Welcome back to my little corner of the internet, dear friends! I am SO grateful for each and every one of you! Today, I’m using an old chair from my current haul to show how to achieve the easiest weathered paint finish!
After Thursday’s very needy Gentlemen’s Cabinet Makeover, I welcomed this super easy project! This chair started out like this:
I found it sitting out front of the antique mall where I have my shop and priced at only $10! The original price underneath was $35, but I guess there were no takers.
I always give chairs a good wiggle to be sure they are sturdy before bringing them home as I have found that chairs can be difficult to make sturdy again. This one looked like it had been through it, but it didn’t have any wiggles!
Here’s a closer look at the finish:
This is a perfect candidate for the easiest weathered paint finish!
- It’s a darker wood (dark wood shows through the best)
- It has some dried out flaky areas
- It has some details that will really highlight that finish
If I were going for a clean look, I would likely sand the entire surface first, but for this easy weathered look, it is perfect!
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Clean
The fist step is almost always a good cleaning! I cleaned the entire piece with White Lightning, adding one TBSP to my tub with a half gallon of warm water.
I used a terrycloth applicator pad for this step. Then, I swapped out the water for clean water and wiped everything down once more. Gloves are recommended.
Spray Prime the Cane
I always spray prime cane seats as the paint will flake off with use over time if you don’t. (I learned that the hard way a long time ago!)
And while I was at it, I went ahead and gave the entire chair a good coat of Rustoleum’s white spray primer, just to get a good white base coat on it:
(I sprayed it upside down first and then flipped it right side up and sprayed.)
SO EASY!
Paint
For my paint layer, I chose a 50/50 mix of Vintage Duck Egg Blue and Fluff:
Normally, I am very precise when I paint. I like to paint in perfectly straight rows in order to get the best end result. However, that all went out the window here!
I brushed it on quite haphazardly, purposely missing areas to let the white beneath show through:
There is no need to be perfect and no need for a second coat.
SO EASY!
Sand
Here is what it was looking like at that point:
But I kept going, sanding liberally using 220 grit sandpaper…
I wanted to reveal that gorgeous dark wood below!
Seal
Sticking with SO EASY, I spray sealed using Rustoleum’s Clear Satin Spray.
The Easiest Weathered Paint Finish Reveal
Here is how our weathered little chair turned out!
What’s easier than sanding like crazy to remove paint? Not painting it completely to begin with!
It looks like it’s been sitting on the front porch for years!
Living so close to the coast, I think I’ll always have a soft spot for this beachy, weathered look.
Having all these details really adds to this finish…
I love an easy makeover!!
See how I used this technique on a lowboy HERE.
And that’s one more crossed off the list!
I’ll be back here on Thursday with a redo of a redo! This tray wasn’t selling, so it got a new look:
I’ll see y’all then!
UPDATE: This tray got the prettiest refresh! See it HERE now!
XOXO,
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Mary Kaiser says
Wow it is so much better with the weathered finish! Bright but weathered and so pretty, a chair perfect for any where in my house. That will sell fast from your booth!
Christy says
Thank you, my friend! I think it will go quickly too! XOXO
Geri Davis says
The chair is cute! It really does look like it’s been sitting on a porch for years without the spiderwebs of course😬
It’s nice to find one with the cane seat still looking good!
Christy says
Right? But yes, nice and new lol! And surprisingly, the cane seat was in great shape. Thank you, Geri! XOXO
LeAnne says
I love this chair! Lately I’m attracted to cane seats. My grandmother had one and my aunt gifted it to me. It’s in near perfect condition so I won’t be doing anything with it, but I’d love to try my hand at one like yours. Or, really, I’d love for someone else to do it. LOL
Thank you! It’s so fun to watch you do the hard work and then see what you come up with.
Blessings!
LeAnne
Christy says
Thank you, LeAnne! I have a thing for cane myself. I especially love it painted, but I can see why you’d like to preserve yours. Glad you can live vicariously through me ha ha! XOXO
Cyndi says
Loooove it!
Christy says
Thank you, my friend! XOXO
Cecilia says
Nothing beats easy! I love how you got a weathered finish without tons of work. I can just see it outside a beach cottage soaking up all the beachy atmosphere! 🐚 🏝️⛱️
Have a great week!
Cecilia
Christy says
Yes! I especially needed an easy one after my last piece lol. It would be perfect on the porch of the beach cottage in my dreams! Enjoy your week too, my friend! XOXO
Laura J. says
I love your photography Christy! You have a clever way of shooting the before picture as to not give away its real size and then the after picture almost always makes your finished product look bigger! The chair seems so much taller than in the before pic. Love the beachy color!!! Well done!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Laura! It is probably the angle…I like to photograph the after head-on and a bit lower. It’s funny how that can change the appearance of the size lol! XOXO
Caye says
I see it sitting out on the porch with a nice tray (hint, hint) of cold something resting on it, and a good book. It’s just begging for attention. A nice footstool with a comfy chair, and you’re all set to relax. Good job!
Christy says
Oh yes! It is actually not too bad to sit on too! Thanks, Caye! XOXO
Marlene Stephenson says
Perfect color and the weathered finish really adds to this old chair. I love old pieces they are always the best. I have a couple, I don’t use them to sit in just to hold baskets of some pillow covers.
Christy says
Thank you, Marlene! I too am drawn to these old pieces! They are perfect as props just as you use yours…for blankets and such! XOXO
p says
Ohhh, it must be sooo nice to scatter in some easy ones. Luckily – this one looks best just as you have done it. Love the color and finish. So cosy.
My gram had a couple with cain seats. Nostalgic for sure.
Very nice. Enjoy your weekend.
Christy says
Oh yes! I have another easy one coming on Thursday…almost feels like I’m on vacation from work ha ha! And I just love cane seats…very nostalgic indeed. Thank you so much, my friend! XOXO
Marcie Lovett says
You definitely deserved a break after all the work on that last one, Christy! I love a cane chair but this one was so sad originally, I wouldn’t imagine it could look so good. I definitely want to try that weathered finish on something; too bad I spent weeks laboring over a coffee table that would have been a perfect candidate (and didn’t deserve all the work I put into it). Ah, well, live and learn 😉
Christy says
Thank you, Marcie! I know I shouldn’t be, but I am still often surprised at what paint can do for these sad pieces! Too bad about your coffee table, but I’m sure it looks amazing! XOXO
Lizzy says
Super-cute chair. I love the color and finish.
Christy says
Thank you, Lizzy!! XOXO
Michele M. says
LOVE this chair and would LOVE to own it.
Christy says
Thank you, Michele! Just dropped it off at my shop yesterday…we’ll see if get’s snatched up quickly! XOXO
Kathy from JAX says
I love it….just the right touch for a great finish. You’ve given me an idea for a antique cane chair that I have…great for a bathroom to place towels or other bath needs. Just a little behind with my comments on this one…but I always “catch up”. Have a great weekend.
Christy says
Thank you! A little chair is perfect for the corer of a bathroom! XOXO
Jackie C says
oh yeah, love this finish. Easy Peezy, so right up my alley! Have a great Labor Day weekend my friend. xoxo
Christy says
Thank you, Jackie! Sometimes, you just need an easy project, ya know? Enjoy your holiday weekend too, my friend! XOXO