Mailbox fix

Sometimes you've got to give yourself a win. Any win. Something to help you check a box. Cross something off the list. After moving in, that was me... feeling overwhelmed in this shades-of-orange house with a to-do list a mile long. I needed a win. Enter: the mailbox.

I know. I can hear you all saying "the mailbox?!" I'm sure my neighbors thought the same thing. Who are these people and what's so wrong with the mailbox?

We have a metal post mailbox. The first time we opened the hatch, the entire mailbox hinged forward off the post at us. It was literally hanging on by the thread of one screw. What in the world?! I immediately felt sorry for our USPS driver and did a quick prayer there was never a work comp claim because of our address.

And that's when I decided to not just add this onto the list, but tackle it. And guess what. When I started trying to figure out what I needed to secure the thing, I found the screws on the ground in the rocks surrounding the post. Your guess is as good as mine about how long those had been there!

I did a quick clean, tore off the very weathered house numbers, grabbed some spray paint I already had on hand from another project and just let the entire mailbox have it. My favorite spray paint is Rust-Oleum's Spray Paint and Primer in One. The comfy handle is really why I buy the stuff. I had some Satin Black on hand and it was just what the mailbox needed. I applied the first coat in the early morning (before kids were even out of bed!) and hit it for a second coat as the sun was setting.

I recommend keeping a can or two of this on hand! (Rust-Oleum)

I did a quick sweep through our local Home Depot for some new numbers but just couldn't find anything I thought would stand out enough off the black. I also was trying to avoid the big flashy stickers. So I checked my next favorite place for home decor: Etsy. I could go on and on about all the cute things I've purchased from Etsy, but that's another blog post for another time. I opted for a simple number decal set from Leen the Graphics Queen. Just what I needed to put the finishing touches on my "quick win" project.

Here's a before shot ... sad, weathered, wobbly.

Original mailbox... unfortunate little thing amongst a sad sea of rocks and "grass."

And here's the final thing. There's nothing like the transformative power of a little paint!

What's on your project list that can use a quick face lift? Grab that spray paint and get to work!

Need a Fix Up? Here's what we used:

• Rust-Oleum's Spray Paint and Primer in One (affiliate)

• Leen the Graphics Queen House Number Decals

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