So, you have just purchased a fairly standard pair of sneakers. Certainly no $500 pair of Nike Air Jordans, but something far more modest. They do the job, they get you from A to B and, with a little care, you can expect them to last for a good while. There is just one problem: they are boring and plain. What can you do about this? It might come as a surprise, but customizing shoes is actually a popular past time among those who would like to showcase their creative abilities on their feet. 

There is a lot of extra things to do after purchasing, say, a pair of sneakers. You have to air them out regularly, try not to wear them too often, give them the occasional treatment with a good shoe deodorizer spray like ShoeFresh, and even learn how to store them properly. Perhaps customizing them is something you haven’t thought about terribly often. For sure, it’s not necessary. But it is fun, and with a cheap pair of shoes it can be the perfect project to undertake without the risk of ruining something that cost you a fortune.

The Materials You Need

Of course, even with a cheap pair of shoes, you might be pretty hesitant about customizing your footwear lest you ruin them. This is well-founded concern. You can’t just apply any sort of paint or other substance to a pair of shoes. Some substances will definitely ruin the material of your shoes and seeing as shoes can be composed of all sorts of materials, you can’t simply use the same materials for all types of shoes. 

So what materials do you need? Well, you certainly can’t just grab paint and some brushes and get started. Here then follows the most important materials: 

Paint 

Don’t go cheap here. You should use a high-quality paint in all cases. This might prove a little expensive at first, but low-quality paint will peel and chip before too long. And if you buy a sufficient amount, good quality acrylic paint will last you for a long time, potentially allowing you to customize many more of your drab-colored kicks. 

Heat Gun 

Heat-setting is often required when you’re working on soft materials. A heat gun is the best way to ensure you’re not waiting around for ages before you can move on to the next stage of the customization. 

Acrylic Finisher and Water Repellent 

These might seem like fairly advanced pieces of kit for simply customizing some shoes. But remember, you are not going to be painting on to a piece of paper. Acrylic finisher and water repellant are in fact essential if you are to keep your work of art in the same condition beyond a single wearing. 

How to Customize Your Shoes

When it comes to actually customizing the shoes, the sky is really the limit. You probably already have a pretty clear idea what you want them to look like. If not, you can search online for inspiration. As mentioned, shoe customization is a fairly popular pastime, and you can always draw inspiration from those who have gone before you. 

Beyond your own creativity, there are in fact a few things you should keep in mind when actually applying your materials to the shoes. You should always clean them first – and clean them properly. You should also take care to not apply the acrylic paint too thickly and to always add the acrylic finish and water repellant afterwards. Also keep in mind that you need to allow the paints ample time to dry before moving on.

But beyond that, the only limit is your own creativity!