spray paint.

Using the Rustoleum Chalked spray paint to paint the metal mini greenhouse

It took about three light coats to get it evenly covered. But the Chalked paint worked nicely.

Step 4: Distress the metal

How to distress metal

This is the fun step.

Get out your sanding block or sand paper. I love sanding blocks and I have some that are like fine sandpaper and some that are more course. The rough sanding block is perfect for this project.

The mini greenhouse with the sanding block I am using to distress the chalk paint.

Start sanding and keep going until you get the look you want. Here are some photos of the distressing.

I had just started it in this picture but I already loved the look.

A photo showing a close up of just getting started with the sanding (distressing) technique.

Here is a little more distressing. It is really up to how much or little you want to do.

This is how to distress chalk paint on metal. It is so easy.

One of the corners of the greenhouse with the distressed sanded paint.

I love the look of the distressed chalk paint and love the gray.

The mini greenhouse after it has been painted and distressed.

Step 5: Re-place the glass pieces and add plants

All there is left to do is to replace the nice, clean glass pieces to complete the project.

I added these plants in it just for these photos but they will eventually house my herbs.

Finished mini greenhouse painted with chalk paint and distressed with sanding block

I LOVE the look of it. The painted metal finish is much better than the dark metal and the distressed paint makes me smile. To me it is the perfect distressed home decor and I am so happy with it.

Finished mini greenhouse painted with chalk paint and distressed with sanding block

Finished mini greenhouse painted with chalk paint and distressed with sanding block

Finished mini greenhouse painted with chalk paint and distressed with sanding block

Finished mini greenhouse painted with chalk paint and distressed with sanding block

I have included some printable instructions below.

Mini Greenhouse - Distressed Decor Idea

Finished mini greenhouse painted with chalk paint and distressed with sanding block

Learn to distress chalk paint with sandpaper on a metal mini greenhouse. This technique creates the perfect distressed decor idea.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Active Time 3 hours
Additional Time 3 hours
Total Time 6 hours 15 minutes
Difficulty Easy
Estimated Cost $0 - $40

Tools

  • Sanding Block

Instructions

  1. Remove glass pieces from the mini greenhouse and wash them with warm soapy water.
  2. Clean the metal greenhouse if needed.
  3. Spray the metal with three light coats of the Chalked spray paint letting each coat dry completely.
  4. Use the sanding block to sand away/distress the chalk paint. Keep sanding until you get the look you want.
  5. Wipe away the sanding dust.
  6. Use the spray, satin clear coat to seal the paint. (two coats)
  7. Replace the glass pieces and fill with plants.

Notes

The cost of $0-$40 depends on what you have already. This project didn't cost me anything since I had all of the materials.

I hope you guys liked this distressed decor idea and that you love this look as much as I do.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Michelle

Finished mini greenhouse painted with chalk paint and distressed with sanding block
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