Recently, we were thrilled to team up with Rust-Oleum + Apartment Therapy to take on this easy poolside project, and we were so excited to share the fun results! So today, we’re sharing this simple poolside cart makeover with Rust-Oleum!
But we’ll back up a second, because it’s the simplest little afternoon project with such a great outcome for a high-functioning piece that you’ll want to find one, too. There’s something cathartic about finding an old piece and giving it a new life. We thought it might be time to update our side area by the pool so that we could have a piece that’s both functional and attractive. When I stumbled across this antique wine rack on Facebook Marketplace, this one fit all the requirements. {PS. though it was listed as such, it’s not antique at all and just needed a good old-fashioned makeover.}
I knew the overall scope of the project and that I wanted a cart of some kind to work with. But when searching this genre, none of the shapes and plain old carts felt worthy of the color: Satin Sapphire. When I stumbled upon this piece on Marketplace, I knew we had to have it. The shape was perfect, but the color was very lackluster in personality. It’s also made out of the perfect materials that I’d been looking for: the shelf comprised mainly of metal, with thick glass shelves + slate on the bottom. That means it’s great for the outside, with a little touchup + protection from the elements.
The photos of this ‘before’ aren’t doing it justice, but this piece was a little scuffed up, so it was definitely time for a redo. We loved choosing Rust-Oleum’s Satin Sapphire via their Protective Enamel with custom spray 5-in-1 to give it a new lease on life.
Before getting started, we moved it into an area of the yard where nothing else would experience overspray. The spray paint is fairly contained, but keeping it in a well-ventilated space in the open is always good. We removed the shelves and wiped the piece down so it was prepped to paint.
What we love about Rust-Oleum Protective Enamel with Custom Spray 5-in-1 is that, true to its name, it comes in custom colors and is definitely user-friendly. In the past whenever we’ve used spray paint in a can, we’ve always had to use those spray can grippers, so that we had more control over the can. Not with this line. This is by far the easiest to use spray paint in a can that we’ve ever encountered.
Rust-Oleum offers five intuitive spray patterns for painting any piece. With a twist of the dial, you can switch to whatever you need. It’s also sturdy and unburdensome to hold.
We used the horizontal setting for the sides, which had the best possible outcome with this piece. No dripping and awesome coverage. {Jamin was happy to model.}
We then used the low output setting for the corners of the piece, where things can sometimes get a little tricky. There were no drips and no mess. Have you noticed there was also no priming? It wasn’t needed with this project because the paint had it covered.
We also love that Rust-Oleum’s advanced Stops Rust formula delivers 30% greater corrosion resistance when compared to the original. It’s great to know that this piece will be just fine outside and oh-so adorable by our pool.
When it was dry, we placed everything back as-is and put it to good use! We love that it can hold anything for parties and serve as a great towel caddy for guests. It’s working hard for us this summer with the revolving door that is our house with teens. It’s truly been non-stop. This is the perfect afternoon transformation without using too much elbow grease. I think that we can all use a small project with a big impact every now and again, especially after a long week of work.
We adore how this piece turned out and how the colors work so well with the rest of the space! When I stumbled upon it, I knew it was the perfect piece to alter and use as a poolside towel holder, hosting shelf, tabletop, and so much more. It only took bringing it to life with a whole new, one-of-a-kind look. We love that we can use it outdoors!
Satin Sapphire is a really beautiful jewel-toned blue, and we adore all the possibilities with this color. Our backyard is a colorful, fun-filled space where we entertain friends and family often, so this one definitely brought a new dimension to the area. We’ve gotten a lot of comments already!
This really is the best little shelf for our poolside area. From drink holder to towel caddy, it holds all the things.
Have you tried the Rust-Oleum Protective Enamel with Custom Spray 5-in-1? You’ll want to get your hands on it for the next outdoor project on the docket! As always, let us know if you try it. We’d love to hear. Have an inspired day!
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