Can I paint my white plastic chairs?

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Don’t throw away that UGLY outdoor furniture! This easy DIY ANYONE can do shows how to spray paint plastic chairs without spending a lot of money or time!

I like free stuff. Free is good, but sometimes you need to spruce up the free stuff. Know what I mean?

Today’s project is a short little tutorial on how to spray paint plastic chairs. I’m thinking you probably have a couple of ugly plastic outdoor chairs in your backyard that need a makeover, too! Or maybe a little kid’s table or side table made of plastic.

This chair was in dire need of transformation and since I love pops of color I knew the backyard was the perfect place for them. 

Materials

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Instructions

Step 1. Find a chair or piece of furniture.

In our neighborhood, people are always throwing out chairs but you can also be on the lookout at yard sales and thrift stores.

Seriously, if everyone knew what a quick transformation a coat of spray paint provided those chairs would be snatched up!

Step 2. If necessary, sand to obtain a smooth surface.

You can use whatever grade sandpaper you have on hand but a fine-grit sanding block will also work.

Update: I repainted this chair 4 years later and sanded areas that needed it when I repainted.

Step 3. Clean chair.

Plastic chairs tend to absorb all sorts of debris and stains from living outdoors in all types of weather.

All I did was scrub the entire surface with a good all purpose cleaner (you can even get one specifically designed for plastic) but more than likely you won’t get the chair perfectly clean. That’s alright! Paint covers a multitude of sins! You can also use a hose or pressure washer to blast off that dirt and old paint.

Step 4. Let the chair dry.

I made sure I saved plenty of time for the plastic to dry out so the paint would adhere well. No sense skipping this step and messing up the final product!

Step 5. What kind of paint do you use on plastic chairs?

The spray paint market is filled with all kinds of spray paint. Too many to choose from! I would choose a product that’s formulated especially for a plastic surface such as this spray paint for plastic.

If you’re not aware, prices of all supplies have gone sky high and often there are shortages. Just check big box stores, home and gardening stores, Amazon and google!

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Step 6. Apply the first coat to the bottom of the chair and any areas that will be seen.

Nothing fancy about spray painting. No primer is needed but you can add a coat of outdoor spray paint and then top with the plastic type.

Make sure and layer on a decent first thin coat of paint and let allow drying times of about 45 minutes. Since I’m a messy painter I used plastic underneath to protect the outdoor areas. You might want to put on old shoes, too. ~eye roll~

Step 7. Turn your piece over and paint the remaining areas.

You don’t have to waste paint on the underside of the seat but check for nooks and crannies that will be visible. Let dry for another few minutes.

Step 8. Repeat for a second this coat of paint on all areas.

I found two coats to be sufficient, which ended up using about 1 1/2 cans of paint per chair. I’m probably a little more liberal but for just a few bucks you’ve got brand new chairs!

Step 9. Add a protective topcoat.

I actually chose a matte color and wanted a top coat that was also a gloss. But I recommend that you seal your chairs with a protective top coat, especially if they will be seeing any kind of weather. 

FAQs about painting plastic

Choose a product that’s formulated especially for a plastic surface especially if you’re using your plastic furniture outside.

If you apply the right type of paint the spray paint will stay put for a length of time. Adding a coat of sealant or polyurethane will help with durability.

My chairs lasted 2-3 years out in the elements in our backyard. I live in NC where the temperature is probably considered moderate. We get down in the teens in winter and 90’s in the summer.

If you’re not going to use them during the winter and you have room for them in storage I’d take them indoors. They’ll last longer!

When I wanted to update them I simply sprayed them again with a gloss and love how it looks! It doesn’t have to be perfect especially if there is no protection from the weather.

I think learning how to spray paint plastic chairs qualifies as one of the easiest DIY projects anyone can do!

What do you think? Do you have some old chairs or furniture you want to paint now?

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How to Spray Paint Plastic Chairs

Don’t throw away that UGLY outdoor furniture! This easy DIY demonstrates how anyone can spray paint plastic chairs without spending a lot of money or time!

Ingredients

• 1

  spray cleaner

• 1

  sheet

  sandpaper

• 1

  can

  spray paint for plastic

• 1

  can

  protective gloss top coating

Instructions

• Find a chair or other piece of furniture.

• If necessary, sand to obtain a smooth surface.

• Clean chair.

• Let the chair dry.

• What kind of paint do you use on plastic chairs?

• Apply the first coat to the bottom of the chair and any areas that will be seen.

• Turn your piece over and paint the remaining areas.

• Repeat for a second coat on all areas.

• Add a protective topcoat.

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I have a couple of quick and easy spray paint projects to show you. Not only am I going to show you how to spray paint plastic chairs, I'll also show you how to refresh metal patio furniture with spray paint.

If you're looking for tips and ideas, you can find more projects here: The Power of Spray Paint

First, let's talk about the ugliest chairs ever!

Spray Paint Plastic Chairs

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Do you have some of these cheap plastic chairs that are ridiculously stained and ugly? I had 4 that I had so long, I don’t even know where they came from. Did you know you can spray paint plastic chairs?

So, I had all this spray paint . . .

Can you believe this stash? My sister gave it to me when she quit crafting. Years later and I still had some left because I had been trying to make it last.

How To Paint Plastic Chairs

1. Clean your old chairs. This may just need a hose, as in my case. Or you may need to use a cleaning or degreasing product.
2. Allow the chairs to dry thoroughly.

There are two main enemies of spray paint. Those would be dirt and water.

I hosed down two of the ugly chairs, and left them in the sun to dry.

Then I painted them! It was just an experiment, the chairs were so ugly, I really didn’t have anything to lose. Each chair did take an entire can of paint.

So, I’m not sure it’s all that thrifty to paint your chairs. However, it did keep them out of the landfill. At first, I wasn’t sure how well it would hold up, but it's actually been years since I painted them.

They held up so well, that when I no longer needed them, I put them to the curb and a neighbor took them.

Would you believe, that they are now being used by a second neighbor?

The paint seemed to cure over the first few days to where I thought they could actually be stacked. That is something that is important with all paint--you must let it cure thoroughly.

At least now when I sat in them after painting them, I didn't get that nasty white film on my clothes.

Now, how about another quick paint project?

Spray Painting Metal Furniture

Years  ago I traded my cousin Terry this patio set for a concrete table and benches. I definitely got the better end of the deal. I think these chairs will last forever! They had been a cream color in their younger days. When I got them from Terry, they were black. But the black paint had been peeling a lot, so I thought it was  time for a makeover.

I used this Dual paint from Krylon. It’s a paint an primer in one. It took several cans to do this project.

I painted this small table to match the chairs.

Do you love the new color as much as I do? So much better than the peeling black paint. Isn’t spray paint amazing?

gail

Gail Wilson

Gail Wilson is the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. She is obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believes that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again, including herself!
Gail reinvented herself during a midlife crisis and has found purpose again. She hopes you will find new ideas for old things and pick up a few tools along the way.