Ideas for painting 4 of these chairs please

Question

These chairs are very heavy wood, quite old, maybe it's a crime to paint them, but our budget won't run to new, and I really want to paint them, but not sure how, which parts etc. Shall I leave parts natural wood, incorporate another color, maybe touches of gold, don't really want to bring white into the equation, but can't decide what to paint and where. I want to use this lovely pale spring green as main color.

Marion Nesbitt · Answer

I would definitely not paint these chairs. They go well with green which can go on your walls, etc.

Marj MRC Creations · Answer

I could see using a soft white with that lovely pale green. Maybe the green where the chair gets more use/wear and tear, and white on the other parts.

Terri · Answer

look on line at chalk paints...they come in many colors - Annie Sloan is one of the makers....the on line sites give lots of ideas...the chairs have a lot going on already so I would keep the finish simple by not leaving any part different then the rest....sage green is a beautiful color but there are many soft colors that will compliment sage green. most pieces of furniture found today were mass produced. they really have no value other than in their strength ad the way you use them...just be sure not to strip the glue that holds all the pieces together and if the chairs are wobbly at all make sure to get a good carpenters glue to reinforce them...use a vise of some sort or very large rubber bands to hold the glued pieces together until fully set. make sure to not be tricked into believing the paint companies promos - strong, bold color is not easy to live with and is unsophisticated....make the room the chairs will be in all harmonize and you should be pleased with the end result. look on Houzz and Pinterest as well as chalk paint sites for ideas. good luck.

Claire · Answer

The only crime in painting these chairs are if they don't belong to you! Paint away!! Since you mentioned budget concerns-go with the paint you have (that Annie Sloan stuff is expensive!). Paint the entire chair. If you hate it-start removing paint from certain areas. Wait a day before maybe trying adding back the gold you mentioned. It's just paint. Lots of purists might be appalled. Just jump in there. I guarantee the chairs will still work as chairs no matter what color they are. If you hate the results, you have to accept that you will spend time hand sanding the paint off. While watching TV. And drinking wine. Not that I have ever done that...

Swan Road Designs · Answer

I would recommend a bit of a compromise. Paint all the chair except the seat, which will be the part of the chair that gets the most abuse/use/wear, especially if children are part of the household. In time, you might see that the paint on the seats would scratch, etc. By painting the other remaining part of the chair, you can still maintain some of the integrity of the age of the chairs and still update them.

Lourdes Taboada · Answer

Go for it! Love the green!

Judy Ellison · Answer

There is a great paint at true value I use for painting furniture. It is made for indoor/outdoor and especially made for furniture. It's one coat and I love it! No waxing or rubbing involved. Can't remember the actual name of it (it's in the garage and cold outside:) but it is a decor paint. Just ask at true value. Good luck. Oh and I would paint! I use a sponge brush for hard to get places.

Linda Sharp · Answer

They are very nice the way they are!

Sherry Brooks · Answer

I personally LOVE mismatched chairs in the same color....I say paint the whole chair and cushions as needed

Candeelyn · Answer

your chairs have great detail! If you want to paint them~ go for it. Use your green.,do all the green, maybe some white, With the detail in the wood you can do some white, some green or whatever color you like. looks like from your curtain and tablecloth you like cheery colors. Painting them will brighten up your whole space.. You may want to add some cushions then to protect the seats from wearing. I would definitely use primer first. Zinser bulls eye 123 is great and you don't have to sand.Helps paint adhere and worth the extra step! Better than the 'paint with primer in' If you decide not to paint you could bring in your green with some cushions.

Marsha Schwarz · Answer

I painted my entire vintage looking dining set with Annie Sloan cream color. It looks beautiful. They have some green or mix your own. Lots of recipes to make your own on line or Home Depot also sells a brand.

512181 · Answer

If you decide to leave them wood, I have some suggestions. I washed some old chairs with soap and water and dried them. I used some fine wet dry sand paper to sand off any looser rough stain areas. I then touched the chairs up as necessary with matching stain. I finally waxed them with a colored beeswax finish, let them dry and buffed them to a shine. They turned out lovely. I saw this method on a You Tube video. I used a wax I got from Amazon that is made in England. It was called Japcol Antique Wax.
If you want to paint, wash them and dry them, use some sandpaper on them lightly. I use Glidden Gripper for a base coat and then paint with as good of an enamel as you can afford.

Liliana Wells · Answer

The chairs look in good condition and are beautiful as they way they are. I like the first part of Lynda Davis idea. Good luck.

