When you buy through affiliate links on this site, I may earn a commission at no cost to you.
The Cozy Coupe is a total classic and a must have toy for toddlers, but the red and yellow primary colors are NOT the vibe. I’ll show you how to create the ultimate surf-inspired Cozy Coupe in this step-by-step guide, complete with links to everything we used.
This DIY project does take some serious patience but the end result is totally worth it!
Noah’s first birthday theme is “The Big One”, so I wanted to create a surf theme car for him to ride in style on his big day. I went for the minimal approach with mine, but you can go all out with added trimmings and decals if that’s more your style!
DIY Cozy Coupe: Supplies
- Little Tikes Cozy Coupe
- Fine grit sandpaper
- Spray Paint – Base of car: Ocean Mist, Rust-Oleum American Accents 2X Ultra Cover Gloss Spray Paint- 12 oz (2 cans)
- Spray Paint – Accent Pieces: Ivory, Rust-Oleum American Accents 2X Ultra Cover Gloss Spray Paint- 12 oz (1 can)
- Drop Cloth
- License Plate (optional)
- Surfboard Cutting Board (optional)
- Jute Twine (optional)
DIY Cozy Coupe: Step-by-Step
- Prep the space and lay out the Cozy Coupe parts on a drop cloth. Make sure to set up for this project in a well ventilated area with low humidity. If you are renovating a used Cozy Coupe, take all of the pieces apart carefully and clean thoroughly.
- Sand everything, I mean EVERYTHING! Use fine grit sandpaper to gently rough up the plastic just enough for the paint to stick. This part will take some time since there are so many little parts but it’s totally worth it. Make sure that you sand even the small pieces, like the horn button. (I skipped this step and the paint chipped here almost immediately but stayed perfectly everywhere else).
- Wipe the dust off and ensure that each piece is completely clean and dry before moving on to the next step.
- Now it’s time to paint! Spray in a steady motion, slightly overlapping with each stroke. Be careful not to stay in one spot for too long or the paint will drip. Allow the paint to dry for at least one hour before applying a second coat. I applied two coats on the first day and went back in with a third coat the following day.
- Assemble the Cozy Coupe. Make sure that each piece is completely dry before assembling the car. I waited one full day before putting mine together just to make sure that everything was fully dry.
- Add personal touches. I added a personalized license plate that I had made on Etsy and bought a tiny surfboard (cheeseboard) to add to the top.
Have fun!
I’m so happy with how our DIY Cozy Coupe Surfer car turned out! It looks adorable in our house and Noah is OBSESSED with his car. Even after a full year of use, the paint has held up incredibly well (minus a new chips on the door from constant play) and we keep ours outside!
I hope you’re inspired to start your own DIY Cozy Coupe surf car makeover! Let me know in the comments if you’ve tried this or have any questions.
