Furniture Makeover: Spray Painting Wood Chairs

What is the best spray paint to paint wood kitchen chairs and how many cans are needed for complete coverage for one chair? In this easy tutorial, I will walk you through everything you need to know, step-by-step, to turn ordinary wooden chairs into beautiful and unique pieces of furniture!

Now that my kitchen floor has been refinished and looks all shiny and new, I got the energy to spray paint the wood chairs that go around the kitchen table. Instead of spray painting them all one color…

I used 5 different colors of spray paint. My kitchen is now infused with a happy, fresh, and positive vibe!

I was hemming and hawing about what color to paint them, then inspiration hit me over the summer in the most unusual way.

I was inspired by this fun decorating trick one morning on what to do with my kitchen chairs. The no sew cushion for my deck swing was thrown over the banquette the night before. In the morning when I saw the colorful stripes on the fabric, I knew I would be painting the chairs each a different color.

I have 5 chairs, but only use 3 around the table now. We didn’t have the banquette seating when we first moved into the house and needed 5 chairs for seating. With the banquette, 3 is all that is needed. I have two extra and will probably change out the colors every now and then.

I pinned this image a long time ago to my Decorating Color Combinations Pinterest board. I saved myself $220 a chair by spray painting wood chairs I already owned to look as positively yummy as these chairs do.

I chose to go the spray painted route to paint the chairs because it is a quick process that doesn’t show brush strokes and the paint is durable. Painting all those rungs and legs with a brush – too time consuming. I have painted a set of wood dining chairs with white chalk paint and they came just as fabulous as these colorful spray painted kitchen chairs.

TIP: If you haven’t used spray paint before to paint wood furniture, I recommend you read this post first to ensure you achieve a perfect spray painted finish: Spray Painting FAQ

I picked the paint by colors I wanted, not by brand. I had to go to 3 different stores to find colors I liked. Now that I have used all of the above spray paints on the same surface, I do have a favorite spray paint.

Valspar is the clear winner for me. They have great colors and the can’s nozzle is the best. Less overspray. I used Painter’s Touch primer to go under the light blue Rustoleum enamel paint since it did not contain a primer. The rest of the paints were paint-and-primer-in-one formulas, so I did not need to add a separate primer coat for them.

The colors I used: Valspar – Gloss Exotic Sea, Valspar – Gloss Gold Abundance, Rustoleum Protective Enamel – Gloss Harbor Blue, Rustoleum Ultra Cover – Gloss Berry Pink and Gloss Real Orange.

How to Spray Paint Wood Chairs

Supplies Needed:

• Spray primer and Spray paint
• 100 grit sandpaper & sanding block
• Tack cloth
• Detergent or TSP cleaner
• Mask to cover nose & mouth
• Eye protection goggles
• Plastic sheeting to protect floor from overspray
• Optional – clear gloss sealer

Pre-Paint Surface Preparation

• Factory & Polyurethane Finishes: Don’t attempt to strip down to bare wood. Scuff-sand sealed or polyurethaned surfaces using fine-grit sandpaper (100 grit is good) or liquid sandpaper (de-glosser) to create enough “tooth” for the primer to adhere. You just need to take off the shine for the paint to stick. Priming with a spray made for hard, shiny surfaces is an option as well.
• Fixing Imperfections: If needed, now is the time to fix any of those little dings and dents in your wooden furniture. You can use your sandpaper to smooth the surface a bit, or if needed, get some high-quality wood filler.
• Masking Seats (Two-Tone Look): If leaving wooden seats exposed, run painter’s tape tightly around the base of the spindles where they meet the seat. Cover the rest of the seat area with newspaper or masking paper and seal all edges securely.
• Safety Precautions: Always work in a well-ventilated outdoor space or open garage. Upgrade from a basic dust mask to an N95 respirator (or a respirator fitted with organic vapor cartridges) to protect against aerosol overspray and VOC fumes.

When you’re prepared to spray paint furniture, first choose what finish you would like. The best would be a sheen between satin finish to a high gloss finish. Avoid a flat finish for high-use furniture like chairs. You don’t need a paint brush, but spray painting is best done outside where you have good ventilation.

When the weather doesn’t permit that, I use my garage. I open the windows and garage doors so there is a place for the fumes to go.

