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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. ðŸ¤ª








20 comments :

  1. Beautiful! Drab to FAB! Your imagination amazes me!

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  2. I love the blue color of the chairs and the chalkboard paint of course. I love being able to spray paint. It's so much easier and it looks like it's holding up great!

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  3. They are adorable. My favorite part is the chalkboard backing.

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  4. Hola Cristina ! Me encanta esas sillas color celeste y como combina a la perfección con los toques de rojo del resto de la habitación , realmente muy buena la idea de ponerle en el respaldo un poco de pintura pizarrón ,, podrás cambiarlo según la ocasión

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  5. Awesome job. I love small chairs. Thank for sharing.

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  6. How wonderful that your chairs have held up. Love the pink drum light and I love that you can chalk the back of the chairs!!! Such a wonderful project!

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  7. I love it Cristina! You were right, this one fits you kitchen more perfectly than the parsons. I also adore the color you chose and that chalkboard detail is genius!!!!

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  8. So cute with the chalkboards --- VERY clever!

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  9. Love the chairs...I just featured several I bought at an auction and redid with both spray paint and chalkpaint! Amazing what a tiny bit of work can do for these little guys! A few weeks ago I counted TWENTY SIX chairs in my garage...fortunately I was able to get some done and moved out. I LOVE the idea of the chalkboard paint on the back...may have to steal that idea ;) BTW, I have never painted with the primer/paint without priming...so it is really holding up? I use the Valspar brand all the time so it would be nice to skip that step if possible...

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  10. love the chalkboard on the back of the chair. What a fun and great looking makeover

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  11. Wow Beck, twenty six chairs?! That's a lot! The paint has held up really well, I see no peeling at all, I think that's thanks to the sealer. If I have to do it again I'll choose the same kind of paint.

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  12. I think you may have a set of Hitchcock Windsor chairs. The legs and rungs are identical to theirs, although I can't find an exact match for the back online. In any case, you got them for a steal at $5.00. I love what you've done with them. I used that some color spray paint to paint a desk earlier this summer and I just think it's so pretty.

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  13. Your chairs are wonderful! I love the chalk board paint along the back rail. So creative and fun! :-)
    Blessings!
    Kim @ Curtain Queen Creates

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  14. You have totally inspired me this morning. I have been thinking about painting similar chairs I already have that were my grandmothers. I love the color you picked. I would love for you to link this up to my party that opens at 8pm EST tonight. Hope to see you there. http://diybydesign.blogspot.com

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  15. These are so cute! Love them!
    Leslie
    House on the Way

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  16. I love those chairs! What a cute idea! I love the colors you used and I really love the tablecloth! Would you mind sharing where you found it? Thanks!

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  17. Thanks Lori! The tablecloth was another DIY project, I just updated this post with the link to the tablecloth. Just in case here it is: http://www.remodelandolacasa.com/2014/08/make-easy-tablecloth-for-any-occasion.html

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  18. Wow, Cristina! These chairs came out fantastic. Love the color you chose - and the chalkboard paint idea is so fun! You could write words of encouragement, happy birthday, good luck, so many things! Sweet! Well done! Hugs, Catherin

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  19. Lovely refinish! I love the subtle color, and the chalkboard is so fun :)

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  20. I love the ideas of the chalkboard back! you are a genius! I love everything about these chairs!

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