This invention pertains to a powder coating apparatus and a method for using the powder coating apparatus. The apparatus includes a booth that defines a coating space, a holder to hold an object within the coating space, electrodes positioned within the coating space, a power supplier to supply a voltage between the electrodes, a coating material blower to blow powder coating material into the coating space, and structure to form a circulating stream of the powder coating material within the coating space. The method includes blowing powder coating material into the coating space, whereby an object held by the holder becomes coated with the powder coating material. While the powder coating material is being blown into the coating space air is also blown in the coating space, whereby the powder coating material is carried in a stream that flows along the object in a first direction and then along the electrodes in an opposite second direction.