Many backyard birders enjoy attracting nesting birds, but they also want birdhouses to be attractive garden or yard decorations even if the houses aren't active residences. In general, natural camouflaged colors such as gray, dull green, brown, or tan help the house blend into its environment and keep nesting birds safe from predators. I bought an unfinished wood birdhouse from Joann craft store for just a couple of dollars on sale. Paint can help seal small cracks that would otherwise widen in the summer heat and destroy the house's integrity, and a good paint job can revitalize an older birdhouse so it can be used for more nesting seasons. Don't judge your efforts immediately, allow time to distance yourself. United Soybean Board / Flickr / CC by 2.0. Rough the color in, painting all the pink shapes at one time while pink is on your palette. There are some other supplies you'll want to gather from around your house: Get white plastic picnic plates (9" size) to use for your palette, a 32 oz. Consider trying alternative, eco-friendly, or naturally-derived paints, or opt for natural or organic stains rather than paints. How to Paint a Birdhouse. Florescent, metallic, or iridescent paints should generally be avoided because of their overly dramatic brightness and other additives in the paint that could be harmful to wildlife. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Never allow the paint to stay in the brushes. Wash brushes with soap and cool water and dry flat on a clean rag or towel. A brightly colored, highly visible house, however, may not attract tenants if more suitable nesting sites are available. Master's Degree, Art Education, SUNY-Buffalo. This article has been viewed 6,223 times. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 6,223 times. Now that you have your supplies, it is time to paint your birdhouse. She has both a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Art Education from SUNY-Buffalo State and has taught art at the K-12 and college levels. For the last 20 years, she has focused her work and teaching on watercolor. You can opt-out at any time. Then add your first color with a paintbrush. The best colors for a birdhouse depend on the house type and where it will be situated. Melissa Mayntz has been a birder and wild bird enthusiast for 30+ years. Paint a second coat and allow to dry. Bright colors can draw unwanted attention that will attract predators, while toxic paints can be poisonous to both adult birds and fledglings. By using our site, you agree to our. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Stir to make pink. Cover any areas you don't want painted with painter's tape if desired. For more details, see our. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. If, for example, you have pink blossoms appearing in many places over your birdhouse, pull some white paint into the center of the plate and add a touch of red. Smaller birds could also become too chilled in a larger house if … Hardened acrylic paint is permanent. She has both a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Art Education from SUNY-Buffalo State and has taught art at the K-12 and college levels. Set up your palette by squeezing a small amount of paint around the rim, the entire circumference, of your plastic plate. ... Large white painted birdhouse in a gazebo style with lattice fencing. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, The Spruce Gardening & Plant Care Review Board, The Spruce Renovations and Repair Review Board, Avoid painting the inside of a birdhouse or around the lip of the, When painting, take care that the paint does not block or seal small ventilation holes or drainage holes in the house. To mix colors, always start with the light color on your palette and gradually add the darker one(s.). You will soon find the mixing and painting process becoming second nature. All paint is made of chemicals, so work in a ventilated area and take breaks often. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. [Category:Painting]]. Three bird houses form the base for a second bird house perched on top. "I love that the info was thorough and step-by-step, even including things I already know but might have forgotten. Allow to dry before moving on to the next step. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. (Do only one side at a time) We use cookies to make wikiHow great. There is no reason or need to paint it. Choose a birdhouse design with the proper interior dimensions for the desired residents. ... Small logs in front of the house as a decorative bird house feature. The paint on the birdhouse should be dry before you begin to work. White paint is recommended for purple martin houses to help reflect heat away from these open area houses, and any house in a sunny area can benefit from that heat reflection on hot summer days. Follow the instructions on the Repositionable Spray Adhesive to adhere your stencil onto the side of the birdhouse. The time for detail will come after the entire house gets its first coat of color(s). This article has been viewed 6,223 times. Virginia Kelley is an artist and art teacher from New York with over 30 years of experience. While cedar and cypress houses are naturally durable and do not require