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I grew up in a house of hunters. My husband also grew up in a house of hunters. We both lived with antlers and other taxidermy trophies and it was only a matter of time before they made it into our home as a couple. The only problem I had with this is the style or “look” they imply. See, we arent cabin, lodge, woodsy, etc kind of people within our own space. Its just not us. #nojudgement So a few coats of paint later and we are loving our “new” modern antlers!

The set on the left is one Q actually hunted when he was a kid. They are sentimental and I’ve been trying to find a way to integrate them into our space for quite a while. The set on the right is from Target and completely ceramic. They are both ok on their own but neither fit our style or space.

Ive seen a bunch of tutorials and antler makeovers using spray paint but I really wanted to stick to the color pallet we chose for the living room. And finding those exact colors is basically impossible. So I used the Ceramcoat Select from Delta to mix my colors to an exact match. Its the first time I’ve used these satin finishes and I totally loved them!

I separated the real antlers from the plaque to make painting easier. I wiped everything down with a damp rag to remove dust and thats it. Im not big on prep work… are you guys picking up on that? Ha!

Being that these would be mounted and nearly never handled I wasn’t too concerned with primers or sealers. I just laid out some newsprint and started slapping on the acrylic!

[after 1 coat of acrylic paint]

I used bristle brushes to really work the paint into the uneven surface of the antlers. It took 2 solid coats to get full coverage[see above for coverage after 1 coat] and I did a little bit of touch up on the real knobby bits.

Painting over the fur was a bit different. It took 3 coats to really cover everything and I used a softer synthetic brush. Also, you need to paint with the grain so this dries “laying down”. The paint will make the fur stiff so you want to be aware of how you are directing it.

I let this dry for a full 24 hours before attempting to hang them up. And again, I did not seal these. If you wanted a different finish(glossy/high shine) Im sure you could hit them with a coat of spray on.

Now lets talk hanging hardware. I’ve never been shy about decorating our walls whether we were renting or owned. And over the years I’ve tested a number of different hardware. I know that’s probably making some of you cringe because you’re team “don’t destroy the drywall”! But! I think I’ve found a pretty good compromise.

I picked up this multi-pack of hangers from High & Mighty a while ago and I’m thoroughly impressed! (No, I’m not affiliated with H&M) They can hold an insane amount of weight for their size and they only make a hole the size a thumbtack would leave. Thats tiny! And, even better, they’re a tool free product. #winning

I am loving this makeover and I cant wait hear what a few of my “traditional hunters” think! So would you paint a set of antlers? Have you already given a taxidermy piece a mod makeover? You know I’d love to hear all about it in the comments!