Paint Wicker Furniture: Step by Step Guide

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Old Wicker Furniture Chairs
Paint Wicker Furniture
- Can you paint over wicker chairs?
- How to Choose Your Spray Paint
How to Spray Paint Wicker Furniture
A Vintage Affair
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Stop spending hundreds of dollars on new wicker furniture! Learn how to paint wicker furniture with a few simple steps and make it shabby chic.

Paint and wicker furniture chairs outdoors.

You may also enjoy this rattan furniture in the Wicker Furniture: Spring Back Porch Ideas post.

Old Wicker Furniture Chairs

It is expensive to purchase a new wicker piece of furniture these days, with prices upwards of $500+ per piece. For just $15, you can buy three cans of spray paint and recycle old thrifted wicker pieces quickly and easily, bringing new life to old furniture with a fresh coat of paint

I found these two tired wicker furniture chairs a long time ago on Facebook Marketplace for about $125 each.

They had white old paint and were very shabby chic when I bought them.

They’ve since been painted yellow, and now they are the dark brown color they are today.

Paint Wicker Furniture

Can you paint over wicker chairs?

Absolutely. It can also be a speedy and easy paint job upcycle, which is my favorite kind!

I prefer spray painting old pieces with cans of paint, as it’s so much easier and the best way with all the texture and gaps in the wicker weaving.

How to Choose Your Spray Paint

This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

I chose Rust-Oleum’s Deep Blue Gloss to use as the spray paint for today’s painted outdoor furniture wicker chair.

5 Blue spray paint cans and wicker furniture

Important Steps

You’ll want to use the right type of spray paint for the material your furniture is made of. The spray paint cans will list the materials they work well on, such as wicker, metal, wood, etc.
When choosing your cans of paint, you’ll also need to consider the elements (indoor vs. outdoor, covered porch vs. exposed patio, etc.).
I have also found that most local hardware stores will not carry 6+ cans of new paint of the same spray paint color as an FYI. So plan ahead!

How to Spray Paint Wicker Furniture

Step-by-Step Process

First Step: start with a platform in a well-ventilated area. I used an old pallet and two sawhorses, but you could use something as easy as old bedsheets or plastic drop cloth. I like to elevate my wicker furniture with sawhorses, as it’s easier on the back.
The next step is to buy all your supplies beforehand so you don’t run out.
Clean the wicker furniture for loose dust with a clean, damp cloth, vacuum cleaner, kitchen scrub brush, and/or a garden hose.
Sand the wooden pieces like the legs or rockers if needed.
I highly recommend painting gloves, as I have yet to find a way to spray paint without getting paint all over my hands.

First thing, a KN95 dust mask is always recommended to avoid the spray paint fumes.
For the first coat of paint, start by spray painting vertically with the grain of your wicker. Then, go back and spray paint the wicker horizontally. This will ensure the paint gets into all the crevices of the wicker furniture with a nice paint flow.
Spray painting about 8″ inches from the furniture is the most effective way to avoid dripping and running for good coverage and paint flow.

How long does it take for painted wicker furniture to dry?

I let the first coat of paint dry for about an hour and then reapplied a second coat, letting it sit for another hour. It may appear dry to the touch at this time, but I always give my painted wicker furniture pieces 24 hours before I begin to use them.

You can see this chair with one fresh coat of paint here. The brown still shows through, requiring a second coat for best results, getting into all the crannies of the wicker.

And here is the wicker furniture chair after two coats of paint on the backside.

Oh, and you may also appreciate this DIY project, How to Refinish a Wood Table in Less Than 1 Hour post.

Be sure to walk around the wicker furniture looking for uneven finish parts in all the different angles. Painting wicker can be tricky due to its intricacies, and you’ll want an even coat of paint throughout the wicker weave with a thick coat of paint.

What is Mud Season?

Mud Season is the period between winter and spring when thawing occurs. It is informally referred to as Vermont’s fifth season. This time period depends on the weather, but historically, it begins around the snowmelt in late March or early April and finishes in early June.

And, of course, the best part: Ella, our Bernese Mountain Dog, immediately jumped up to try it out…

Bernese Mountain Dog in blue paint wicker furniture chair

I haven’t decided whether to keep this wicker furniture here in Vermont, sell it at my vintage booth, or maybe bring the chairs to the coast this summer for a modern look.

You may also appreciate this 16 Easy Spring DIY Ideas You Can Start Today post.

Two blue paint wicker furniture chairs with white sheepskins

Do you have any tips or hacks you would like to share for a painted wicker chair?

You may also enjoy this How To Create An Inviting Front Porch with Wicker Furniture post.

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I recently tried out a new electric spray gun and loved it. Next time it would make this particular project go so much quicker, too. See more in the My First Time Using a Paint Sprayer, What You Need to Know post.

It’s a great way to paint wicker furniture for a new look.

Bernese Mountain Dog on blue paint wicker furniture chairs.

A Vintage Affair

If you have any thoughts, comments, or suggestions, I’d love to hear from you. Please share in the comments below. And be sure to share this blog post link with your friends who are also vintage enthusiasts.

Do you have a flair for all things vintage, too? I would love to see and feature you in our Reader’s Showcase Series. A place for you to share and be recognized for your talents and passion for all things thrifting, vintage, and antique decor-related inspired by your time here with Dabbling & Decorating. Email me at annck@dabblinganddecorating.com