Y’all, I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve breezed past those ceramic bunnies at estate sales. “Not today, floppy ears,” I’d mutter. But then—hold the phone—I stumbled across this viral hack where folks are spray-painting those bad boys to look like chocolate bunnies. Chocolate. Bunnies. Suddenly, I’m obsessed. They’re cute as a button, and I was already picturing them strutting their stuff as the sassiest centerpiece on my Easter table. Move over, deviled eggs—there’s a new star in town.
So, naturally, I said a little prayer to the good Lord above: “Please let me score some bunnies.” And wouldn’t you know it? Prayers answered! I hit the jackpot with six of ‘em on my Saturday scavenger hunt. Now, they weren’t the giant, hoppin’-down-the-bunny-trail behemoths I’d dreamed of—think more “fun-size” than “supersize”—but they were plenty big enough to make my centerpiece dreams come true. Score!
Total cost: $5
Wanna peek at how this whole Easter table turned out? Click here for the full scoop.
Step 1: Scrub-a-Dub Those Bunnies
First things first, these little hoppers needed a bath. I’m not usually one to fuss over always prepping for spray paint—my motto’s more “paint it and see what happens”—but since these bunnies weren’t from my personal stash, I figured they deserved a spa day. Enter the Dawn Powerwash. Yes, I love that stuff! A quick scrub-down later, and they were grease-free, dirt-free, and ready to shine. No funky smudges were gonna ruin my chocolate bunny glow-up, nosiree.
Here they are, fresh and fabulous, waiting for their big makeover…
Step 2: Setting the Stage (and Saving the Driveway)
Next up, I hauled my crew outside for the painting party. I tossed an old sheet over the driveway—because I’m not about to explain to my husband why our concrete looks like a Jackson Pollock knockoff—and got to work. Normally, I’m a “paint in a cardboard box” kinda gal (pro tip: it’s like a DIY spray booth), but with six bunnies in tow, that wasn’t gonna cut it. Sheet it was. The neighbors probably thought I was hosting a weird bunny picnic, but whatever. Style takes sacrifice.
Here’s the magic juice I started with: Rust-Oleum Espresso Brown. Dark and oh-so-rich.
Step 3: Spray, Dry, Repeat
Time to get spraying! I gave each bunny three light coats of that Espresso Brown goodness, letting ‘em dry between rounds. Lucky for me, it was a warm day—perfect for quick drying and avoiding that “watching paint dry” life sentence. Here’s a hot tip, though: keep that spray can movin’ like you’re conducting a symphony. Light, back-and-forth sprays are your friend. Hold it still too long, and you’ll get drips faster than a toddler with a popsicle. If drips do sneak in (we’ve all been there), just sand ‘em lightly before the next coat and pretend it never happened.
Here they are, basking in the sun, drying like little chocolate divas…
And after they dried…
Step 4: A Test Run Gone Wrong
With my Espresso Brown bunnies all dried and looking like dark chocolate dreams, I couldn’t wait to see them in action. I brought the whole crew inside and started playing around with my Easter table setup—you know, the one I’d been dreaming about since this whole bunny obsession started. I set them up as the centerpiece, surrounded by my pretty plates and some spring flowers, expecting a total “wow” moment. But y’all… it was more of a “whoa, hold up” moment.
Those bunnies were too dark. Like, way too dark. They looked more like they belonged in a moody chocolate factory than on a bright, cheerful Easter table. The Espresso Brown was giving off serious “brooding bunny” vibes, and it just clashed with the light, pastel springtime feel I was going for. I wanted my table to scream “hoppy Easter,” not “chocolate noir mystery.” Don’t get me wrong—they were still cute, but they weren’t even close to stealing the spotlight or even showing up to the theater! I knew I needed a lighter, friendlier shade to make my vision pop.
Here’s a quick snap of the setup with the Espresso Brown bunnies—see what I mean about the vibe being off?
Step 5: The Milk Chocolate Plot Twist
Now, if you’re going for a dark chocolate vibe, Espresso Brown is your guy—it’s basically the truffle of spray paints. But here’s where the plot thickens: once I started building my centerpiece, I realized these bunnies were too moody. Too dark. Too “I’m brooding in a chocolate factory.” I needed a lighter, friendlier milk chocolate vibe instead. Off to Home Depot I went, because what’s a DIY project without a mid-process supply run, right?
This time, I snagged some Rust-Oleum Chestnut Brown. Lighter, sweeter, and just the ticket.
Two coats later, and boom—perfection. My bunnies were now the milk chocolate dream team I didn’t know I needed.
Bonus: A Windy Day Win
Here’s a quick video of me in action, spray-painting like a pro. It was warm, sure, but holy moly, was it windy! I half-expected a rogue leaf or some pollen to photobomb my bunnies, but the paint dried so fast it was like the wind was on my side for once. No sticky messes, no yard debris—just pure, chocolatey goodness.
There you have it, folks—ceramic bunnies turned chocolate cuties, ready to steal the show at Easter. What do you think? Got any hacks of your own to share? Drop ‘em below—I’m always up for a good DIY adventure!
From My Table to Yours,
Melissa
