Patio Chairs FTW

Because it is absolutely gorgeous outside, I needed some chairs to lounge on outside. When I saw these puppies, I know they had great bones and could be redone to look super nice. 

BEFORE:

Super dirty, rotten wooden chairs. "Shabby chic" taken too far by Mother Nature.

AFTER:

Smooth, creamy ivory colored outdoor chairs. Ready for relaxin'.

How did I do it?

1. Rinse and clean the chairs with a hose, Lysol, and paper towels.

2. Use a wire scrub brush from the dollar store to scrub mold, dirt, and dust out of the cracks in the wood.

Can you tell which chair has been scrubbed and which one hasn't??

3. Use a spray paint with primer included for full coverage. Using light, quick strokes about 6-8 inches away, paint the chairs with 2 coats. Let the paint dry between coats. 

Yup, that's me spray painting the seat of one of the chairs.

4. Seal the chairs with either a clear top coat spray paint, or a thin coat of polyurethane. If you use polyurethane, watch out for drips on the vertical parts of the chairs!

5. Sit back and enjoy the view of your garden!

Want to try it?

Here are some tips to make sure your patio chairs turn out happily ever after!

• Take your time cleaning, sanding, and scrubbing the wood. Remove as much dirt, dust, and mold as possible. This will prolong the life of your finished piece.
• Use a wood filler and a putty knife to fill any super deep rivets in the wood, or replace a whole slat if necessary.
• Buy chairs with good bones. You can replace the paint or fix a few small areas in the wood, but if the arm is straight up broken, or it sits crooked, it will need a lot more work than if it's structurally sound to begin with.
• Always spray paint in a well-ventilated area such as outside, standing upwind to minimize fume inhalation.

Share your happily ever after chairs below: