How to paint glass

From empty wine bottles to vases and even windows, painted glass adds texture and, with matt paint, creates a beautiful contrasting finish.

How to paint glass

Before you start, put down a dustsheet to protect the areas you don’t want to get paint on.

1. Degrease the glass

Use sugar soap and a cloth to clean the glass. This is a fantastic degreaser and gets rid of all grime and dirt, whether you can see it or not.

Then rinse off the sugar soap with clean water and wipe dry with a clean cloth.

2. Lightly sand the glass

Use 240 grit sandpaper to rub-down the glass and create a rough surface for the paint to stick to better.

Quickly and lightly do this by hand. Wipe down with a damp cloth to get rid of the dust and let it dry.

If you’re going to create a pattern, like stripes, now is the time to mark off sections with decorator’s tape.

Another way to create a pattern is to paint a base colour, pencil on the design and then paint over it with a different colour.

3. Paint the glass

Our Furniture Paint is a primer, undercoat and finish all in one, so you can paint it straight onto your prepped glass.

If you’re using a different paint (ours comes in any colour the eye can see), check to see if you first need to apply a primer.

You can use a roller or paintbrush to paint glass. A roller is best for flat surfaces, like windows, and brushes are great for intricate detail or smaller glass.

When using a brush, paint in one direction; try not to go over the same spot too often, or the paint will spread thinly.

Check the coverage to see if it needs a second coat; if it does, wait for 2 to 4 hours for the first coat to dry. Lightly sand and wipe down the dust before applying the second coat of paint.

If you’ve used decorator’s tape, peel it off while the paint is still wet.

And that’s all you need to do to paint glass!

How to remove paint from glass

Wet paint can be easily wiped up with a dry cloth, followed by rinsing it with water. Our paint is water-based, so it’s super easy to clean up.

For dried-on paint (including gloss), you can use a couple of methods to get it off the glass.

Use a thin razor blade to very gently scrape off as much paint as you can. This is useful for getting random splotches of paint off glass or keeping a neat finish.

Nail varnish remover or white spirit are both effective at removing paint too. Dampen a cloth or cotton bud and hold it against the paint for several seconds. Then rub it until the paint comes away. Repeat until you’ve got rid of all the paint.

We love to see your creatively upcycled glass and furniture, share your projects with us on Instagram @valsparpaintuk