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How to Paint Outdoor Furniture

ByDiane Henkler Updated:

Tips and techniques on how to successfully paint outdoor furniture and sling back chairs using spray paint.

I have painted a lot of indoor and outdoor furniture over the years and have picked up quite a few outdoor furniture painting tips and techniques along the way.

From the best paints to use for outdoor furniture and accessories to how to prepare and restore metal patio furniture and now even how to paint outdoor furniture with sling seats. These are a big challenge if you don’t want to get paint on the slings.

Outdoor Furniture Painting Instructions

Before:Outdoor Dining Table and Chairs

How to paint rusty metal furniture

This is my 15 year old outdoor dining table and chairs. The set is in great shape, but the green color has faded and no longer coordinates with my other outdoor furnishings. It needed a color makeover.

painting metal outdoor furniture techniques

Armed with a few rolls of ScotchBlue Painter’s Tape and Rust-Oleum Universal All Surface Spray Paint in Hammered Brown I set out to make it happen.

AFTER: Outdoor Dining Table and Chairs

How-to-Paint-outdoor-furniture-with-sling-seating

After some DIY’ing and a few rain delays, I am now the proud owner of what looks like a brand new set of outdoor furniture.

How-to-paint-outdoor-furniture

Without the use of ScotchBlue Painter’s tape, I would have had to remove the seat slings from the frames – way too hard.  I simply protected the slings before I painted with the tape and newspaper.

Scotch-Blue-Painting-Tapes

How to Paint Outdoor Furniture with Sling Seats

supplies needed:

  • ScotchBlue™ Painter’s Tape  – I needed 2 rolls of the 2-inch wide tape to mask 6 chairs and used half a roll Advanced Multi-Surface tape with Edge Lock for the glass table top.
  • Newspaper
  • Drop cloths
  • Sanding block with medium grit sandpaper
  • Spray paint – I used 4 cans of Rustoleum Hammered Brown for 6 chairs and the table.  Make sure that whatever spray paint that you use is a Primer + Paint formula. 
  • Small-tip paint brush for touch-ups
  • Bucket of soapy water and scrub brush to clean all surfaces before painting
Outdoor-Furniture-Makeover
  1. Before bringing the chairs to my garage to paint, I ran a sanding block on all the metal surfaces to rough them up a bit. This will help with paint adhesion.  I then scrubbed them down with mold and mildew cleaner. I rinsed well and let them dry.

I lined my garage with drop cloths and started the job of masking the slings on each chair and the glass on the table so that no overspray paint would get on them.

How-to-Prep-outdoor-furniture-for-paint

2. I placed the ScotchBlue Painter’s tape right up to the edge of the metal frame of the chairs.  To make sure the tape is sealed and locked into place – run your fingertip over the edge of the tape.   Repeat taping on both sides of the top and underside of the chair.

Paint-prep-tips-and-tricks

3. I then covered the sling with newspaper and taped it on. I ran my fingertip over the edge on all the tape to make sure it was sealed.

How-to-use-spray-paint-on-furniture

This was the most time consuming part of the project.  Each chair took about 20 minutes to cover.   I set a table up in my garage to set the chairs on, making them easier to cover – no bending down required.

How-to-prepare-furniture-for-spray-painting

After a few hours – I had them all covered and ready for paint.

How to prepare outdoor chairs for spray painting.

4. I always spray paint in my garage – plenty of ventilation and light.  Even with that, it is important to make sure you wear a mask so you don’t breathe in the fumes and overspray.

how-to-paint-furniture-with-spray-paint

5. I sprayed 2 light coats of Rustoleum “spray primer+ paint in one formula” on each chair, letting the first coat dry overnight before applying the second.  I let them dry in the garage for 24 hours and then brought them back outside.

Best-way-to-paint-outdoor-furniture

6. I kept the tape and newspaper on in case I would see that I missed a section.  I did – of course, so I just sprayed the small areas that I missed.

Outdoor-furniture being painted

7. After I made sure there was no green showing, I removed the tape and the newspaper.

How-to-touch-up-paint-on-outdoor-furniture

There were a few small spots where the sling met the top of the chair frame that  were still green. I used a small piece of  ScotchBlue Painter’s tape to mask the sling. I then sprayed the paint into the lid of the spray paint can and dabbed a small tipped paint brush into the lid to pick up some paint. I carefully brushed the paint on.

Painted-Outdoor-Furniture AFTER shot

The hammered brown finish updates the outdoor dining set – much better than the green. I also like it since it is a neutral color – it will go with any table setting color scheme I use.

Painted outdoor dining table and sling style chairs

It was worth the time and effort to give this classic outdoor dining table and chairs a brand new look.

Close up of Spray-painted outdoor-furniture

The Rustoleum Hammered Spray Paint truly provides a factory-like finish on metal.

Spray painted outdoor-table and chairs on deck

Outdoor Furniture Painting Update:

lake house gazebo with painted metal furniture on it

Many readers often write to me and ask how a DIY project I wrote about has held up.

I wrote this post back in 2013 and the set sat out in the elements year round for 2 years. Since this time, I have moved to a new house on a lake where the outdoor table and chairs came along and are still in use. The set is now under a roof. It has been 8 years since I painted the set and it still looks great.

Thanks to great paint and proper application.  No chipping or peeling.

 How-to-paint-metal-furniture

Can You Spray Paint Sling Fabric on Outdoor Chairs?

