This post is sponsored by Wagner. All opinions are my own.
Every spring, once we’re done with pollen season, I like to give my mailbox a fresh coat of paint. A realtor friend advised me years ago that mailboxes and exterior lights (like lampposts and porch lights) are usually neglected by homeowners and that painting them is one of the easiest ways to add instant curb appeal.
When we first moved into Magnolia Cottage last July, the mailbox was definitely in need of a little TLC, so it was one of the first projects on my list. I do find that mailboxes (and their wood posts) look best when they get a fresh coat of paint every year, so it’s just part of my spring routine.
The first step is to use a cleaning cloth and a hose to clean dirt, pollen, and cobwebs off of the mailbox and post. Remove the flag (if it’s faded you’ll want to replace it; I’ve linked to one below in my sources).
Since I had replaced the old reflector-style house numbers with white vinyl last summer, I had to peel that off next.
Then I lightly sanded to remove the remaining adhesive.
While I let things dry, I set up my new Wagner FLEXiO 4300 paint sprayer.
This was my first time using the FLEXiO and it has all the bells and whistles. You can use it for everything–big jobs like painting rooms and kitchen cabinets, or small jobs like my mailbox project. I’ve obviously used quite a few paint sprayers before and this one was easy to use, right out of the box. I selected the gravity-feed spray nozzle and added exterior black paint–no need to thin it because the X Boost Turbine can handle paint straight from the can.
You can control the paint flow and the air power based on the paint that you’re using and the needs of your project.
I was able to easily spray the inside of the mailbox.
Clean up is easy–just soap and water if you’re using latex paint, and it’s fast.
After the paint dried, I added the finishing touches. I cut a new set of house numbers using my Silhouette Cameo and applied them to both sides of the mailbox. (I’ll link below to an Etsy seller who can create something similar, or if you have a vinyl cutting machine, I used the fonts Superclarendon (Free) for the numbers and Brooke (purchased here) for the “no.”
Also, if you haven’t replaced your mailbox flag recently, it will cost you about $5-$10 and make a huge difference.
You can certainly opt not to paint your wood post; however, pressure-treated lumber starts to get gray and tired looking after just a few years and I think that painting it makes it look so much better.
This is definitely a small project that makes a big impact, wouldn’t you agree?
Great news: Wagner is giving away a FLEXiO 4300 sprayer (retail value $199.99) to one of our readers!
(GIVEAWAY CLOSED) To enter for a chance to win your own, simply leave a comment below letting us know what you’ll paint first if you win, or you can enter over on Instagram. We’ll randomly select a winner and email them on April 30th. Good luck and thanks for stopping by! (GIVEAWAY CLOSED)
Pick me. Pick me. Pick me.
Good luck, Janee!
My mailbox definitely needs painting!! I would not have thought to do this, but what a difference it made. Thank you!!
Good luck, Kimberly!
It really does make a huge difference. It looks brand new. I would love to win, there are so many projects I could use a paint sprayer for. Thanks for the opportunity..
Good luck, Marty!
I’d love to win! The South side of our house needs painting!!
Good luck, Esther!
I really like the mailbox idea and all the shutters on my house. I did one set with a spray paint. Might know why I haven’t done more than one! Too hard on the hand.
I’m getting a cramp in my hand just thinking about it! Good luck, Susie!
Oooh. I would love to have a paint sprayer! My first project would be updating the deck furnishings!
Good luck, Kristina!
I’d love to win! I’d use it on our backyard deck!
Good luck, Anita!
My husband would say paint the mailbox-but I would start with our vintage iron patio furniture!
Good luck, Tara!
On my “to do” list when it stops raining
I hope it stops soon. Good luck!
Christy
What a fantastic idea!!!! I would LOVE a sprayer that I could set up easily myself without enlisting my sweet husband!!!
This one is definitely easy to use. Good luck!
My stucco mailbox needs painting – then I would love to tackle my kitchen cabinets!
Good luck, Donna!
I would paint our lawn furniture, then the laundry room, then the dining room…….. My husband HATES painting so I have to do it!
So does mine! Good luck, Linda!
I have a mirror,a metal tryptich , a metal sofa table, and a lamp I would love,to paint!🙂
Those will keep you busy for a while! Good luck, Nancy!
Christy
Mailbox. concrete patio, flowerpots
Good luck!
It’s time to stain the wood fence (ugh). The installer said every 3 years and that was – wait for it – 3 years ago this summer. My husband and I stained it by hand using a paintbrush after it was installed and were wondering if maybe the oldest grandchild could tackle it this summer . . . with a little bribery – but a Wagner sprayer would be terrific!
