Use Mood-Ring Paint to Change the Color on These Surfaces
Paint can give a room all sorts of dimensions. It can help enlarge or shrink your space and even affect your mood. If you want your decor to always match your mood, take advantage of the new psychedelic option: Mood ring paint, also known as thermochromic paint, will react to temperature in the same way as rings. You can use it on any paintable surface for a nostalgic, heat-activated, color-changing result.
To prepare for this project, you will need:
- Black paint (for use as a base)
- Brush
- transparent enamel
- And of course your mood ring paint
Different types of thermochromic paint (and where to use them)
You probably won’t find this paint on the shelf at your local hardware store, but you can find it on order. There are several different colors and types, so you should research the characteristics of the paint to match your specific project. For example, if you’re painting a smaller object like a lamp base or drawer, spray paint will likely work best. (Note that outdoor spray paint, mask wear, and proper protective gear are recommended.) For larger projects, or for places like bathrooms, a brush-applied option may be a better option. Be sure to check the specifications of the various options to get the best result.
Here’s what Family Handyman has to say about where to apply paint for the best results:
The best way to use mood ring paint is to apply it to surfaces that will experience temperature changes. For example, a wall is probably not good for drawing mood rings because you probably won’t be constantly touching the wall. A side table is better instead, as the color will change when you place your hand on it.
Or you can turn your entire bathroom into one giant mood ring, like @alispagnola’s TikTokker did :
How to Prepare the Surface for Painting Mood Rings
The first step to applying paint to create mood rings is surface preparation. Be sure to clean the surface well with soapy water and then rinse it to avoid any imperfections. Lay down newspaper or a washcloth to catch the drips, and keep a damp washcloth handy just in case. If you’re working on a large surface, like a wall or countertop, now is the time to tape any areas you don’t want to paint.
Once you have prepared your work area, you can apply a base coat to the surface. Make sure the entire area is covered with the same thickness of paint. If an even coat is needed, you can apply a second coat once the first one has dried.
How to apply mood ring paint
After the base layer has completely dried, a thermochromic layer can be applied. Be sure to follow the directions on the package, whether you’re using spray paint or paint that can be applied with a brush. Getting an even layer is key to achieving mood ring-like results, so you may need to apply more than one layer. If you’re not sure how the paint will look after it dries, you can make a sample on a sheet of cardboard and apply a base and color-changing coat. When it dries, you will see what your results will look like using your application method. On the sample, you can also experiment with more than one layer or with a foam roller to get the look you want.
After the base coat has completely dried (for best results, wait 24 hours), you can apply the top coat. Using a hard acrylic sealant is a good idea because the surface is likely to be touched a lot and the strong top coat will protect it from damage. A glossy surface will also be easier to clean after the project is completed.