You can spray paint the sling or fabric mesh part of outdoor chairs, but if your slings are made of vinyl that moves when you sit on them, the paint will eventually crack off.

There are spray paints for vinyl car seats sold at auto supply stores or here: https://amzn.to/3A0vQFJ These paints only come in a few colors and some are not formulated for outdoor use to hold up to weather conditions.

Rustoleum makes a spray paint for outdoor fabric. https://amzn.to/3bdACW0

This paint works great on fabric, but not vinyl. If your slings are made more fabric-like with cotton fibers – this paint would work. If your slings are more of a larger weave vinyl fabric like mine are, it would not work for the long run.

I know there are videos showing people spraying the slings on chairs and they look great, but for how long? One summer maybe before chipping and peeling would start. No one ever has a video showing how the paint on the sling sections has held up.

If you want to try, I would suggest sanding the slings with 60 grit sandpaper first, cleaning them well and letting dry. You can try a primer for plastic and then use an outdoor spray paint over this. https://amzn.to/3xWnQUD

Exterior spray paint: https://amzn.to/3OnRzva. Choose the sheen and color you like.

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149 Comments

  1. I was wondering how you covered your glass top table before painting?

    Reply
    1. Diane Henkler says:

      Hi Dana – I covered the glass top of the table the same way I masked out the slings on the chairs. Apply painter’s tape all around the glass where it meets the table. Then cover the glass with newspaper using the painters tape to hold it down. Then use the tape again to make sure the newspaper is securely on the table right near where the table meets the glass. Once the glass is masked off, you can spray paint the table. When the table is dry, remove the newspaper. If any overspray got through in an area that was not securely down, spray it with window cleaner and run the edge of a sharp razor blade over the paint to remove it.

      Reply
  2. Sarah Perry says:

    Great blogs! Thanks for your informative tutorials!
    I ran across Heirloom Traditions Paint and their tutorials about a year ago and they do have paint that adheres to fabric AND Vinyl like the slings in your chairs ad tho possibilities are endless,! A Sample of the paint goings quite a long way so with your free sample ad a bygo free deal (they post deals Of all sorts daily so you can catch the Bogo when it comes around) it would definitely be enough for all your slings.
    You should give it a try I’m in no way affiliated with their company I just like the product

    Reply
    1. Diane Henkler says:

      Hi Sarah – Thanks so much for taking the time to tell me about the Heirlooms Traditions paint and the fact that it adheres to fabric and vinyl. This is great to know. I will check it out and try a sample and share the info in the post.

      Reply
  3. Anonymous says:

    Wonderful, thank you.. trying to find this kind of thing online is crazy. Happy I found your site.

    Reply
  4. Elizabeth says:

    Wondering if the sling part of the chair can be painted as well? What kind of paint would be best for that? Thanks!

    Reply
    1. Diane Henkler says:

      Hi Elizabeth –

      You can spray paint the sling part of your outdoor chairs, but if your slings are made of vinyl that moves when you sit on them, the paint will eventually crack off. There are spray paints for vinyl car seats sold at auto supply stores or here: https://amzn.to/3A0vQFJ .
      These paints only come in a few colors and some are not formulated for outdoor use to hold up to weather conditions.

      Rustoleum makes a spray paint for outdoor fabric. https://amzn.to/3bdACW0

      This paint works great on fabric, but not vinyl. If your slings are made more fabric-like with cotton fibers – this paint would work. If your slings are more of a larger weave vinyl fabric, it would not work for the long run.

      I know there are videos showing people spraying the slings on chairs and they look great, but for how long? One summer maybe before chipping and peeling would start. No one ever has a video showing how the paint on the sling sections has held up.

      If you want to try, I would suggest sanding the slings with 60 grit sandpaper first, cleaning them well and letting dry. You can try a primer for plastic and then use an outdoor spray paint over this. https://amzn.to/3xWnQUD

      Exterior spray paint: https://amzn.to/3OnRzva. Choose the sheen and color you like.

      Reply
  5. Dawn Walker says:

    Thank you for this! It’s exactly what I want to do, I just wasn’t sure how to go about it. This is extremely helpful. I hope my patio set turns out this nice.

    Reply
  6. Jacque Kay says:

    I love refurbishing and maintaining what I have. I recently obtained a table that has 12″ square glass inserts. I went and bought 12″ sqaure tiles. Tehy were to large. I now want to paint my glass inserts. I am confused about what paint to use on the bottom of glass. I still have the tiles I bought and they may be phase two of this project. I think I can paint the glass inserts. Use then for a bit while I figure out how to attach the ceramic tiles to the glass peices that fit neatly in the table square. Does this make any sense to you? If you care to respond, I would be grateful

    Reply
    1. Diane Henkler says:

      Hi Jacque – From your description of your table and the glass inserts and what you want to do with your tiles, I understand exactly what you want to do.

      To paint the underside of each glass insert, you can use just about any acrylic enamel paint or a spray paint that is a primer+paint in one formula. If you wanted to paint the top of the glass inserts, you should use a spray paint for glass. I don’t think this is needed since the paint will be on the underside of the table and not be too exposed to getting wet and the elements. But you can use one of these glass paint if it comes in a color you like.

      You should first sand the side of the glass inserts you are going to paint with 100 grit sandpaper to rough up the surface a bit so the primer+paint has something to adhere to. Clean the grit and then spray on one very light coat. Let sit for about 5 minutes and then spray another light coat. Repeat with another light coat if needed for coverage. Do not recoat after an hour. Let dry overnight and then place in the table with the painted sides down. See my page on how to spray paint here: https://bit.ly/3cJeuOe.