Ugh, fences are the worst! I’m contemplating doing our white picket fence but I can’t quite bring myself to tackle the scraping and sanding it would need first. Good luck, Carolyn!
Christy
I have a huge deck that’s about 5 years past due to be painted and it makes me sad every time I look out the window as it’s visible from the kitchen, dining room and living room. Due to permanent damage from a broken foot I can no longer get down on my hands and knees to paint it. This would be a wonderful solution.
Decks are the worst! Good luck, Cynthia.
Christy
Mailbox looksFantastic! where to start on the list of things to be painted….currently spray paining the hardware for all the doors and cabinets in the house…on the list – paint the house, restore and paint some shutters, porch furniture and I so want to paint the kitchen chairs that have not been painted in 25 years! :)…they have spindle backs and sides….too difficult to paint by hand and still have it look good.
Glad I have discovered you. Looking forward to your next project!
That list should keep you busy for a while! We’re glad you discovered us, too. Good luck, Jeanne!
I am in the middle of repainting the signs for our Bed & Breakfast. We live in a cottage right on the property. I’d love to make the mailbox look as great as the sign above it!! This would be such a big help. 🙏🏻❤️
Good luck, Robbie!
Oh my goodness! We need this so bad! Just moved into an old house with so many cabinets to paint! Fingers crossed!
Yes, it would be perfect for cabinets! Good luck, Bridget!
Christy
The exterior of our house needs painting; however, the first project I would do is a beside table. I would need to practice before taking on the whole house!
I always like to practice on a small project first, too. Good luck, Tracy!
I have a tv cabinet waiting to be prettied! Thanks for this opportunity!!
Good luck, Jennifer!
I have some patio furniture that really needs painting.
Good luck, Sharlene!
We’re having to pull up our mailbox when we get zoysia sod put in. What a perfect time to paint the mailbox and post! And I ‘m sure with the Wagner paint sprayer it will be so much easier😊
That’s the perfect time to paint. Good luck!
I would paint my kitchen cabinets first and then my mailbox stand.
You’ll definitely want a sprayer for those cabinets. Good luck!
The first thing we would paint would be my mailbox too! We just moved into a fixer upper and the mailbox is nice so we will keep it but it needs to be painted. A sprayer will make that job and many others much easier.
Yours look so cute!
Thanks, Laura. Good luck to you!
Need to paint my outside building. This sure would help accomplish that task! Enjoy you blog so very much.
Thanks so much, Sylvia. Good luck to you!
Oh, my first project would be a playhouse for the grandkiddos! Then on to anything else that will hold still long enough for me to paint it!😉
A playhouse sounds like a great project! Good luck, Kimberly!
First project would be the bench on our front porch. Thanks for giveaway. I enjoy the blog.
Thanks so much, Kendra. Good luck to you!
I will be starting at the top of my list of vintage furniture that is waiting to be painted…..hah! Thank you! PS. Your mailbox looks brand new!
Thank you, Tyra. Good luck to you!
Christy
First I would paint my black wrought iron patio furniture- it needs it bad! Then, my daughter’s kitchen cabinets and then my other daughter’s kitchen table and then my basement walls and then…… 🙂
You have quite a list–good luck to you!
I love your blog! You both always have inspiring home improvement ideas, shopping links, recipes! Thank you! If I won the spray painter, I suppose I would start with the mailbox too. The post is aluminum and when we had our house power washed last week the guy did our mailbox and post too. It took off a lot of the paint on the post, so it doesn’t look as nice now.
Thank you for the lovely compliment, Paula–so kind of you. Good luck!
Your mailbox looks great! I’d love to win the Wagner paint sprayer! I‘d paint our new fence, a chest, and our mailbox.
Good luck, Kristi!
I recently inherited a 60 acre farm in East TN that was built by my family in 1842. There have been some updates with the last being in 1982 when my parents inherited it. There is a barn that was built in 1860 that desperately needs to be painted. It has no nails, it is all tongue and groove. Then there is a smoke house that needs to be painted. Then the whole inside of the house around 2,000 sq ft, including a den and dining room that all paneled…ugh. Thank you for this chance to enter and if I win it will definitely be put to good use.
How wonderful, Debbie! Yes, it will be a ton of work, but what an amazing opportunity to live on your family’s farm. Good luck to you!
I’m always painting something and next on the list is 2 wicker chairs (You know how fun wicker is to paint!).
The FLEXiO would be so fantastic for saving time, getting even coats, and it would be easy to use and easy to clean up.
