My outdoor furniture had seen better days — It was old, dirty, the paint was chipping, the cushions were faded, and there were even some burn holes in the cushions from our fire pit. I was able to save it and you can, too! I cleaned, sanded, spray painted, distressed, sealed and added new cushion covers. I love how they turned out, but the best part: I saved myself a ton of money! I spent less than $150 in supplies. The Sunbrella 3 piece set I was looking at was $3,000. (We always get Sunbrella cushions/sets because they are waterproof). I’ll take that savings!!!
Quick guide: Click any step below to jump straight to what you need.
Step 1: Clean
- You wouldn’t believe how dirty your outside furniture gets if you don’t cover it. (I know, my bad for not covering it…but I learned this the hard way.) Using dish detergent and water, I cleaned enough to get the grime off to make the sanding more effective.
Step 2:
- I got this set years ago, and I’ve already spray painted it once. The last time, I didn’t prep anything, so naturally, it was chipping pretty good.
- I sanded using 220, but did need a lower grit a few places that were really peeling. I used my electric sander (remember an electric sander is way more powerful than hand sanding).
Step 3: Clean Again
I used dish soap and water again. After using the hose on high-stream mode to flush out the little crevices, I finished by going over the entire surface with a phosphate-free TSP and water mixture to help the paint adhere.
Step 4:
- I chose to spray paint simply for the ease of it. I applied two coats, using 6 bottles total. Just to save some money, I didn’t do the seats since there will be cushions there anyway.
- I don’t really like using spray paint – sorrrrry if you do! I always feel the need to move very fast, and I get too close. All this accomplishes is drip marks. I had to keep reminding myself to stay the 12 (recommended) inches away and move slowly.
- One last obvious thing. (Well, it wasn’t too obvious because I did it…hence I’ll save anyone who thinks they can forgo this step.) Wear gloves, a mask, and protective eyewear. I was being lazy and thought since I was outside, I could skip the mask and glasses. I know better, but again, I was being lazy. I was coughing so much by the end and my eyes felt hazy. And my pointer finger….lesser of an issue, but it was brown for about a week.
This is after one coat of spray paint. I ended up doing a total of 2 (3 in some places).
Step 5: Distress
- I wasn’t planning on distressing this furniture and adding the protective layer. I thought, “spray paint sticks to anything!” Well, we got one hard rain and some of the detailed parts (where clearly I didn’t sand enough and there was still some old chipping spray paint) started to chip. I lightly sanded these areas and reapplied the paint. This just kind of naturally led to me adding some distressing.
- I took a 220 piece of sandpaper, and distressed the corners and edges. I also did a few other spots where natural wear and tear would happen.
- Even though this wasn’t my original plan. I ended up loving the look!
Step 6: Apply protective top coat
- I’m not a huge fan of a glossy finish on spray painted pieces, so I decided to tone it down with a matte clear coat finish. Chat GPT said matte will give more of a rustic feel, as well, so it was a win-win for me.
- I only used one can. I probably should have used two right off the bat. I will likely lightly clean and apply another one mid-summer for added protection.
Step 7: Cover cushions
- Painting the furniture frame would have been pointless if the cushions still looked as beat up as they were! I tried finding replacement cushions, but nothing seemed to fit. I also tried simply replacing the covers, but the cushions lost their shape and were falling apart when I tried to take them out of the covers.
I’m so happy with my decision to try to save this set! This is not a forever fix, and I knew that going in. I just wanted a few extra years with this furniture! Mission Accomplished!
Here’s what I learned by doing this project:
#1 Cover your furniture if you want it to last.
#2 Get into the groves if you want to help your furniture not chip.
#3 Add a protective top coat.
#4 Cushion slip covers for the win!
Another amazing post!!!!!!
So glad you like it!!