      Here is the paint I would use: https://amzn.to/3riYVH1. It comes in many colors and sheens.

      If you want to use brush on paint – use an acrylic enamel craft store paint for glass in the color you want. They make many just for glass. Most are transparent, but not all.

      Let me know if you have anymore questions.

      Reply
  7. Gary Dunkum says:

    Thanks a million! Can’t believe that this was the only article that showed how to protect fabric when painting metal furniture …

    Reply

  8. I have chairs similar to yours, I have successfully painted the frames now I would like to paint the woven vinyl seats is that possible if so what should I use.

    Reply
    1. Diane Henkler says:

      Lyn – I am so happy to hear that you have successfully painted your outdoor dining set frame. I did mine over 6-7 years ago and it still looks good. So your efforts should pay off for a long time.

      As far as painting the seats. If they are made of a more cloth fabric and tightly woven, you could paint them with paint and fabric medium, but they would feel a teeny bit stiff. You can find out how to do this in this post: https://bit.ly/3f5pGsK

      If they are more of a vinyl type of woven fabric, you can paint them, but the paint would eventually chip off. If you want to try you would need to sand the fabric to rough it up a bit, then use a primer + spray paint formula on them. The problem with the vinyl, it is smooth and it moves, both are not good for paint to adhere. :-(

      Reply

  9. That looks great! What if the mesh part of the chairs need freshing up too. How can I paint that?

    Reply
    1. Diane Henkler says:

      Hi Kristy – Painting the mesh part of the seats is tricky. It can be done, but over time will wear away. Since the fabric moves and stretches the paint will do and it will crack and chip off eventually. If you want to try, sand the woven cloth to rough it up using 100 grit sandpaper, so the paint has something to stick to. Putting the sandpaper on a hand sanding block with make the process go faster. Clean well and then prime and paint with an outdoor paint that you add some fabric medium to. Fabric medium is sold at the craft store. Use very light thin coats, letting them dry completely before applying the next coat. You can see how to use fabric medium in this post: https://bit.ly/3f5pGsK

      Reply
  10. Louise S. says:

    Good morning

    My dear husband painted our patio set but he did not cover the fabric entirely, he just put some tape. Guess what I have black paint on the chair fabric. Is there any paint for thé fabric. I wasn’t happy but decided not to say a word. Please help fix the problem.

    Thank you

    Louise, Ottawa, Canada

    Reply
    1. Diane Henkler says:

      Hi Louise – Sorry to hear about the paint getting on patio set chair fabric. Sounds like your husband had good intentions. There are many fabric paints. Is it actual fabric or a vinyl weave kind of fabric?

      If it is fabric, you can buy them at the craft store. They come in small bottles in many colors, so you should be able to find a match. If not, you can use any latex paint with a product called Fabric Medium, also sold at the craft store. You can see how I used it on a chair in this post: https://bit.ly/3f5pGsK

      If it is woven vinyl, you may be able to scrub it off with a Brillo or SOS type scouring pad.

      Reply
    2. Jacque Kay says:

      It is called patina or husbandtina…giggle

      Reply

  11. I was wondering if the mesh seats on the patio furniture can be painted? Mine are beige & no longer work well with my newly painted grey house.

    Reply
    1. Diane Henkler says:

      Hi Jill –

      I have not painted the mesh on outdoor seating, so I can’t be sure, but if you want to try here is what I would do:

      Is the mesh – vinyl or more fabric mesh? If it is more fabric like, the success of painting it will be higher. Here is the problem with trying to paint it, the mesh moves when you sit on it, this movement will break down a layer of paint over time. So I feel if you paint it, it will look fine at first, but over use and weather conditions, the paint will eventually break off.

      If the mesh is more fabric like, you can add Fabric Medium (sold at craft stores) to the paint. Adding this allows the paint to absorb into fabric. It works really well, but it won’t work if the mesh is more vinyl.

      If the mesh is more vinyl-like and you want to to give it a try, go over the mesh with 100 grit sandpaper to rough up the surface just as you would if painting wood furniture. Wash the chairs well with bleach and hot sudsy water. Let dry for a few hours.

      Using spray primer and paint made for plastic may work. Here is a link to a few that I know of: https://amzn.to/3lXJMHk

      Spray on very sparse coats only. When the first sparse coat is dry, add one more sparse coat. Let dry and then apply another sparse coat. Applying the spray paint in thin sparse coats and letting each coat dry completely before adding the next is the only way it could work.

      If you try this, let me know how it turns out.

      Reply

    2. Jill, did you try painting the mesh? Wondering how it went, might do mine if it doesn’t chip and such.

      Reply

  12. Thank you for this post. I followed your directions and they worked so well. Mostly I used paper grocery bags rather than newspaper since that’s what I had on hand. After cutting the bottoms off, the width was just the right size to cover the fabric slings. I’m very pleased with how they turned out. Thanks again!

    Reply
    1. Diane Henkler says:

      Hi Cindy – Newspapers are getting harder and harder to find so using brown paper bags was a great option to mask the seats. Nice plus that the width was just the right size. :-)

      Reply
  13. Sling Lounge Moss says:

    I love your blog! Thank you for sharing this and I am looking forward for more article about Sling Lounge. Hope you can visit us cause we also offer Sling Lounge and more. https://backyard-planet.com

    Reply

  14. Thank you so much for this tutorial! I do not get the newspaper as it is 2020 and I get the paper on line. I used Glad Press and Seal Wrap and it worked great!!! It stuck to the chair and itself, so it was easy to wrap around tight spaces. I did use the blue tape as well but did not need as much as the newspaper required. I hope this helps someone else. Again thanks for the spray paint tutorial!!!

