How to spray paint wood chairs

Here is the complete guide on spray painting wooden chairs for newcomers who get confused about where to start and when to stop painting the surface.

This post will help you to achieve the best results out of your work on the chair.

Follow each step explained in this post because it’s from my own experience which is pretty much, so you should follow each step explained here.

Not everyone is an expert at painting chair legs.

If you’re in the middle of painting all the legs on a bunch of wooden chairs, you might want to take some time and step away from them for a little bit.

Well, here is the complete guide on how to spray paint wood chairs.

Trust us, we know that it can be tempting to just plow through the job as quickly as possible, but tackling this task with a plan in place can really help streamline your process.

So that the work you’re doing isn’t taking up too much of your time or causing you unnecessary stress.

How to spray paint wood chairs?

Using a spray paint

Your average can of spray paint can cost less. Spray paint is a cheaper and easier alternative to using a paintbrush.

(Instead of brushstrokes, you can give your furniture fun and even finish.) However, if you have the extra time and patience, then it may be worth investing in latex paints.

​Spray paint is great for covering large, open areas very quickly and smoothly, but it doesn’t quite hold up when it comes to the fine details of furniture.

Additionally, spray paint is sold by the can and that means at some point you’re going to have a lot of cans lying around.

It also means you might spend a little bit extra on your project as one can tend to cost about as much as a gallon of paint.

Furthermore, spray paint generally only comes in solid colors so if your chairs were previously multi-colored.

Or even patterned with thin stripes, then you may need more than one can to make them look like new.

Thinking about how you can remove paint from wood? Well, this guide to remove paint from the wooden surface will help you out.

Using a paint sprayer

If you’re looking to repaint your wooden furniture, a sprayer might be just what you need.

While they do add extra effort to the painting process at first, their results are absolutely flawless and super quick!

You don’t have to worry about brush marks, drips, or uneven surfaces on chairs and tables that you get when brushing paint on them yourself.

But wait—isn’t all of that set-up time worth it when you’ve got such a beautiful finish?

If you’ve never painted anything before, you may be wondering just how it is that paint gets onto a surface.

There are definitely very different ways of achieving the same goals and my family chairs prove that.

I had various options at my disposal while creating this project and so I had to decide which one was going to be best from both a cost point of view along with certain benefits.

Such as durability and finish quality in this case because I wanted a beautiful finish for the most part, but also it needed to be done quickly which meant the least work process for myself.

Tools we need to do the job

• Cleaner for wooden furniture painting
• 220 grit sandpaper
• Oil-based primer – depends on the type of surface of the chair which you are going to paint
• Paint for your chair
• A top coat can also be used for a better finish
• Paint sprayer or spray paint cans
• Drop cloths for protection of surfaces which you don’t want to paint

Protect the area before painting the chair

When it comes to painting your home’s exterior, a paint sprayer can be your best friend.

While there are some extra steps required beforehand, it is overall faster than with regular brushes and rollers and the results are more even.

If you have space for an ultra-clean spray booth in a climate-controlled room, that’s the ideal place for spraying.

I usually spray inside my basement, which is clean but messy. The advantage to this is that I don’t have to worry about bad weather messing up the paint job.

Putting on some music helps me concentrate and gets me into a creative mood while I’m spraying.

Setting up your own painting booth is a lot like setting up a small, painted canopy tent that one might find at a campsite.

It’s actually pretty easy to set up, but it does help keep the paint contained and means that you can spend more time painting!

There are all sorts of assemblies for booths on the market you could use instead of investing in building your own – alternatively.

If you have some extra tarp or plastic sheeting, you could improvise all on your own!

Preparation of chair for the painting process

As I was preparing to paint my dining chairs, I decided to remove the seats. This is important especially if you’re going to be painting around cloth or fabric.

Often this material tends to get stuck and the paint might bleed onto them.

If your chairs are wooden or metal, you can skip this step! After thoroughly cleaning the seats, it was time to get started on painting.

Sanding the chair surface

You can’t just slap fresh paint onto any old piece without priming first. If your furniture has peeling paint, scrape it off before you prime and spray.

If the chair is very shiny or slick-looking, however, sand it with a grade of 220 from all directions so that the paint has something to grab onto.

Priming the surface

Did you know that you don’t always have to use primer when painting furniture?

A good rule of thumb is to use a primer if the final finish will be a dark color (for example, painting white or very light chairs black).

Or if you are using paint that requires primer (like latex paint) — but not if the color of your paint is going to be darker than what is on your furniture.

Oil-based primers are fantastic sealants for wood. This means that it seals in the wood tannins so they won’t bleed through later and yellow with age.

Finally, it’s still a good idea to start with primer if you are painting raw wood furniture or before using a paint whose formulation requires a primer.

