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This doll crib potentially has lead paint on it. Check out lead paint refinish websites from your state before doing anything. You might be able to encapsulate the paint before painting to the color of your choice. But do the right research.

Personally, I find the vintage state of the bed very charming, and would leave it as it is.

If you are worried about lead in the paint, you can get a lead paint test kit, and verify whether that is an issue.

If you choose to paint the bed, you will get the best, smoothest results, from an autobody shop, although I doubt they will do a project this small... still, you could phone around and ask.

You could try using the spraypaints made for metal furniture, but it can be tricky to get an even finish, especially with the large flat areas of the head and footboards -- perhaps try practicing on some scraps.

Don't use masking tape on the decals -- it may be difficult to get off. Instead, use painter's tape which is less tacky. Again, try it on some scrap, in order to help ensure the decals stay unharmed.

It is a really lovely piece -- good luck!

My husband builds bikes for fun and often buys vintage frames and has them powder-coated (just look it up in the phone book or start calling bike shops, they should be able to point you to a small-scale powder coating shop). He can tape off lugs and other features like that, but usually searches for replacement decals if they will be covered by the paint. Good luck!

I'd remove the decals no matter what refinishing route you take. You probably won't get a good result trying to work around them. Take really good photos of them first, and print new decals/stickers to attach after complete repainting.

if you want to do this as a diy job, rustoleum makes a (spray) primer for rusty metal. the decals are great but i would just try to replace them with something similar. if it's possible to peel them off, you could peel them, scan them, and have them recreated.

i know auto shops will do small things too. my friend the hair dresser got her chi iron painted hot pink and i even saw a bright yellow on there too. it might be pricy. our highschool use to have an auto body class, you might try the highschools..should only charge for price of paint. craft stores have spray paint just for metal. i would cover the decals with painters tape trying to go just to the edge. if any gets on the sticker wipe off while still wet. if you can see the crib behind / threw the edges of the decal i would find a color to complement if not the same as the crib already is. great find. hope it works out for you.

I love also love the worn look of it as well as the decals. If lead paint is the issue, could you just pray an acrylic clear coat over it to seal it?