    Reply
    1. Diane Henkler says:

      Hi Denise –

      I agree with you that it is hard to find newspaper anymore. :-) I am currently working on a project that I need it and have had to buy it, just for the paper. Smart and clever idea to use the Press n’ Seal. I am going to try using it myself the next time I have to mask before painting. Thanks for taking the time to share what you did.

      Reply

  15. Thank you for such detailed instructions and the great pictures. You gave me confidence to tackle my sling chairs, a thought I’d never entertained until I saw your post. It’s been a great “stay-at-home” project during COVID. I used a couple more bottles of paint than you, but my results look fantastic. I did have a bit of paint bleed on one chair at the curve where the back meets the seat. My fault for not checking the tape better. I’d do this again to save $1000+ on new furniture. So, again, THANKS!

    Reply
    1. Diane Henkler says:

      Hi Martha – It is great to hear that you had success in painting your outdoor furniture. It is worth the time and saves $1000’s of dollars. My set that I painted still looks great. Like you mentioned, I will do it again if I need to, also. I look at the imperfections like a small bleed through of paint as a mark of pride – not everyone would take on such a project.

      Reply
  16. Lisa Kunz says:

    Thank you for this post! Inspired me to repaint my 20 year old chairs, and they look brand new. You were spot on with using the rustoleum universal paint, although I did not get the hammered finish. It didn’t drip at all, was so forgiving and easy to use. I used 5.5 cans to paint 6 chairs. My table is much newer and didn’t need paint. The old chairs and new table are now a perfect match!

    Reply
  17. Marsha Foxx says:

    Hello,
    Lovely furniture set! Your set inspired me to paint my sling bar bar chairs. Mine look very similar to your dining chairs, just bar height!
    I noticed you said that you usually buy 1 can of paint for 2 chairs (March 2020 reply). I thought sounded a bit odd, so I purchased 2 cans per chair. I used Rustoleum Multicolor textured spray paint in Autumn Brown.
    Well…. I used 18 full cans and 1 partial can on 4 chairs. These are not heavy coats of paint, light sprays and I used both the trigger thing and my finger to spray. One can out of the 19 was a real mess – sputtering and drips. I had to sand that part and start over (luckily it barely covered 1 arm and part of the top of the chair).
    Any ideas why I had to use so much? My hubby thought the cans were under too pressure which meant spraying about 10 inches away from the chairs. Or maybe the textured paint really does not go as far as regular paint?
    I still like my chairs, and $100 bucks in spray paint is still cheaper than over $400 for a new set of chairs.

    Reply

  18. How do you determine how much spray paint to buy? I have 6 chairs and a table and I have no idea how to much paint I will need.

    Reply
    1. Diane Henkler says:

      Hi Haley – I usually buy one can of paint for every two chairs that will get two coats. If the chairs have more painted sections, you may need one can per chair if you are going from a light color to dark or vice versa. For the table I would get at least 2 cans, more if there is a lot of paintable surfaces – thicker legs versus thinner legs. If you can, buy more cans than you need, save the receipt so that you can return any cans that you don’t need. Nothing worse than having to run out in the middle of a project for more paint. :-)

      Reply

  19. You inspired me so I tackled the job of repainting a similar patio set we purchased used. I even used the same paint but that paint was an absolute nightmare! The drips!!! Took me 4 days to get 3 chairs and a glass top table taped and then painted. I was so glad to have that done and while they do look so much better it’s too bad Rust-Oleum cannot fix the issue of this hammer paint dripping from the can as you paint! BTW, our patio set is going to our lake property. So excited and thanks for the tips! :)

    Reply

  20. Any suggestions on getting the spray paint off of the chair fabric? I know for me, that even with covering and taping the fabric portion of the chair I will inevitably get some spray paint on the fabric. Suggestions are greatly appreciated!

    Reply
    1. Diane Henkler says:

      Hi Katie – The best thing to remove spray paint from fabric is to use a little oil on it. Lemon Essential Oil or WD-40. You can also use Motsenbocker’s Lift Off products. They have one for Latex paints and one for spray paint. They both work fast and will remove any paint that gets where you don’t want it.

      Reply

  21. This was very helpful, as I don’t have to remove the covers…Thank you…Sharon.

    Reply
  22. divya sharma says:

    Your talent makes me sin! Covet, covet, covet!!!! But I will try to be happy for you. Happy that God has gifted you so! Your place really is beautiful. Thank you for sharing and inspiring!

    Reply

  23. Thanks for this post! There are some really cool ideas here. Keep up the good work on this blog!

    Reply

  24. So glad this article’s message board is still open! The furniture looks great – brand new! Question: The vinyl mesh on my chairs is dingy. Yes, I’ve tried cleaning them using several different products but they remain dingy. Have you heard of anyone painting the mesh? If so, what should I use?
    Thanks.

    Reply
    1. Diane Henkler says:

      Hi Colleen –

      I do not know of anyone who has painted the mesh. The problem is that the mesh moves and this can break down the paint quickly.

      If you want to give it a go, the only thing I think would work for the long run is spray paint that is made for plastic.

