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Don’t throw away that UGLY outdoor furniture! This easy DIY ANYONE can do shows how to spray paint plastic chairs without spending a lot of money or time!
I like free stuff. Free is good, but sometimes you need to spruce up the free stuff. Know what I mean?
Today’s project is a short little tutorial on how to spray paint plastic chairs. I’m thinking you probably have a couple of ugly plastic outdoor chairs in your backyard that need a makeover, too! Or maybe a little kid’s table or side table made of plastic.
This chair was in dire need of transformation and since I love pops of color I knew the backyard was the perfect place for them.
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Step 1. Find a chair or piece of furniture.
In our neighborhood, people are always throwing out chairs but you can also be on the lookout at yard sales and thrift stores.
Seriously, if everyone knew what a quick transformation a coat of spray paint provided those chairs would be snatched up!
Step 2. If necessary, sand to obtain a smooth surface.
You can use whatever grade sandpaper you have on hand but a fine-grit sanding block will also work.
Update: I repainted this chair 4 years later and sanded areas that needed it when I repainted.
Step 3. Clean chair.
Plastic chairs tend to absorb all sorts of debris and stains from living outdoors in all types of weather.
All I did was scrub the entire surface with a good all purpose cleaner (you can even get one specifically designed for plastic) but more than likely you won’t get the chair perfectly clean. That’s alright! Paint covers a multitude of sins! You can also use a hose or pressure washer to blast off that dirt and old paint.
Step 4. Let the chair dry.
I made sure I saved plenty of time for the plastic to dry out so the paint would adhere well. No sense skipping this step and messing up the final product!
Step 5. What kind of paint do you use on plastic chairs?
The spray paint market is filled with all kinds of spray paint. Too many to choose from! I would choose a product that’s formulated especially for a plastic surface such as this spray paint for plastic.
If you’re not aware, prices of all supplies have gone sky high and often there are shortages. Just check big box stores, home and gardening stores, Amazon and google!
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Step 6. Apply the first coat to the bottom of the chair and any areas that will be seen.
Nothing fancy about spray painting. No primer is needed but you can add a coat of outdoor spray paint and then top with the plastic type.
Make sure and layer on a decent first thin coat of paint and let allow drying times of about 45 minutes. Since I’m a messy painter I used plastic underneath to protect the outdoor areas. You might want to put on old shoes, too. ~eye roll~
Step 7. Turn your piece over and paint the remaining areas.
You don’t have to waste paint on the underside of the seat but check for nooks and crannies that will be visible. Let dry for another few minutes.
Step 8. Repeat for a second this coat of paint on all areas.
I found two coats to be sufficient, which ended up using about 1 1/2 cans of paint per chair. I’m probably a little more liberal but for just a few bucks you’ve got brand new chairs!
Step 9. Add a protective topcoat.
I actually chose a matte color and wanted a top coat that was also a gloss. But I recommend that you seal your chairs with a protective top coat, especially if they will be seeing any kind of weather.
Choose a product that’s formulated especially for a plastic surface especially if you’re using your plastic furniture outside.
If you apply the right type of paint the spray paint will stay put for a length of time. Adding a coat of sealant or polyurethane will help with durability.
My chairs lasted 2-3 years out in the elements in our backyard. I live in NC where the temperature is probably considered moderate. We get down in the teens in winter and 90’s in the summer.
If you’re not going to use them during the winter and you have room for them in storage I’d take them indoors. They’ll last longer!
When I wanted to update them I simply sprayed them again with a gloss and love how it looks! It doesn’t have to be perfect especially if there is no protection from the weather.
I think learning how to spray paint plastic chairs qualifies as one of the easiest DIY projects anyone can do!
What do you think? Do you have some old chairs or furniture you want to paint now?
Print PinDon’t throw away that UGLY outdoor furniture! This easy DIY demonstrates how anyone can spray paint plastic chairs without spending a lot of money or time!
1
spray cleaner
1
sheet
sandpaper
1
can
spray paint for plastic
1
can
protective gloss top coating
Find a chair or other piece of furniture.
If necessary, sand to obtain a smooth surface.
Clean chair.
Let the chair dry.
What kind of paint do you use on plastic chairs?
Apply the first coat to the bottom of the chair and any areas that will be seen.
Turn your piece over and paint the remaining areas.
Repeat for a second coat on all areas.
Add a protective topcoat.
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Do you have outdoor furniture that needs a refresh? Anyone can update plastic furniture with this easy and cheap DIY! Find out how to spray paint plastic chairs without spending a lot of time or money, and give your outdoor furniture a new look.
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We love these plastic outdoor Adirondack chairs. They are great to sit on outside and watch the kids as they play. But after a few years outside the bright pink color faded to a dull pink. They still work fine, but I wanted a bright punchy color to brighten up our front porch. An easy way to give them an update is to use spray paint!
The first step is to lightly sand the chairs. Sanding scuffs up the surface and makes the paint stick better. It also removes some of the white powder that is on the surface of faded plastic chairs.
Wash down the chairs to remove the dust and any other dirt that is on them. Let them completely dry in the sun.
Now it’s time to start painting. I chose a bight spray paint with paint and primer in one. Make sure you get a spray paint that’s meant for plastic. The color I chose is Rust-oleum Seaside in a Satin finish, but I had a hard time deciding because there were so many bright summery colors.
I flipped the chairs upside down first to do a few light coats on the bottom. I didn’t worry too much about covering the bottom completely.
Once the bottom was dry I flipped the chairs over and did a few light coats of spray paint on the tops of the chairs. Let the spray paint dry for a few hours.
Easy peasy! This project took me just a few hours on a weekend. I used two cans of spray paint for these chairs. At about $11 a can, that’s a pretty inexpensive and quick update to these plastic outdoor chairs. These look so much better than the faded pink.