[MrForbes]

Anodizing, powder coating, and CNC machining can really improve the looks of a robot, especially when seen up close. But the key to making a good looking robot is careful planning, which includes the schedule, so you can take the time to do a neat wiring job, paint the parts (if you can't manage to get them machined/coated/treated), and generally make it look finished.

Last year our robot looked pretty good, it was made mostly of plywood, which we spray painted. A couple of coats of spray paint, sanded between coats, can be hard to distinguish from powder coating!