painting, pine or plywood birdhouses can be made more weatherproof and long-lasting with a good coat of quality paint. See more ideas about christmas, christmas crafts, christmas decorations. If the paint is too thick to apply easily, use … If, for example, you have pink blossoms appearing in many places over your birdhouse, pull some white paint into the center of the plate and add a touch of red. Leave the interior natural. It might also make the perfect, unique gift for a friend. There are times, however, when a carefully chosen paint job can be good for a birdhouse. plastic yogurt container for a water bucket, newspapers, rags torn into 12 inch (30.5 cm) pieces, or a roll of paper towels and, an old shirt for a smock. Sep 22, 2018 - Explore Mona McCallum's board "Christmas Birdhouses", followed by 427 people on Pinterest. These holes are necessary for a, Allow the paint to dry thoroughly for several days before. Choose a good exterior paint to apply to your birdhouse. Since I have seen many finished birdhouses at a cost of $15 and up, doing this craft yourself is a pretty good deal. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Paint a base coat onto the birdhouse and allow to dry completely. Move to a clean spot on the palette and continue mixing colors and applying the new color to all shapes that need that color. Mix enough to paint all the places that need to be pink. Themed houses are also popular, and a basic birdhouse can be transformed into a patriotic palace, country tea cottage, or whimsical ornament with different paint schemes. You may need multiple coats of paint to get good coverage. When not using a brush with paint in it, set it in the water bucket. Painted appropriately with safe colors and non-toxic paints, a painted birdhouse can be attractive to birds. This article was co-authored by Virginia Kelley, MA, a trusted member of wikiHow's community. Pick color combinations based on your outdoor decor or just make them colorful to attract the birds. This miniature birdhouse, covered in forms from nature, will probably end up gracing a shelf in your house. However, it is important that you prime and paint only the exterior of the birdhouse. She has over 16 years experience writing about wild birds for magazines and websites. Dark colors in sunny areas can also overheat the house, smothering young birds or fostering toxic levels of bacteria growth in a contaminated house. If the house will be mounted in a colorful flower garden, however, choose more colorful paints that coordinate with nearby floral hues. Yellow and green painted bird house with picket fence paint design set on a post in a lush garden. Learn more... Do you love the outdoors, almost as much as the birds? There are many beautiful painted birdhouses in every color and design imaginable. Too small of a house may cause growing birds to smother, while too large of a house will not be attractive to nesting parents. % of people told us that this article helped them. By choosing paints, colors, and designs carefully, birders can enjoy attractive, decorative birdhouses where birds will be happy to take up residence. And if you want to paint, which birdhouse colors are best? Is painting birdhouses safe, or are painted birdhouses less attractive or even dangerous for the birds that use them? A simple solid color birdhouse is easy to paint, whether in muted tones or bold palettes, while some artistic birders create birdhouses that resemble real homes' paint jobs with coordinating colors and trim. Mix enough to paint all the places that need to be pink. Sand any rough edges that you find on your birdhouse and clean the surface well. Allow to dry. This article was co-authored by Virginia Kelley, MA, a trusted member of wikiHow's community. Birds that use houses aren't always picky about their accommodations, and they will nest in painted birdhouses if the size, shape, and placement of the house meet their needs. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. This prevents worry about whether or not the paint is toxic to the birds you hope will live in the birdhouse. Interior. Painting isn't always the best choice for birdhouses, however, because a poorly chosen paint job can be dangerous. I picked a wide range of colors that I thought were great for a retro camper. Paint the roof and allow to dry then repeat. Poor birds! Stir to make pink. School or sports team colors, rainbows, or even bird-themed paint jobs are also popular. The only other cost is for the paint. Your vision will be clearer a few hours or days later. To properly paint a birdhouse: Use water-based latex paint, and always avoid lead-based or creosote paints that may be toxic to birds. Virginia Kelley is an artist and art teacher from New York with over 30 years of experience. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/98\/Transform-a-Miniature-Wooden-Birdhouse-with-Acrylic-Paint-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Transform-a-Miniature-Wooden-Birdhouse-with-Acrylic-Paint-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/98\/Transform-a-Miniature-Wooden-Birdhouse-with-Acrylic-Paint-Step-1.jpg\/aid6793576-v4-728px-Transform-a-Miniature-Wooden-Birdhouse-with-Acrylic-Paint-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"