      I would wash the chairs well with hot soapy water and rinse well. Let dry. Spray a very light coat of Rustoleum Plastic Primer. Repeat a few light coats and let each dry. Then use the Rustoleum Plastic spray paint using very light coats until covered. If you put it on thick -it will end up just peeling off. Let it cure for a few days before using and spray it on in the shade and not on a humid hot day.

      Reply
  25. Tania Reuben says:

    Looks great!
    Too funny… I’m thinking of painting my 11 year old set teal green… and they are a bronze brown now :)

    We could have just done a swap!

    Looks great!

    Reply
    1. Diane Henkler says:

      Hi Tania – I think we all just need a little decorative change from time to time, right? ;-)

      Reply
  26. Painting Furniture says:

    Great post! Been reading a lot about painting my furniture. Thanks for the info here!

    Reply

  27. I am so glad I found your site! We have sling patio furniture that is chipping badly, and I have been starting to sand the chips down. Your idea about putting the chairs on the table is brilliant! I also liked how you showed masking off the sling areas. That is the part I am most worried about. Your post will definitely help. Thank you!

    Reply
  28. Sarah from WI says:

    great fresh look.

    Reply
  29. Yard Furniture says:

    These are the wonderful information for painting the furniture.Your style of presentation is very impressive. Thanks for the excellent contribution to the discussion.

    Thanks!
    Mathew James

    Reply
  30. Jason Franich - JM Painting says:

    Absolutely wonderful step by step example of how to paint outdoor furniture like this the correct way. The end result is beautiful, and you chose an outstanding color.

    Reply

  31. Wish Home Depot carried Chalk Paint!

    Reply

    1. Walmart and Ace Hardware carries it in spray cans

      Reply

  32. Yet another project to do!

    Reply
  33. Deborah Morgan says:

    Found you today via hometalk…lucky me. This article is by far the best thing I have seen this summer!! I have 2 13 year old patio sets that are desperate for an update and 2 brown sling chairs that are calling for some style!!

    So I pick your post and I so hope your random picker…picks me!!

    Blessings, health and CAKE!
    Deborah and the furry gang in OK

    Reply
  34. Corynn F. says:

    Spray painting ANYTHING is my favorite summer project (long Minnesota winters prevent spray painting much of the year…)

    Reply
  35. Sandra Chavez says:

    Cool idea !! Pick me ;)

    Reply
  36. Lauren Olgine says:

    My husband and I just bought our first home. We move in next month! This ombré wall is going to be our first project. We plan to do it in our office the has two store windows

    Reply
  37. Katie Contests says:

    My summer project will be a revamped breadbox! I’ll make an old breadbox into a nifty charging station for all my gadgets.

    Reply

  38. We’re preparing our home for resale on a shoestring budget.
    I need to repaint 2 old patio tables, a side table, and 2 plant stands. Goodbye rusty green, hello bronze!
    Our big DIY effort this summer is all about concrete. We’re making our own embossed and stained concrete pavers to create an 18′ round fire pit patio on the sand where our above-ground pool used to sit, inspired by this site.

    Reply

  39. I scored an amazing patio table, chairs and umbrella with stand on craigslist for next to nothing! I was actually wondering if spray painting it would work with it sitting outside. I am going to follow your instructions and try it out! In the meantime, one of my favorite summertime paint projects has be from Emily of DecorChick. She painted her bathroom vanity coral and it is gorgeous.

    Reply

  40. I SO need to paint my patio furniture too! All of our furniture come for free with the house, but it’s pretty crusty! A Home depot gift card could spruce it right up!

    Reply

  41. I love this idea…I also have the green iron furniture outside and inside! I think I’ll do this and update my faded patio umbrella, too!

    Reply
  42. angela v. says:

    Thanks for the tutorial! I’ve been kicking around refinishing the outdoor furniture but wasn’t sure if I’d need to remove the mesh seats. This is way more cost effective than buying a new set!

    Next on my list, repainting the dining room chairs.

    Reply

  43. I’ve bought the wood for this project but not the paint……maybe I won’t need to buy it! Thanks for this opportunity Diane – and Home Depot.

    Reply

  45. Your “new” patio set looks gorgeous!

    Reply
  46. Jo @ Let's Face the Music says:

    I just finished painting this old cabinet for the second time. Now it’ll be used everyday instead of sitting in the Cottage collecting dust and clutter. And I’ve got tons more to paint so a win would really be appreciated. Jo @ Let’s Face the Music

    Reply

  47. I want to paint a cabinet I bought on Craigslist (for $20!) that resembles the shape of the cabinet in the link below and match the blue and white colors in the link as well. Love the color scheme! I would love to win this to buy painting supplies and new cabinet hardware!

    I also want to tackle painting my newer nightstands as well, so this will definitely help out!

    Reply

  48. I could have sworn you repainted them blue, not brown! How many cans of spray paint did the job take?

    Reply

  49. I could really use a gift card…we just moved to a new home and it is projects galore around here! The one I can’t get out of my mind right now is putting plank on the walls of my kid’s bathroom…like seen here at Thrifty Décor Chick:
    I can’t wait to get that done! Along with painting the kid’s rooms as well.

    Reply

  50. Oh how I needed this! We have an 11 year old set which, like yours, was in great shape except for some peeling paint. I haven’t done much DIY and thought I’d have to remove the slings to repaint…thank goodness for your tutorial…I am now encouraged and ready to tackle it!

    Thank you!