Wicker is the worst–I never paint it without a sprayer! Good luck to you, Jan!
Hey Christy! I’m always spray painting something around the house (in or out) so let’s say for starters it would be the wrought iron patio set on the deck! Each chair is a different color (orange, red, two different shades of blue) and the table top is purple top with the edge/base black. Love the colors!! =)
Those sound like “Julie colors”! Good luck to you!
I have always been so scared of sprayers and thinning the paint that I’ve never tried. This one seems less complicated, so id love to try. I would start with the outdoor sectional I built two years ago .
They’re so much easier to use when you don’t have to thin the paint! Good luck to you, Christine!
We recently moved into an older home with lots of oak railings and cabinets, not to mention 15 feet ceilings in several rooms. I could keep that sprayer very busy!
Yes, you could! Good luck, Patricia!
I’ d start with spraying my mailbox pole, then move on to a wicker rocker and side table! I might even share it with my hubby.
Good luck to you, Deborah!
I’d love to use this to paint my kitchen cabinets! Thanks for the opportunity !
I will paint our mailbox if we win!
Good luck, Casey!
My mailbox will certainly be in the running for first use, but there are so many other projects that the paint sprayer would be so useful to make painting easier.
Good luck, Adecia!
I would definitely use the sprayer for our kitchen cabinets!
Good luck, Emily!
I would finally spray a vintage outdoor table and chairs! I have arthritis in my hands and can’t use spray paint from a can anymore.
I find the cans hard to use, too. Good luck, Cathy!
We have a deck and a wood fence that need to be stained. and, I have a husband with knee problems.
so, we have been talking about trying out a paint sprayer. Thanks for having a giveaway.
Good luck to you, Donna!
What a great post! I have never used a paint sprayer but i suspect it would be great to use for repainting our living room which has been on my bucket list for longer than I care to acknowledge publicly! I am also going to attempt my first large scale reupholstery project to update the sofas inherited from my mother in law! Wish me luck… afraid I will need it!
A reupholstery project will definitely keep you busy! Good luck!
We have just moved and in our new house every room needs a new coat of paint. How nice it would be to have the FLEXiO 4300 sprayer to help with this task. Up the ladder, roll the paint, down the ladder, add paint to the roller, repeat, is not a fun way to spend your day. The thought of spraying on the paint makes me smile!! How happy I would be to win that sprayer. 🙂
It would save you so much time! Good luck!
The inside of my garden shed! It has high beams and a peaked ceiling….definitely need a sprayer!
Yes, you do. Good luck!
What a great giveaway! You’ve given me the idea to paint my mailbox! I would either tackle that or our deck!
Good luck to you!
What a difference fresh paint on your mailbox made! I actually love the post in black. It makes a huge statement. My mailbox post has been waiting for a makeover and now I feel inspired. Maybe if I win the sprayer, I’ll start there. Then I’ll move on to the HUGE fence, or maybe the upstairs hallway. Should I be brave and paint the kitchen cabinets myself? The projects and possibilities are endless!
Kitchen cabinets would be quite the quarantine project, and you would definitely want a sprayer for those. Good luck to you!
Dear Christy & Amy,
Oh, I have so many projects that I could use the Wagner paint sprayer daily! Starting with some mirror frames that need updating. And then an antique typewriter stand. Could really have some fun getting these projects completed!! Thanks for your blog. You are both so talented. Hope you are feeling better, Amy.
Thank you so much, Isabella! I talked with Amy this morning and she’s not feeling 100% but she is getting there. I know she appreciates the well wishes.Good luck to you!
My outdoor lights definitely need a redo! Thanks for the giveaway!
Good luck to you, Carol!
Nice job, again, on your mailbox. I like the cursive “no.” style you chose this year – it softens the more industrial aspect of the mailbox.
Please count me in on the raffle! I have a few projects for my NYC apt and obvs LOTS of time now to work on them these days, despite WFH. Sigh. :-/
Separately, if you’re bored and looking for entertainment I’ve got something for you. As you’re such fans of ballet, please take note of NYC Ballet’s Digital Spring Season April 21 – May 29. It’s my favorite ballet company….the season started Monday night w a great cast for George Balanchine’s Allegro Brillante. Each performance is available for 72 hours and each week’s upcoming programming & casting are posted on Sundays. Free. What a TREAT!! 🙂
https://www.nycballet.com/digitalspring
Being cooped up far too long in cramped city apartments in the country’s virus epicenter is super challenging and sometimes completely exhausting from the stress. A nice note…at 7pm each night the city has a communion of sorts. While the streets & sidewalks are largely empty, people come out on their balconies or lean out windows to cheer on the front line hospital workers and other medical staff….cheering, banging on pots & pans, blasting boat horns & whistles and even the occasional vehicle below honks its horn. It’s lovely and positive and humbling.
