Is this a set of two chairs?by It looks like you are not signed in. To proceed you will need to either sign in or create a new accountSign InIs this a set of two chairs?by It looks like you are not signed in. To proceed you will need to either sign in or create a new accountSign InIS THIS CHAIR FOR ADULTS OR KIDS?by It looks like you are not signed in. To proceed you will need to either sign in or create a new accountSign InHow high is this heel of the chair from the ground to the top of the heel?by It looks like you are not signed in. To proceed you will need to either sign in or create a new accountSign InPainting a finished chair requires a bit of prep work to make the paint adhere. Solid wood furniture is as beautiful as it is durable, but the look of natural or stained wood does not complement every décor. Painting wood chairs gives them new life for very little cost, and it is simple enough for people who are new to do-it-yourself decorating. Take a little extra care in preparing your chair and you’ll get a durable and professional-looking paint job at a fraction of the cost of replacing it.
Cover the area where you will be working with a drop cloth. No matter how careful you are, accidents can happen, so it’s best to take precautions. Go over your chairs with shop cloths to remove any visible dirt or dust if they came from a garage or yard sale. Be careful of spiders if the chairs have been sitting outside for any length of time. Clean your wood chairs thoroughly with a degreasing cleanser such as dishwashing liquid, or use a little bit of mineral spirits poured onto a clean shop cloth to remove oils and grease. Examine the finish on the chairs. If it is smooth paint or stain, you don’t have to strip them. If the paint on your chairs is cracked or peeling, it will need to be removed. Apply a paste chemical stripper. Use a natural bristle brush because some strippers will damage synthetic brushes. Let the stripper sit until it bubbles, then scrape it and the old paint off with a hard plastic scraper or wide putty knife. Work with the grain and be careful not to gouge the wood with the corners of the scraper or the putty knife.
Apply a grain filling paste with a clean shop cloth if you are painting over an open-grained wood such as oak. This fills in the open grain, giving your paint a solid surface to adhere to. Let the grain filler dry for at least 24 hours, though you may want to increase that if the weather is damp or humid. Sand the chairs lightly with 120-grit sandpaper. Roughing their surfaces up a bit helps the paint adhere and removes any stray paint if you have stripped them. Go over the chairs again with 220-grit sandpaper. This will leave the surface rough enough for the paint to adhere, but smooth enough to guarantee a flawless finish. Paint your chairs with your choice of paint. Brush-on paints and aerosol paints both work well, so choose whichever you prefer. Read the label to make sure the paint will stand up to repeated cleaning, especially if your chairs will be used by young children. Let the first coat dry for at least 24 hours. Sand between coats of paint with 220-grit or finer sandpaper if you want a mirror-smooth finish.
This is not strictly necessary, but if you do sand between coats make sure you get up every speck of sanding dust with a tack cloth before applying your next coat of paint. Seal your chairs with polyurethane to protect and seal them if you like. Polyurethane is available in both matte and gloss finishes and can be applied in aerosol form or with a brush or roller. Let the chairs dry for at least 48 hours before using them. Things You Will Need Drop cloths Shop cloths Degreasing cleanser or mineral spirits Chemical stripper; optional Paint brush Plastic scraper or wide putty knife; optional Tack cloths Grain filler; 120-grit and 220-grit Paint Sealer Tip Warning References Bob Vila: Paint Makeovers - An Expert Tells AllUtah State University Cooperative Extension: Cleaning, Repairing and Reconditioning Wood FurnitureLowes: Refinish Wood FurnitureThe Frugal Girl: How to Paint Wooden Furniture Photo Credits Hemera Technologies/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images Suggest a CorrectionUser ReviewedHow to Paint an Old Wooden Chair
Two Methods:Prepping the Chair's SurfacePainting the ChairCommunity Q&A There are a lot of possibilities when it comes to painting an old wooden chair. You can paint your wood chair to be a showpiece, a room accent, or to strictly serve a utilitarian purpose. After prepping the chair's surface, apply a design or a solid color in the paint of your choice. The nice thing about painting a wooden chair is that if you don't like the results, you can always start over again and repaint it. Sand the chair to create a smooth painting surface, if needed. Fill any holes with wood putty. Tack off the chair. Pick a color or color scheme for your chair. Use a solid color, or a combination of contrasting or complementary colors. For a whimsical look, paint the seat one color, the back another and the legs another. For subtle touches, paint the entire chair a solid color, then apply accents, such as striping or polka dots, using an alternate color or 2. Place the chair on a drop-cloth to protect the surface below from paint spatter and drips.
Allow to dry and apply additional coats as needed. Use spray paint for fast results. Be sure to shake the canisters thoroughly before applying. Use several light coats rather than 1 heavy coat as this discourages drips. Apply your chosen paint. Cover your newly painted wooden chair with a protective clear coat. It's critical that the surface of the chair be properly prepared so the paint will adhere to the chair and will not prematurely peel.Before you start, test for lead paint. You can find inexpensive testing kits at your local big-box store. These steps apply only to items with paint that tests negative for lead. Scrape off loose paint, being careful not to gouge the wood with the scraper by holding it parallel to the wood and applying even pressure. Sand the entire chair with a palm sander to even out the surface. First sand the entire chair with 80- to 100-grit sandpaper. Then switch to a finer sandpaper between 150- to 200-grit to get a really smooth surface.
The higher the number, the finer the sandpaper's grit. When sanding, always move with the grain of the wood. You may need to hand sand to get into the crevices. When finished, wipe down the chair with a tack cloth to remove dust. Use a spray primer for neat, even coverage. Choose a white primer under light colors and a darker primer under darker colors for uniform coverage. Begin with the underside of the chair. Spray slowly for a consistent spray pattern to avoid drips and overspray. Use a back and forth motion following the natural lines of the chair. Apply 2 to 3 light coats, allowing primer to dry to the touch between each application. Check your primer label because drying times vary widely. If surface feels a little coarse once the final coat of primer is dry, lightly sand with very fine sandpaper and wipe again with a tack cloth to remove dust. Apply the paint with nice smooth strokes following the natural lines of the piece. Use a high-quality nylon bristle brush for the best results.
Brush back over the last stroke for an even finish. If you get a drip, lightly drag the brush back over the area to stop the run and smooth it out before moving on. Apply 2 to 3 light coats, allowing each coat to dry to the touch between applications. Check your paint label because drying times vary depending on the product. A polyurethane clear coat gives an added layer of sheen and hardens and protects the paint. Match oil-based top coats with oil paint and water-based top coats with water-based paint. Hold the can 10 to 12 inches away and spray using a back and forth motion. Follow the natural lines of the chair to coat it evenly. After the first clear coat dries, lightly sand with 200-grit or higher sandpaper for a professional finish before spraying on the final coat. Let your furniture fully cure in a warm, dry well-ventilated area before use – typically 24 hours. Once you know how easy it is to repaint wooden furniture, you’ll see the hidden potential in all kinds of pieces!