    Reply

  51. What I would love to do this summer is a backyard fire pit.
    I love the look of this one!

    Reply
  52. DeDe@Designed Decor says:

    Painting an old milk can!

    Reply

  53. Love this project, and everything else you do.
    Here is what’s next on my list to do :)

    Reply

  54. What a beautiful job! My patio set is a lighter green, but desperately needs a redo, too! I’ve been thinking about painting it and getting new cushions (I wish it was the sling style).

    I’m in love with this desk over at Mud Pie Studio. It amazing what paint can do!

    Reply

  55. Yes, I too am the proud owner of a 13 yr old hunter green patio set. When we moved 18 mos ago, I was sooooo close to posting the set as “free” on CraigsList to keep the movers from loading it on the truck. I don’t recall if I forgot to do so in the craziness of moving, or if I decided that moving is too expensive to add buying a new patio set. Whatever the reason, the hunter green set has been sitting on my patio looking SOOOOOOOOO outdated and I have thought about repainting it. Now after seeing your post, maybe I will get motivated to get busy:)

    Reply

  56. Do you think it’s possible to spray paint cast aluminum patio furniture? I bought an expensive set 5 years ago and it has oxidized and paint has worn off where the winter cover touches the furniture. The warranty has expired so I’m stuck with expensive, ugly furniture. So disappointing. Professional electrolysis painting is suggested but very expensive for a DIY’er.

    Reply
    1. Diane Henkler says:

      Hi Kim – Yes you can paint it – it will work fine. I would go over the surface with a sanding block to remove any oxidation that may have become raised. Clean it well and if it is bare aluminum, use a metal spray primer on it first, then use your spray paint color of choice. 1 light coat of primer and 2 light coats of paint – let each coat dry before applying the next. Keep the nozzle about 10 inches away from the surface when spraying to get a nice smooth finish.

      Reply

  57. Absolutely love these. They add so much character and so easy to do.

    Reply

  58. Diane, your furniture looks great and does, indeed, look brand new!

    This post is very timely for me, since I am at the very beginning of painting two wrought iron patio sets. One is black and we have had it since we built our first house back in 1994. The other is green and we inherited with our current house. They are not exactly the same but similar, so I want to spray them with Rustoleum Hammered Bronze spray paint to give them some consistency. The one chair I have partially done looks great! The green set, however, has a lot of rust on it. I’m hoping that by spraying a primer and using the Rustoleum paint, it will last a few more years!

    One of my very favorite paint projects I have ever seen is a dining set done by Reloved Rubbish in ASCP Coco and Duck Egg Blue. I would LOVE to have that in my home!

    Reply

  59. I am working on a white outdoor set that has lost its sparkle and has some rust spots starting. Not my fav job but I only have four chairs and a round table – so easier than your project!

    Reply

  60. wow, love how this turned out! My patio set is traditional round table and 4 chairs….green…with the little hummingbird design. Not only am I weary of the green, but I hate where it’s started to peel off and is now rusting. It is going to get painted this summer if it’s the last thing I do! just have to find somewhere to do it…no basement, no garage, no shop….*sigh*. But I am encouraged by your success.

    Currently, I have all my ASCP and brushes bought, and I want to transform my small, antique walnut kitchen table and chairs. I like several of your make-overs, and I enjoy Marian at Miss Mustard Seed. She recently used her milk paint on these bar stool/chairs. I like the way she distresses, and this post is especially tutorial.

    Reply

  61. I never considered painting my outdoor furniture! What a revelation to think I don’t have to throw it out in a couple years when the chips are just TOO many, and I want to change the color. I’m definitely bookmarking this for reference! I love the way you showed touch-up techniques, too. Here’s my favorite outdoor summer diy.

    Reply

  62. Loving your ideas. Don’t remember whose link I followed to find your site (Roadkill Rescue? Infarrantly Creative?). I almost bought a green metal outdoor set but thought ahead 10 years and bought black to spare myself another paint redo. However, when the stupid plastic umbrella ring broke, I headed off to the hardware store and found a pvc pipe flange that was the right diameter since I couldn’t see buying a new table just to replace the ring. Didn’t even bother to paint it. So far, the best summer project I’ve seen is for the DIY tiki torches Brilliant idea. I will be making some for my backyard as soon as I collect enough tins!

    Reply
  63. Jessica W says:

    I would love to try one of these modern bird houses.

    Reply
  64. ashley@ design build love says:

    that looks absolutely amazing!!! The set looks brand new! I painted my parents 15-year old wrought iron set about 8 years ago with Rustoleum black satin and it’s held up amazing and made the set look brand new! It’s finally due for a re-coating. AMAZING! I’ve avoided painting my sling set out of laziness… this is motivating me to get it together and get it done! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

  65. Great post, I love how the chairs turned out. I’m with you when it comes to disassemble or tape, I go the taping route, too. I would LOVE to have a fence or gate like these colored pencil ones on this blog. So cute!

    Also, great giveaway, I clicked on a lot of the links to see all the outdoor projects everyone commented on, lots of great things for summer!

    Reply

  66. I almost fell out of my chair when I saw the reveal photo since I fully expected the furiture to have been painted white. HA HA!

    I LOVE WHITE EVERYTHING and that’s probably why I have spent the better part of my morning at your blog after finding you via Pintrest. I’m enjoying your home tour and LOVE that sideboard and hutch you have in your kitchen. I’m a HUGE carrara marble fan so seeing you faux-create it was a real treat!

