One of the best parts of tackling home improvement projects in summer—at least here in Washington—is being able to paint outdoors. In colder months painting outside simply isn’t possible, so once July arrives we take full advantage of the warmer weather to refresh furniture with a coat of paint.
When you’re working with a tight furniture budget, paint is a lifesaver. A fresh color can unify mismatched pieces, hide wear, and make tired items feel like new. Any color will do, but white in particular can give a clean, updated look.
We’ve had these rattan chairs forever—they were my mom’s before they became ours. They spent part of their life stained dark, and when the finish wore thin we painted them white. It made them feel brand new. That refresh was a couple of years ago, though, and time had taken its toll.
Over the last year our pup Jack decided the chair edges were chew-worthy. He was a curious little chewer when he was a pup; now at about a year old he’s less likely to gnaw on furniture, though he still gets into mischief from time to time.
Once the weather cooperated and summer arrived, we finally had the chance to spruce the chairs up again. If you like a shabby-chic, well-loved look, you could leave the chewed arms as they are to remember puppy days. For my personal style, though, the chairs read more worn than charming, so I wanted them to look clean and cohesive.
Out came the paint. We used a combination of brushing on white paint and some spray paint to reach tight angles and ensure even coverage. It may not be the most conventional method, but blending brush and spray helped get paint into the nooks and rounded rattan pieces where a single technique might miss.
The result felt instantly fresher and much more polished—exactly the update the chairs needed.
I’ll be recovering the cushions next and will share how they turn out once they’re finished.
Do you paint furniture in the summer or is it too hot where you live?
PS: Our floors are nearly finished and they look amazing. We had the installation handled professionally and are thrilled with the results. I can’t wait to share the full reveal soon.
If you need a reliable place to start with painting furniture, look for resources that offer step-by-step advice and practical tips to get great results.