How to Paint Outdoor Wood Furniture

Looking to refresh your outdoor furniture? Get a step-by-step tutorial to find out how to paint outdoor wood furniture so it will last.

When I shared how to paint outdoor metal furniture, I was pleasantly surprised by two things: 1) how many of you needed the tutorial! and 2) how many of you were ready for its companion post on how to paint outdoor wood furniture. Fortunately, I’m ready today with my tutorial for painting wooden patio furniture, just in time for summer to begin.

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Wooden outdoor furniture can be hard to maintain, but the good news is that painting wood furniture is easy! I’ll show you step by step how to do so as soon as I answer a few FAQs.

Painting Wood Furniture FAQs

What is the best paint for outdoor wood furniture?

The most common question I received when sharing this project on Instagram was what kind of paint to use on outdoor furniture. For outdoor metal furniture, I always recommend oil-based paint, but for outdoor wood furniture, I think that high-quality exterior latex paint is acceptable, as well.

I actually chose to use the leftover trim paint from our exterior makeover so that the pieces I painted would coordinate perfectly with our home. Whatever type of paint you choose, be sure it is an exterior paint. And remember that generally the shinier/glossier the finish, the more durable it will be, so satin, semi gloss, or gloss is probably best.

Do I need to prime?

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Generally speaking, primer is important for furniture that will be outside. Remember, you are not just painting for looks, but also for weather protection. Primer can help seal the wood and protect it from taking on moisture, which is the enemy when it comes to patio furniture’s longevity.

Can I spray paint my outdoor furniture?

Yes! And no. I have often spray painted outdoor furniture (get my step-by-step tutorial here), but I will be the first to admit that a spray paint job simply doesn’t hold up as long as a high-quality hand painted job. Spray painted furniture is better for covered porches and lower-traffic outdoor furniture.

Can I paint something that wasn’t painted previously?

Absolutely. For painting unfinished bare wood, you will want to be sure to use a high-quality primer that is for raw wood. For painting something that was previously oiled (like that brown acacia finish that is so often used for outdoor furniture), you’ll want to make sure the entire piece gets a light sanding to even things out and a high-quality primer that will adhere to the old finish. If there is any build-up of the old oil finish, you might even want to clean the piece with mineral spirits before priming.

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How to Paint Wood Outdoor Furniture

For this project, I painted two little wooden benches that had been painted previously and were very badly chipped. I also painted some old directors’ chairs that had that brown wood finish (though it was very badly worn). Both were probably 15 years old and had sat outside in the rain and sun for most of that time.

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And now they look good as new!

Here are the materials you’ll need to repaint your wooden outside furniture:

• palm sander with variety of sand paper
• old rags for cleaning
• exterior primer
• high-quality exterior paint (I used SW Super Paint in Satin, leftover from this project)
• trim roller + tray, paint brush

All paint, even latex paint, takes several days to a couple of weeks to fully cure. If rain is in the forecast, keep the paint inside if you can. Once the paint is fully cured, put the pieces outside and enjoy!

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Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Outdoor