Please know that I am most certainly enjoying each of your posts more than you know. It’s nice to have cheerful reminders that people are out there getting on with things even while we’re a bit paralyzed… for now. Thank you to all who are following medical guidance on self-distancing – all of us up here appreciate it. Every person’s actions are important in battling this virus.
Hoping Amy gets back to feeling 100%, again, soon. And, wishing all the best for both of you and your families.
Take care!
Hey, Susan–
Thanks for the lovely comment and for the peek into life in NYC right now (one of my favorite cities in the whole wide world!). I have several friends in Europe right now (Italy, Germany, and Spain) and their Facebook posts are fascinating as it sounds like their current situations are very similar to yours. Lockdown is so much different in a house as compared to an apartment, since we can at least get out into our yards and spend time outside. You are all in our prayers.
We have been watching NYCB’s digital season–thank you for the heads up! I know that so many arts organizations are suffering right now with performances canceled, but I love that they’re making things available to us to enjoy at home.
Take care of yourself, and good luck!
Christy
I would paint everything, and be so happy. Thank you.
Good luck to you, Becky!
My wicker porch furniture is in dire need of a paint job.
Good luck, Trish!
I have two old wooden chairs that could use a new look!
Good luck, Linda!
Would love one of these!
Good luck to you!
I would love one of these! My mailbox needs a refresh too! So that would probably be my first project! Thanks for the opportunity to win this!
Good luck, Hayley!
Thanks for the constant inspiration!! I would paint my outdoor furniture, which is badly in need of a coat or two.
Good luck to you, Sara!
I would love to win this for my husband. He just mentioned to me last week how he needs to paint the inside of our garage and what a big job that will be. Would love to make it easier for him.
I wonder if that could count as a Father’s Day gift?! Good luck to you!
I’d paint my outdoor furniture as it’s looking a little worse for wear after two seasons outside.
Good luck to you, Carla!
I’d love to paint my outdoor chairs once our pollen is gone!
Hopefully you’re at the tail end of it–ours is finally gone. Good luck to you! Christy
Love the mailbox! We just painted ours but I’m definitely finding the numbers you used. Much better than the faded brass ones.
I would start with my fence and then.. anything that struck my fancy!
Thank you! You could also spray paint your (metal) numbers gold; I’ve done that before, too.Good luck!
A pie safe that’s currently a rustic red color. Would love to use this to tackle that project!
My whole house needs painting, but I’d probably start with my daughter’s room. She’s been wanting it painted for a while and would like some crown molding added with those light ropes tucked in behind, so I think that would be a worthy project for the Wagner FLEXio painter. Thank you so much for the inspiration and thank Wagner for the promo.
Love following your blog – always such great ideas and so beautiful to look at your projects! Thanks for the inspiration. I just moved and I am considering painting all the kitchen cabinets. So I would definitely have that be my first project if I were to win the Wagner paint sprayer! There would be many to follow but that is first up on the list. Followed by my kitchen table and chairs. I have an old set of Haywood Wakefield painted avocado green right now. And would love to make that black-and-white … or navy … Who knows the possibilities are endless. we’ll see what table And chairs look like in the space after the cabinets are painted. Maybe emerald green? If I’m feeling really adventurous and it turns out easy to do!
Keep safe thanks for all of the positive ideas!
Hey, Holly–I’m sorry you didn’t win the sprayer but I felt I had to reply to thank you for the lovely comment about our blog. It made my day! I’m also so curious to see how your set of Haywood Wakefield turns out eventually (what an amazing thing to own!). It’s always fun to move to a new house and have the chance to decorate–and it’s a good “quarantine project.”
Take care–Christy
I’d use the sprayer to repaint the Garden Arbor Bench I made many years ago. With lots of lattice a sprayer would really help! Next up would be the similarly styled trellis. Wishing and hoping…
This sprayer would be great for painting my pair of rockers on the front porch. They could use some freshening up for the upcoming summer!
Your efforts made a huge improvement! Nice job… So often, mailboxes are neglected and they are one of the first things people see when pulling up to a driveway. Would be happy to be entered into this give-away. I’d be spraying all of my weathered metal tables and chairs if I won.
I would paint my shutters and mailbox 😍
My shutters are Williamsburg blue, and they really need to come into the 21st century by becoming black! And then I’ll have to think of a door color!
I love black shutters; classic and classy!