How to Paint your Garden Furniture

By Chloe CrismaniMay 5, 2020

Revamp your outdoor space with our top garden furniture paint ideas.

If you fancy trying your hand at a fun and creative project then why not paint your garden furniture? Firstly, this activity is a great weekend project, not forgetting that upcycling your furniture is a sustainable alternative to buying brand new furniture. A win-win in our opinion! What's more, it affords you the opportunity to put your own unique stamp on your garden furniture that you can't find elsewhere. As firm believers that your home and garden should be a personal space that you love, we always recommend trying your hand at a DIY project. Trust us, you won't regret it! So, for this blog, we are exploring our top garden paint ideas that will transform your garden furniture. Make sure you read all the steps before diving in and don't forget to share your finished creation with us on social media @rockettstgeorge.co.uk - we'd love to see it!

Image Credit: Pati Robins DIY Ombre Chair. Pati used our Rockett St George Exclusive Paint Collection - Dalloway available to shop at Rockett St George.

Before you get started there are a few essentials that you'll need:

Paint (we have some paint in beautiful colours at Rockett St George).
Paintbrushes
Your garden furniture of choice, for example, a garden bench, deck chair or table.
Exterior primer
Sandpaper
Cloth for dusting
Top coat for exterior furniture

How to paint your garden furniture

image of a hand holding a paint brush painting a table yellow

Image Credit: Rockett St George. Paint featured: Rockett St George Exclusive Paint Collection - French Ochre

Follow these easy steps to paint your garden furniture:

1.Clear a space to paint your furniture. Trust us, you need to ensure that there is a nice clear space in your garage and garden to protect the surrounding perimeter. Cover any precious pieces in the vicinity with dust sheets.

2.Preparation is key, so prep your furniture by removing old paint and sand it down to create a smooth finish. 220-grain sandpaper is a good choice of sandpaper for a DIY job like this.

3. Give it your furniture a good dust down. Using a damp cloth or microfibre cloth give your chosen furniture a good wipe down to remove any residual dust. Remember, the cleaner your furniture the more polished the final look.

4. Using an exterior primer for outdoor spaces, paint your furniture with one coat of primer ensuring your strokes are all focused in one direction. Leave it to dry before following the next step.

5. Now that the initial preparation is out of the way, it's time for the fun part; painting! Crucially, we recommend taking your time for this step and ensure that your brush strokes are along the wood grain to ensure that the final result is polished. Once you've applied your coat of paint leave your furniture to completely dry for a few hours.

6. Next, apply the second coat building evenly on the first coat. As before, take your time and allow to dry for a few hours before touching again.

7. Finally, the last step is only an option but do note that it will help ensure the longevity of your outdoor furniture for years to come. Use a top coat exterior spray or paint to act as a protective seal for your furniture.

8. And, that's it! Your beautifully painted outdoor furniture painted by yours truly.