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The perfect charming spring decor is only a simple DIY away. Here’s how I created my painted Easter bunnies.
These dollar-store painted Easter bunnies have been around, and they’ve seen quite a few changes over the years, but I think this latest version of them is my favorite by far. I first found a set of ceramic bunnies at the dollar store quite a few years ago. They might even still sell them in the months leading up to Easter. Although they were cute, I knew right away that I would paint them to turn them into something a little more my style and something that would match my decor at the time. These have turned out to be a timeless staple and something I pull out of my decor bin every Easter. It just goes to show that although something might be inexpensive, it can still stand the test of time if you have a good eye for choosing classic shapes.
Another elegant seasonal decoration project: DIY Spring Tulip Wreath
Painted Easter Bunnies: Version Number One
The first time I painted these bunnies, I wanted to create a kind of mercury glass look, as that was really popular at the time. Actually, I think this trend is probably due for a comeback soon, based on the way interior design trends have been cycling recently. Here’s the paint I used to achieve that effect:
Rust-Oleum 267727 Specialty Mirror Spray, 6-Ounce
Here’s how the bunnies that I decided to experiment with started out, freshly home from the dollar store. You can see my grey and white patterned pillow in the background and my grey painted walls, which were definitely a sign of the times.
Since these bunnies were so inexpensive, I wasn’t terribly worried about messing them up, so it was worth the risk to try something new. You might find similar figurines at a thrift store or an antique market that would be perfect for painting. Here’s how they turned out after a couple of coats of spray paint! This paint really does create such a fun finish.
When I used to use this paint a lot, I found that it worked best on a surface with lots of different angles and bumps. Something about all those different surfaces helped the paint to reflect the light more and make it seem extra shiny. Flat surfaces didn’t achieve quite the same effect.
Time for a Change
That look was fun for a while, but styles changed, and soon I wanted something new, so I spray painted the bunnies gold. The gold worked for me for a few years, but the perfect, flat gold surface was really a bit too modern for me, so I decided to paint them one more time, creating a layered, aged finish. The next best thing to a real chocolate bunny is a beautiful gold bunny that you can use to decorate your home year after year.
More spring decorations for your home: Easter Table with Handmade Origami and Thrifted Finds
Aged Gold Painted Easter Bunnies
The first thing I did to achieve my layered finish was to do a quick, uneven coat of dark brown paint. I used regular acrylic craft paint for all the paint layers on this finish.
The dark brown gave me a good base layer for creating an aged, time-worn look. After that coat dried, which took about five minutes, I was able to start layering my warm metallic tones in. First, I added a warm, medium-gold acrylic paint to every surface of the bunny, allowing the dark brown to show through just a bit. Next, I painted on “highlights” in just certain high points on the bunnies. The color I used for the highlights was a kind of champagne/bronzey color. One of those colors that looks light from one angle and dark from the other. I didn’t worry too much about seeing brush strokes from the paint brushes I used; I just consider those to be extra character that add to the handmade look. Drying time was minimal for me using this paint on this ceramic surface.
If you can’t find a paint that fits this exact bronzey gold description, just look for a lighter shade of gold than the one that you use as your main gold tone.
The Finished Aged Easter Bunny Decorations
You can see how the medium gold color covers most of the surface of the bunnies with just a bit of the darker brown peeking through, and the lighter gold color adds a bit of depth and imperfection to the finish for a more authentic aged look. These would look great as shelf decor or as a centrepiece in a festive wicker Easter basket surrounded by an assortment of chocolate eggs during a holiday morning brunch. I know each rabbit will definitely be hiding a few sweets and treats during our egg hunt after the real Easter bunny visits on Easter morning.
This easy painted finish is a great way to repurpose your existing Easter decor or to bring new life to thrift store finds. And, of course, it will work on anything, not just Easter bunnies. 🙂
More Easter ideas to decorate your home: DIY Easter Jelly Bean Branches Centerpiece
Courtenay Hartford is the author of creeklinehouse.com, a blog based on her adventures renovating a 120-year-old farmhouse in rural Ontario, Canada. On her blog, Courtenay shares interior design tips based on her own farmhouse and her work as founder and stylist of the interior photography firm Art & Spaces. She also writes about her farmhouse garden, plant-based recipes, family travel, and homekeeping best practices. Courtenay is the author of the book The Cleaning Ninja and has been featured in numerous magazines including Country Sampler Farmhouse Style, Better Homes and Gardens, Parents Magazine, Real Simple, and Our Homes.