I know primer might seem a bit tricky if you’re a first-timer, but the truth is that it can be quite easy to use if you follow the right steps. If you want to really find out how to do things.

I highly recommend checking out my post on all of your questions concerning primer. I was able to apply a coat of primer onto my dining chairs without using any primer at all.

But it all depends on the different wood surfaces you work with as well as the different types of paint that are used.

Painting the wooden chair

I Used Homeright Super Finish Max Paint Sprayer for my client and I got good results so that’s why recommend you guys. This sprayer is great!

First of all, it comes with an extension cord so you don’t have to use a big air compressor. I don’t have an air compressor, but even if I did, this would still be better for some jobs.

Second of all, it can handle most paints and sealers without thinning them with water.

This makes things easier because you don’t have to worry about making sure your paint has the right amount of water in it – just pick out the nozzle that you need and spray away.

With the aid of a sprayer, General Finishes milk paint was applied using a variety of nozzles to create different patterns on my chairs.

The product came out of the sprayer and laid down smoothly in varying thicknesses, which made for easier and quicker application.

I loved that I didn’t need to use a separate primer before applying; this product lays down beautifully and is easy to work with.

Before you start painting, make sure to stir your paint well and add it to your paint sprayer! When using the paint sprayer, always hold it facing the piece of furniture head-on.

With your hands slightly off to the side, slowly move them back and forth by spraying paint on top of a previously painted area.

Chipping away at each layer of paint takes less than one minute, which is really neat. You’ll save time when the first coat dries and then you can turn your chairs over to paint the sides and back!

Paint the undersides of all of your tables and chairs. The underside doesn’t matter much as you will probably never see it, but it’s best to have something pretty if you can’t even see it.

If you’re using a regular paintbrush, let the paint dry completely between coats – this minimizes splotches!

Now seal your chairs

Once your final layer of paint has dried, be sure to give a protective top coat of sealer or quality varnish a try.

Nearly every time I finish a piece of furniture with several layers of paint I also give it a nice, solid coat of protective varnish.

It’s advisable to use a high-quality sealer for the best results and protection for your painted piece.

If you just bought a paint sprayer, then don’t worry about painting over your old furniture! Before applying the sealer to your surface, however, you will need to change out the tip.

Doing this is incredibly easy – just use the included wrench that comes with your sprayer.

If you’re planning on making over your home interior with that new acrylic latex paint you got from the store, it would be prudent to give some thought to applying two coats of sealer first.

This is because paints are porous; it means that small amounts of ethyl molecules (the stuff in the air) can get trapped in the paint and make it brittle over time.

So once your first coat is dry, make sure to apply a second (just to be safe) and then try not to rub up against pieces of furniture for at least a couple of weeks.

Can you spray paint wood chairs without sanding?

It is possible to spray paint wood chairs without sanding, but it is not recommended. Sanding the wood surface will help the paint adhere better and give a smoother finish.

If you choose to paint the chairs without sanding, it is important to clean the surface thoroughly to remove any dust or debris and to use a primer specifically designed for wood surfaces.

This will help ensure that the paint adheres well and lasts longer.

What is the best spray paint for wooden chairs?

The best spray paint for wooden chairs will depend on the specific conditions in which the chairs will be used.

However, in general, a spray paint that is specifically designed for wood surfaces and contains a primer is a good option.

Some popular brands that make such sprays are Rust-Oleum, Krylon and Behr.

Another option is to use a water-based paint instead of a solvent-based paint, as water-based paints are less toxic, easier to clean up and dry faster.

It’s always a good idea to read the manufacturer’s instructions and recommendations for surface preparation, application and drying times before starting your project.

Do you have to sand wood before spray painting?

Sanding wood before spray painting is recommended as it helps the paint adhere better and gives a smoother finish.

Sanding also helps to remove any dirt, grime, or old paint that may be on the surface, which can lead to a better bonding of the paint and longer durability.

Sand the surface with a fine-grit sandpaper, such as 220-grit, and then wipe the surface with a clean cloth to remove any dust or debris.

If the wood is rough or has any cracks, knots or dents, it’s better to use a coarser grit sandpaper first, like 80-100 grit to level the surface and then finish with a finer grit to smooth it.

However, if the surface is already smooth and without any imperfections, it’s not necessary to sand it, but still, it’s a good idea to clean the surface thoroughly before applying the paint.

FAQ’s of How to spray paint wood chairs

Conclusion on How to spray paint wood chairs

Follow this complete guide on how to spray paint wooden chairs for better results in painting without doing any mistakes or creating a mess on the surface.

Newbies should follow each step and let me know if they find any confusion in this post so I can clear their queries.

Professionals should also give tips if they have any in their mind from their own experience.

This post was solely from my own experience and it was my own knowledge that I have gained over the course of these pretty long years of my painting career.