I DIY a lot of items around my house. I DIY in part to save money, but also because I generally love the process of seeing an idea turn out. Now, I say generally because there are a few DIY projects that I start and hate the entire time I’m doing… like painting.
DIY Painted Table & Chairs
I always think that I will enjoy painting something because it is so much more inexpensive than buying new and it always yields a big transformation. I just have no patience for painting. Event though I’m not a huge fan, paint was a big part of my DIY makeover for my summer porch.
For our outdoor dining area we decided to paint an old kitchen table that we owned and a couple of thrift store chairs. I am not a painting expert… mostly because I dislike the time it takes to do painting projects. I’m an afternoon DIY girl—when it takes days or weeks to complete I put it off as long as possible.
Take this table… I bought the sanding tools, paint, sealer and drop cloth 3 years ago to make our old kitchen table work for an outdoor table. I have finally gotten around to painting the sucker! (And, to be totally honest, I still haven’t sealed it. That has to happen before the next big rain!)
The chairs came with I think six coasts of paint on them prior to me wanting to paint them. I got them for a steal at $5/ chair, but the sanding work took forever and they still weren’t perfect before painting. I did know that I wanted the chairs to have a worn look, so I am not disappointed with how they came out. They too will get a couple coats of sealant before the next big rain.
Looking to paint your own wood items for outdoors? Check out these sources I used for tips:
- How to Finish Wood Furniture for Outdoor Use
- Painted Chair for Outdoors
- Spray Painting Wood Chairs
DIY Process
I actually ended up lightly sanding the table and heavily sanding the chairs (though, as you can tell from the above photo… probably not enough for a nice professional looking paint job. I went with Rust-Oleum spray paint for both projects. The chairs got several coats of the Gloss Warm Yellow Paint and the table got a flat white spray. I am using a roll on polycrylic protective finish on both projects. I will not be keeping the items out during super inclement weather, but wanted to still protect them for the occasional shower.
I can’t deny that paint makes a huge difference. I love my outdoor table and chairs enough that I will likely go through the pain and agony of painting many more times in my life. Seeing it in my yard makes me happy each and every day!
What do you think about DIY Painting projects? Love them or hate them? Have one you are proud of?? Link below! I’d love to see!
Updating Post to say that I’m linking up to the following Link Parties:
- Skip to my Lou Made By You Mondays
11 Comments
That turned out gorgeous! And it made for a nice cover photo for your blog! 🙂
Aubrie LeGault recently posted…{Food} Moonstruck Savory Chocolates
Such a pretty table setting – And I agree with Aubrie – It did make a perfect cover for your blog!!!
Erin @ Platings and Pairings recently posted…Riesling Rocks – Why I Love It + What to Eat With It
This looks like quite an undertaking! I wish I had your motivation and focus. I love the idea of finding old furniture and repurposing it or giving it new life, but I always fall short in my follow through. Your whole setup here is GORGEOUS! Thanks for sharing, cheers!
Danielle recently posted…#FridayFavorites
Great job especially because you don’t enjoy painting! Feel free to let me know next time you have a painting project – much like weeding gardens, painting helps me maintain my zen. 🙂
Jen recently posted…Two days in Arches National Park.
The paint is a wonderful transformation, and of course you picked the perfect colors with the white table and white chairs with just the highlights of yellow napkins and 2 yellow chairs for pop instead of all the same, fun!
Pech recently posted…Oregon Berry Festival Gala Berry Dinner 2015
This turned out SO amazing!!! I love the look its so modern and clean yet fun!
This turned out so cute! Love the table setting.
Chloe | The Paper Airplane recently posted…A Day at the Oregon Coast: Iconic Oregon Adventures Fueled by Naked Juice
Such a lovely place setting. The white sets off the colors so well. Nice work!
Tracy recently posted…My Uterine Fibroids Journey (Part 3) – From Infertility to Healthy Pregnancy
Wow they turned out gorgeous! We have 6 shelves that have been sitting in the garage for months waiting to be sanded and painted. It just feels so daunting!
Catherine recently posted…Welcome to the world, Kiwi!
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