    Before I leave you I must say you are SO RIGHT to have restored your 15-year old patio furniture set. They just don’t make them (anything!) the way they used to so repainting it was brilliant. More old things should be restored to new instead of being cast aside. So… Bravo and well done!

    I’ll be back to visit your blog every day!

    xo

    Reply
  67. Paula Williams says:

    On my list of summer projects. I like the set that I have, I just don’t like the color. Great way to keep what you have with a new look. Can’t wait to try it. As always I love your site. Such wonderful ideas.

    Thanks for sharing,
    Paula

    Reply

  68. Along with painting my outdoor furniture like you did this is want I want to do next . Isn’t it GORGEOUS!

    Reply

  69. Great project as always! I have a chair that is in need of a paint job and now I feel inspired and obligated to get it done!

    Thanks Diane!

    Reply

  70. thanks for the reminder of how important prep work is- sometimes I want to rush to the finished product- here’s my diy for this Summer- I’ve started.. now just need to finish:

    could really use some home depot $$

    Reply

  71. Oh, I definitely love this project! Thanks for the tutorial!

    Reply

  72. Wow I just got even more projects added to the list after reading through the comments above. One of the many summer projects on my DIY to do list is making my own outdoor rug by either painting a stencil or coating a table cloth like seen here:

    Thanks for all the inspiration Diane! LOVE YOUR BLOG!

    Reply

  73. Great post, Diane. I need to paint my patio furniture too and your post has
    given me a push to get it done! Actually this post is what I wanted to use as a link for, as it is now my favorite, but since I didn’t know if linking to this same post was allowed I’ve selected another.

    Reply

  74. first of all…love,love,love your chairs and table. Looks gorgeous.

    My project that I would like to do ( and can if I win this gift card) is this:

    I would love this in my front yard!!!

    Reply

  75. We are planning on updating our deck as well. Our plan is to add a pergola/covering to it, like this one and that gift card to Home Depot sure would help us get it done!! Thanks for a GREAT giveaway!!

    Reply

  76. This DIY painted peacock chair is beautiful!

    Reply

  77. So many great projects! I can see lots of outdoor tables with this DIY:

    Reply

  78. I LOVE the new color on your outdoor furniture!!! I would love to get the chance to try this technique for painting chevron patterns on walls, etc…

    Reply

  79. This current post is my favorite as we have a similar table that needs updating and I can’t wait to get to Home Depot to get this paint. Love to have the gift card to add perennials to my work in progress. Great giveaway!

    Reply

  80. Your projects are always great and informative. I would love to create a butterfly garden. My daughter Alea loves butterflies. Winning the gift card would get us started on the right foot. Thanks.

    Reply
  81. Amy Orvin says:

    This summer, I’d really like to repaint an older metal table in my garden. Here’s an example DIY link:

    Thank you for the chance!

    Reply

  82. I really love how your table and chairs turned out, looks like a brand new set. I love painting older furniture to give it a new look. I recently bought a bed for my daughter at an estate sale for $10 and repainted it. I was inspired by this article and others I have seen on Pinterest. Thanks for your ideas!!

    Reply
  83. Pam Clark says:

    i’m going to go with this post because it looks great and I learned some painting/taping techniques!

    Reply

  84. I loved Sand and Sisal’s Faux Etched Glass table. That looks like something I could do.

    Reply

  85. Diane, I’m linking your project right back at you! I no longer have the chairs but I have 2 smaller tables that are sadly sitting on my patio waiting for a transformation. This is the idea I have been waiting for! Thanks for sharing it!

    Reply

    1. I would love to build a raised garden bed and start learning how to garden.

      Reply
  87. Jennifer @ Decorated Chaos says:

    I love how your patio set turned out. The paint really transformed it and it looks great! My favorite paint makeover is of a thrifted wrought iron piece I bought last summer. I gave it a makeover with my favorite Oil Rubbed Bronze paint and I love it!
    Here is the link:

    Reply

  88. I desperately want and need a Firepit at the Lake. I saw this and I am still looking, as I have other ideas. LOL!!!

    I want to use paint, and also some old items which I have waiting to be reused. If I am the lucky winner, I will definitely have a worthy project on my hands!!

    Reply
  89. Marilyn Holeman says:

    Diane, I love this project. I almost put a link to it–but decided that would be cheating :-) Your table set really does look brand new! Thanks for the giveaway!

    Since I didn’t use your project, I chose one by Cindy Harvey of Cottage Instincts.

    Reply
  90. Jodi Blackmon says:

    I’m submitting the link to the first of our outdoor improvements saga. I actually tagged you in this one because I made your concrete fire columns! Now I know why RH uses gel fuel. Candles aren’t holding up so well in this Texas heat lol. I used hammered bronze on my furniture, and agreed, they look so fresh and new. Yours are beautiful.

    Reply

  91. More cute and practical ideas for chalkboard paint:

    Reply

  92. I love this IKEA Rast DIY project. I’ve already bought 2 Rasts to do this to!

    Reply

  93. So many summer projects! This project will be great on helping me match my old chairs with my new table. Another project I would love to do is put flowers around my downspouts. Check it out here:

    Reply
  94. Michellelhb says:

    I want to paint my kitchenthis summer. I don’t want to begin but I can’t wait to be done;)

    Reply

  95. I want to do this project for my yard and paint it a fun color, like robin egg blue.

    Reply
  96. Margaret Potter says:

    I really thought that the bench at was adorable. I have a chair that I might do that to!

