Spray Painted Chairs

A long time ago when the kitchen makeover was completed, I bought a set of Parson chairs for my breakfast nook. I liked them, but after having them for some time, I didn't like that they blocked the view from the family room to the kitchen and vice-versa. 

Their chairs' backs were too high and overall they were too big for that small space.

I began looking for a set of small chairs and no, not in a store, too expensive for my budget! I kept on browsing through Craiglist until I found them, only $5 per chair. ;)

Their condition was good, with no squeaky sounds, loosened parts, or missing screws. W

Their appearance though was on the drab side, they look better in these pictures than they looked in real life.  At some point, they had been re-stained but the job was poorly done, they felt bumpy.

I decided to paint them, and the following process was done a year ago when I shared this post at Pretty Handy Girl.

The materials you'll need:

• Sandpaper (100 and 220 grid)
• Spray paint (Valspar Color Radiance - Paint + Primer was used for this project.  Color: La Fonda Mirage (One can of spray paint per chair).
• Clear sealer gloss  (One can of sealer gloss was used on two chairs).
• Tack cloth
• Painter's tape
• Chalkboard paint
• Rubber bumpers
• Sander
• Safety glasses
• Protective mask
• Gloves
• Paint brushes

The first step is perhaps the most tedious one: Sanding.  The glossy finish has to go. A hand sander is your best bet, it will help you go through this step way faster.  For those places where the sander cannot go, use a piece of sandpaper.

Dust the chairs pretty well.  A pneumatic air gun is a practical way to remove most of the dust particles in those hard-to-reach places.  But a thorough wipe down with a tack cloth is a necessity before painting them.

The beauty of using a paint that is also a primer, Valspar Color Radiance Paint + Primer is that you feel like you skipped the priming!   The coverage is really good.

Use your safety gear... mask,  gloves, and safety glasses, and work in a well-ventilated area, if possible outdoors. 

Placing the chairs upside down, spray paint the legs. Then, turned the chair on the right side up to cover the unpainted areas. Wait until it dries and give them a second coat.

Continue on the back of the chairs and lastly the seat.

Using a 220-grid sandpaper give them a light sanding in between coats.

A glossy clear sealer is a next step.  The glossy finish makes a big difference as you can see in the picture below.

The good thing about painting your own chairs is that you can customize them. 

I decided to paint the top part of their backs with chalkboard paint (this area was protected from the glossy clear sealer).

The chalkboard needs to be cured before writing on it.

Finally, a set of rubber bumpers were bought for each chair, though the screws were replaced for longer ones.

I think their "new shoes" look way better than the flats they had. ;)

This is how they looked last year after being painted.

The paint job is holding strong after a year of daily use. The parts that get hit the most are the legs, there are marks, shoe marks, at the bottom of them, and on the transverse rod that connects the front legs, as you can see in the picture below. Other than that, I have no complaints.

I like them, and I think they are going to stay right here for many years. I keep on having fun with those small chalkboards.

They help to set the mood for any occasion.

Here, dressed up for a special brunch.

The light drum is the same, it was covered with a piece of fabric of a striking color.
The tablecloth was another DIY project, you can click HERE to visit that post.

My price for each chair was $15 (chair, paint, sealer, and bumpers).  The old chairs are now in the dining room.

What has been your latest spray paint project? 

Are you a spray paint fanatic like I am? I spray paint something almost every week. 🤪