Is a washed-out garden getting you down? A basic outdoor design scheme leaching your creative spark? Then have we got a fun upcycling project for you! Painting your garden furniture is not only on-trend with the sustainable furniture movement, but it’s the perfect opportunity to switch things up and put an authentic spin on your exterior décor.
Whether you fancy taking on an outdoor dining set complete with a wooden bench or you’re happier sticking to something small like a garden planter box, this guide will set you off on the right track. Really. However big your ambitions get, the same DIY principles apply to the process when you upcycle those garden furniture pieces.
Generally, it’s all about laying the groundwork with some decent preparation and picking out the right tools and materials for the job.
If you’re a splat veteran, you’ll know how much we love to go on about the perks of upcycling, recycling and repurposing bits and pieces you already own, but here’s a quick rundown for the uninitiated:
If the reasons above haven’t convinced you to give painting your outdoor furniture a go, there’s really no hope for you and you should stop reading.
Psst, are they gone? Hopefully, now we just have upcycling enthusiasts.
If you’ve taught yourself how to paint and update indoor pieces, wooden furniture perhaps, this will sound familiar: upcycling your garden furniture is something anyone can do as we’re so spoilt for choice of projects. To get used to using a brush and paint, you could start as small as giving paint pots a lick of colour. Then you can graduate onto larger projects.
For convenience, we’re going to give you a walkthrough of the general types of projects you might be interested in and the paint types that complement their application and the materials involved.
In the DIY world, anything goes. But here are some increasingly popular outdoor furniture projects:
Reading these you will notice that most garden furniture projects will involve painting and prepping surfaces composed of the following materials.
As you might expect, each material requires you to select a specialist paint that will adhere properly onto the surface, allow for a seamless application and a gorgeous end product. Depending on the qualities of the material such as porosity, pH and texture, you might need a primer base coat to work from or – in the case of problem surfaces – a bit of filler might do you well.
Once you’ve settled on a project, it’s important to get your paint right. The quality of your choice might be the difference between a commendable first job and a stunning one.
Going by material, here are some of our favourite products.
Building up a consistent colour palette across your garden décor, from fencing and trellises to your outdoor furniture pieces, can spruce up your plot and make it feel bigger, especially with those natural tones and neutrals.
We advise opting for one of the more eco-friendly paint brands such as Cuprinol Ducksback and Garden Shades, which can be applied either with a roller, brush or sprayer. Typically, Cuprinol products are used for garden planter boxes, benches and sheds, but they’ll go on any prepped wooden surface just lovely.
Another option is to use Bradite One Can. This paint pairs versatile and style, with a multi-surface formula that blocks stains and provides a wonderfully pigmented look in either an eggshell or matt finish.
Ideal for: benches, stools, sheds, summer houses.
For plastic garden furniture, you should look to Zinsser Allcoat. This wonder will bind easily onto any surface and will do your project justice for years to come.
Ideal for: garden chairs and tables, ornaments, upcycled planters.
A colourful twist to your metal bistro furniture will put it strides in front of the rest and can add a needed bit of cheer to the space on overcast days.
We recommend either choosing Bradite One Can again or checking out Dulux Trade’s Diamond Eggshell. It’s a super tough formula that provides powerful pigment and a slight sheen matched with maximum levels of durability.
Ideal for: garden chairs and tables, bird feeders, hanging decorations.
If you have any stone or ceramic surfaces to paint, why not check out Sadolin Supredec? This multi-surface formula is highly durable and self-priming, so no need for an extra product for your base coat.
Ideal for: statues and ornaments, tables, pots and vases.
While it’s likely you won’t want to paint over your concrete pieces and disguise that harsh, brutalist vibe, in case you do, here’s a tip. Bradite One Can, Zinsser Allcoat or any water-based multi-surface paint will do the trick.
Ideal for: benches, ornaments, tables.
It’s time to make good all those paint recommendations, gather up your equipment and give your garden furniture the glow-up it’s been crying out for. Here’s all you have to do…
Let’s put the show on the road with the bits and bobs you’ll need:
Before you jump into slapping paint onto your furniture, it’s important to take a step back and consider how to prepare your surfaces (and yourself) for painting.
First, make sure the space is prepped. Whether it’s your garage, a nice spot on the patio or on the lawn, make sure you’re in protective clothing and dust sheets or newspaper are laid down to protect from any paint splatters. You might even want to set up a workstation with all of your tools and paint set out in an order that makes sense for you.
Now all of that’s out of the way, you can get to prepping the surface of your furniture; wood, plastic, metal, stone and concrete all need to be thoroughly cleaned before you can apply any paint. It’s all about achieving a clean and level surface for adhesion and a smooth finish.
Outdoor furniture will have been open to the elements, so it’s likely that your piece has seen better days. This calls for getting rid of any build-up of decay, mould or general grime. Use a solution of warm water and soap or clean spirit and a cloth.
For fairly clean items, this will do – just wait for it to dry – but for older materials that may have weathered or rusted in the rain, you will have to put in a little more effort. Avoid using a jet washer as this might damage the surface further, rather, grab a bristled brush and give it a good scrub all over. Then you can rinse it off and leave it to dry.
Once cleaned and dry, you can get to sanding down the surface and/ or repairing any holes and surface cracks with a suitable filler. Of course, the method here will vary depending on the material, so make sure to research what type of sandpaper grits to use and whether your material is compatible with the filler you choose.
Generally, you will want to sand down the surface of wooden furniture, and metal pieces if they have been painted. Wash off the debris as you did in the previous step and leave to dry out fully again.
If you haven’t opted for a self-priming paint, you’ll want to prime the surface of your outdoor furniture, so you’ll have a nice base for your paint to cling to. This will also help you achieve a full-bodied colour.
Apply a thin layer with a paintbrush on small awkward sections (think ornate details on chairs) and a roller on larger, flat sections such as tabletops. We advise following the grain if you are applying it on wood or systematically from top to bottom if painting a smooth surface like plastic or metal. For porous concrete, be careful not to miss any of the tiny holes by really getting in there with the brush.
Leave your primer to dry as directed on the side of the can and only once it has dried right through, begin to apply your first coat of paint. Start by giving your paint a thorough mixing and distributing some into a paint kettle so you don’t accidentally use too much in one go.
Here, it’s a good idea to start with any more ornate parts first with a paintbrush and then move to smoother and longer sections that might require a roller. Again, follow the natural shape or grain of the furniture systematically, working from one point to another. Don’t forget the underside, so flip over your furniture and get all of those missing bits.
Repeat step 2 with another coat when the next round of drying has come to an end. Stay consistent in your method, ensuring the colour goes on evenly and professionally. If you’re happy with your work, that should be you done. But if you’re after a brighter, stronger matt look you can always add a third.
When the painting is completed, it’s time to clear up. Pack up your supplies and put them away, put your messy clothes in the washing machine and get to cleaning your paint-covered tools with clean spirit – it’s a wonderful alternative to white spirit that we wholeheartedly recommend as it’s healthier for our waterways and works just as well.
If you have any leftover paint, also make sure to save it for a future project or spread the DIY love by recycling it responsibly by donating it to community paint schemes. Your neighbours will thank you, trust us.
Anything else?
Cue the dramatic music… you’ve finished!
Ready to take the jump? Well, you should be! We’ve imparted you with the insider’s knowledge of painting and upcycling garden furniture, so you’re practically a pro – or at least you will be once you give it a go.
Are you eyeing up more outdoor transformations? We have plenty of supplementary reading on our blog from fence painting tips to advice on how to achieve colour mastery with your masonry paints.
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