    Reply

  97. This DIY paint project is on my to-do list. Hopefully soon!

    Reply
  98. Jessica @ Decor Adventures says:

    Wow, what a transformation. It’s good to know you can do this since it’s such a money savings!

    My dream outdoor project is to be able to build furniture for entertaining like this at More Like Home

    Reply

  99. Your how-tos are always so good, Diane! I am getting ready to paint some outdoor furniture, but it’s wooden, so my techniques will be a little different. Something I’ve bookmarked as a “want to do this” is this beverage cooler – how fun!

    Reply

  100. Those chairs look great!
    This project seems a little big, but would be great for summer gardening and relaxing:

    Reply
  101. Sandi Toler says:

    Of course, I have another project after seeing your patio furniture redo. Love the way they turned out!

    Reply
  102. Holly Wert says:

    Summer DIY toy grill for your kids to play with.

    Reply

  103. I would like to paint an old chair we have. Thanks for the giveaway.

    Reply
  104. Sheryll & Critters. says:

    I love your patio furniture and wow does it look brand new now or what!!! You also have the patience of Job I believe. Looks to be a very tedious and time consuming job, but well worth the outcome. It looks gorgeous.

    Reply

  105. Since we have a baby due in August, our summer projects are more centered around finishing up the nursery than anywhere else. We lack a lot of storage in that room since it was just a guest room, so my husband is going to be building me some storage units to make up for it. These are what we have in mind!

    Reply

  106. Nice work on the furniture! I’m also using your kitchen cabinet painting tutorial. And when we’re outside enjoying our summer “kitchen,” I’d love for my nieces to have their own portable play kitchen DIY’d from an old microwave oven table.

    Reply
  108. Jennifer Istre says:

    Our bathroom is done in lighthouses but no room to add more-so I’m thinking of spilling it into the yard..which is pretty bland right now!

    Reply
  109. Julie Foster says:

    I love the barn wood faux paint.

    Reply
  110. MelissaJane says:

    I always love your projects. This looks great!

    I love this sewing table made into a planter. I’ve thought about making over some kind of old furniture piece and plunking it into my garden.

    Reply
    1. Tabathia B says:

      I like the chalkboard paint idea for kids and found a great one that I will try

      Reply

  111. Best outdoor project: Project Deck!

    We painted it with a sealer/stain from HD. It’s holding up great a year later. Next on my list for outside is some brightly colored planters.

    Reply

  112. I really want to make an outdoor chalkboard to go on the huge blank house wall next to my patio. It’s on my HUGE list of summer projects.

    Reply

  113. This is a project I am going to do this summer:

    I’ve got my frames ready. Now I’m trying to select paint colors.

    Reply

  114. I really want to stencil my powder room this summer. I’m thinking navy with white. Inspired by this blog post.

    Reply

  115. I would love to paint my kitchen cabinets white but am too chicken. I read many blog posts online where people paint them with no problems. I’ve attached one of the many links I’ve looked at. I enjoy reading your blog – thanks for the chance from Home Depot.

    Reply

  116. I ventured down the plumbing aisle for the first time to make a collection of these wine bottle torches using citronella. They are conversation starters as well as being useful for light and keeping the bugs away!

    Reply

  117. I have plastic patio furniture (no I am not in college, but it makes it easy to stack and put away in the garage to clear up the tiny yard when I am not using the table) :) The table is green plastic, two chairs are black, and two chars are white. I want to paint them all a nice bright glossy red so they coordinate and give my yard a pop of color. Was thinking I’d do stripes on the table top too, just to gussy it up a little…that is where the painter’s tape comes in!

    Reply
  118. Michele @ The Scrap Shoppe says:

    My favorite summer DIY: Tool caddy turned planter by painting our house number on the front!

    Reply

  119. I would love to build a patio with outdoor fire pit to enjoy the beautiful southern nights.

    Reply
  120. Doray Mattocks says:

    I have 2 patio sets on my deck, one that was my parents a beige round set and then my original one in white, probably 20 years old. The white powder coating is chipping where the chairs stack, I would love to get that taken care. You inspire me, now just to find the time!

    Reply

  121. I have quite a few of these old chairs and every couple of years I repaint them with vibrant colors similar to the chairs in this link. I wasn’t able to do them last year because I was in CT instead of UT where I live, and this summer I am in CT again with my sister while she goes through chemo – again. The chairs will have to wait another summer. http://pinterest.com/pin/84020349270710413/

    Reply

  122. Wow! What a great look! The patio set looks new and very comfy! I am constantly looking for old things to be revamped versus new things. I think the quality of older items is much better than many items that can be purchased today. I like the idea of my posted link because I have an old dresser that has seen much better days and I will try to redo it like this. http://www.centsationalgirl.com/2013/05/textured-panel-dresser-makeover/
    Thanks for all of the great ideas!

    Reply
  124. Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions says:

    It looks like you got a brand new set, Diane! Love the brown. We had a green set similar to yours at our old house. If we hadn’t moved I would have had to do something with it, because not only was it fading, but the green from the table would come off on hands or legs if you touched it. It was too big to bring with us when we moved so we left it behind.

    Reply
  126. Elizabeth says:

    I love your neutral color choice. Thank you for showing how important it is to prep your projects before painting. I also love how your attention to detail, and how you painted the small areas that didn’t get the paint the first time around. I am linking a project that I created in the spring, but is in dire need of an update because of my dog. :) http://www.countrypeony.blogspot.com/2013/03/how-to-crackle-paint.html

    Reply