Before and After: A Little Paint Transforms These Lawn Chairs

May 8, 2008

Su Casa member NdChristine sanded, primed, and painted her three 1950s-era lawn chairs. Here's what she started out with:

To see the chairs after she worked her magic, read more.

Nice work! I love the tomato-red shade that NdChristine chose — it looks amazing against the green grass. I covet this type of lawn chair, and am impressed with the simple transformation a little paint (and elbow grease) made to them. Have you made any small changes? Share them in my Su Casa group!

25 Comments

3 years 9 weeks

I have a red metal chair just like those that I grew up with at my grandparents farm, it is at least 45 years old! Was trying to decide if I want to repaint it or just enjoy the patina of age!Its not in quite as bad a shape as yours were but now I see how good it could look! thanks

amber_castaldo 4 years 46 weeks

Wow, to me those chairs looked like garbage but they look awesome with a new paint job! Good work

shellbelle 4 years 50 weeks

Love!

shellbelle 4 years 50 weeks

Love!

lukal 5 years 2 weeks

What a nice set you ended up with. Nice job!

ndchristine 5 years 2 weeks

Hello! Hahaha...ditto bhilb...make sure they are still sturdy! It took me two months of searching until I found these three, which were all still structurally sounds.To answer questions:I first used a wire brush to take off the larger flakes, then used sand paper to take the rest off. I then primed them with some Rustoleum. I used some random red paint from Lowes - didn't feel like buying anything expensive since I wasn't sure what the result would be! The supplies actually cost much more than the chairs did...I found the first two at "the cottage" - a store in Leesburg, VA. I spotted the black one outside another small local shop. Apparently, the shopkeeper's friend had just dropped it off and she wasn't sure what she was going to do with it, so she told me I coul dhave it for a $15 donation to Breast Cancer Research.thanks for all the compliments!

ndchristine 5 years 2 weeks

Hello! Hahaha...ditto bhilb...make sure they are still sturdy! It took me two months of searching until I found these three, which were all still structurally sounds. To answer questions: I first used a wire brush to take off the larger flakes, then used sand paper to take the rest off. I then primed them with some Rustoleum. I used some random red paint from Lowes - didn't feel like buying anything expensive since I wasn't sure what the result would be! The supplies actually cost much more than the chairs did... I found the first two at "the cottage" - a store in Leesburg, VA. I spotted the black one outside another small local shop. Apparently, the shopkeeper's friend had just dropped it off and she wasn't sure what she was going to do with it, so she told me I coul dhave it for a $15 donation to Breast Cancer Research. thanks for all the compliments!

bhilb 5 years 2 weeks

These look great. Funny story, though: my dad had some chairs exactly like these (they were at least 30 years old-probably older). A couple of years ago I went to recline poolside in one of them and the rusted curve of the legs gave out with my weight and I went flying backwards. Lesson to all: make sure the metal legs of chairs isn't rusted before you sit in it!

bhilb 5 years 2 weeks

glam sugar 5 years 2 weeks

Very nice!

glam sugar 5 years 2 weeks

Very nice!

Anna Attention 5 years 2 weeks

I'd really like to know how she did it: what kind of paint? An electric sander or by hand?

SweetnLow 5 years 2 weeks

Those are great!Between this and the recycled patio from yesterday, I'm feeling very inspired to hit the thrift store to find some outdoor furniture for my new deck! :D

SweetnLow 5 years 2 weeks

Those are great! Between this and the recycled patio from yesterday, I'm feeling very inspired to hit the thrift store to find some outdoor furniture for my new deck! :D