Karen Cederquist · Answer

Paint away! I can't abide the novelty if distressing furniture. Paint all of the chairs the same color, and add pop with different seat cushions (easy to make) .

Duv310660 · Answer

painting chairs is a big project if you don't have much experience! Most recommendations would be to use a spray gun after practicing a bit! But, I can also highly recommend dragging a dry brush of paint, and then brushing/dabbing/wiping it off to 'soften' what is left. Weathered earth tones look the best, but you can use a bolder colour within other layers of colour for an easy-to-do, complex finish. If you streaked a coral under a warm grey and/or brown, leaving muted tones that revealled saturate coral in select areas), it would be a nice ground for a stencil of spring green popping on the chair back. Or switch: the green with cool browns/greys with a pop of coral design. The way I work: slap, slap, wipe - then move elsewhere while it dries. Experiment with materials to wipe (paper towels, wet wipes, plastic wrap, used foam roller refill) Sand coarsley before & fine/light after; follow up with your choice of wipe-on acrylic or wax (or both). I will recommend chalk paint, but I'm sure this can be done with any paint.

Linda J · Answer

Isn't it fun to read all the different ideas!? I have one to offer. I am in the process of redoing a Victorian chair and I am painting it. Wood lovers don't pass out! It had already had a very bad attempt at refinishing, so painting was definitely an option in this case. Anyway, to the point. I don't believe God meant for us to keep the same hair style forever or to wear bell bottom pants well into old age. Same with the other elements in our lives. Even chair need a new outlook. Paint those suckers!! How about color match the green and add chair cushions that complement the rest of the room. How about that butterfly fabric in the curtains? Buy another pair (or more of the fabric) and make your own. Good luck!

Connie · Answer

I really like the spring green that you've selected and your chairs will be pretty when painted because all the detail will really pop. Have you considered a shade of blue in the same intensity as the green? Aqua blues and greens are especially pretty together.

Barbara Burnham · Answer

I would use a wood refinishing product (no stripping or sanding needed) called Restore (Ace Hardware) on the seats because I think paint without cushions will simply, over time, wear too much. This will also give them contrast. Do seats first (easily rub on with 0000 steel wool and dry). They will look new. Tape off seats and spray paint the remainder of the chairs whatever color you want. You could distress the places (fine sandpaper and light touch) hands would go to pull out/push in a chair so a little of the original wood color peaks through and connects to the chair. Too many nooks and crannies for any method other than spraying.Good luck.

512181 · Answer

If you finally decide to paint, look at the Maine Cottage site for inspiration. I think they look like nice quality chairs so I would probably just clean them and wax them. And that is the easiest way to perk them up!

Wendy Grosfield · Answer

Beautiful chair. 
I would find a stencil I liked & that fit with the style of the chair & stencil the seat . You could work some of the paint into the indentations a then wipe most off .

Shira · Answer

I love the green that you chose and I can't wait to see the finished project. If you would like a touch of gold, maybe paint the leaf like detail on the back of the chair in gold. Please post the finished project when you are done, we would all love to see the transformation!

Cynthia Jensen · Answer

It looks like you like bright colors (tablecloth). Paint the chairs white and each seat a different bright color that reflecs the decor. Here are some links http://sophisticatedjunkpile.blogspot.com/2012/10/chevron-dining-set.html http://inmyownstyle.com/2013/11/furniture-makeover-spray-painting-wood-chairs.html

LeeAnn Gerleman · Answer

I think the green would be very nice. I have an old Ethan Allen set, table, chairs and hutch that I painted espresso brown (nobody freak out, it was hunter green when I got it). I used the artificial TSP on it, then a good quality of paint. Its held up very well. the original hunter green (done by a pro, I have heard) wore off the arms of the captain's chair after about 20years. I think painting chairs is kind of a pain, but when you're done, its okay. I loved painting the table, left the top natural with polyurethane, and painted the rest espresso.

Lori · Answer

Wood is just a building material.  Staining is just one choice of finishing something made of wood.  Paint is another.  I understand if someone wants to keep things original if they love it, want to keep it's value up, or it's just too beautiful to change, but if it's yours, it's paid for and you aren't happy with it, then as Linda says, paint the sucker.  :)  Those chairs will be like brand new painted that green, which I love by the way, and  I can promise, if you don't, the next person will.  Go for it, make yourself happy.

Ideas for painting 4 of these chairs please

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Ideas for painting 4 of these chairs please

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