Step-by-Step Spray Painting Process

1. Prepping and Clean: Sand the chair to break existing gloss following the instructions above. No need to get to raw wood. Wipe away all of the dust and debris with a tack cloth, sponge, or damp rag. Wash the surface well with detergent and hot water to remove any grime, grease, or dirt and allow the wood to dry completely.

2. Protect the Floor & Mask: Secure drop cloths under your workspace or if doing only one chair, a cardboard spray booth. Apply painter’s tape and paper to any areas you do not wish to paint.

3. Position Upside Down: Turn the chair upside down on an elevated surface such as a five-gallon bucket, or just use a drop cloth. Spraying the rungs, undersides, and legs first ensures complete coverage without handling freshly painted top surfaces later.

4. Apply First Coat: If you’re using a primer, follow the same general directions here, but note the recoat time on the can. Shake the can vigorously for one minute after the ball starts to rattle. Hold the can 10 to 12 inches away from the surface. Apply paint in light, sweeping, overlapping coats to avoid drips and runs.

5. Flip and Spray Topsides: Flip the chair upright within the 1-hour recoating window (or wait 24 – 48 hours for full cure) to prevent paint wrinkling. Spray the backrest, spindles, and top surfaces.

6. Apply Second Coat & Install Floor Protection: Allow 1 to 2 hours between light coats (again, check the specifics on your can). Once your topcoat is fully dry, install sliders or pads into the bottom of the legs to protect hardwood floors long term.

Pro Tip: Keep the can in motion as you spray. Apply 2 or more light coats a few minutes apart. Let dry. If you need to apply more paint or a clear coat to protect – do so within an hour, otherwise wait 24 hours to re-coat.

How Many Cans of Spray Paint are Needed to Paint One Wood Chair?

To get complete coverage on a wood dining chair, one can of spray paint is needed. If using lighter colors like yellow, you may need to have a second can to fill in any areas.

Don’t forget when spraying the chairs – spray using light coats only. One light coat and then another coat about 5 minutes apart will give you a good result. Keep this process up until you achieve the coverage needed.

Do You Need To Seal Spray Painted Wood Chairs

I did not use a clear coat sealer. I spray painted the chairs glossy black over 8 years ago and did not use it then and the finish held up perfectly without it.

If you want to use a clear coat to seal the paint: Follow the directions on the can, especially make sure to see how long you need to wait after the paint is dry to use a sealer over it. If you spray it too soon, you may end up wrinkling the paint.

Design Option: Leave the Chair Seat Unpainted

Here is a set of different chairs that I spray painted using gloss Valspar spray paint. The color is Exotic Sea.

I painted the spindles, legs and back, but left the seat unpainted by masking it off with newspaper and masking tape before spray painting. Just make sure when doing this that the tape is secure and the seat is completely covered with no open seams in the newspaper.

Put tape over every seam as you fit the paper around the seat. Use painter’s tape to cover the seat around the rungs.

All the rest of the spray painting steps are the same.

To protect my shiny new refinished floor, I added one of these nail-in plastic sliders to the bottom of each chair leg. A simple tap with a hammer is all it takes to attach them.

Post-Paint Tips & Troubleshooting

• Handling Rough Finishes: If overspray creates a gritty or rough texture, let the paint dry for 2 to 3 days. Lightly buff the surface of the paint job with 220-grit sandpaper or fine steel wool, then wipe clean.
• Drying vs. Curing Care: While the chair will feel dry to the touch in about an hour, wait 7 to 14 days before subjecting the chairs to heavy daily use or sliding them onto hard surfaces.

Enjoy the Results of Your Work

I feel like I have a brand new kitchen, now. The best part about the makeover – I did not purchase any new furniture or accessories. I already owned everything and simple updated and transformed everything with paint.

Paying a contractor to re-finish the floor was a splurge, but worth saving up for, as I would have never gotten it to look this good myself.

The rest – cabinets, table, cushions, and now the chairs took time and elbow grease, but shows that when you have a vision, you can still get the look you desire even with a teeny budget if you take the time and effort to DIY.

I enjoy the process – it is so exciting for me to see my vision and style come to life.

Have you spray painted anything lately? What is your fave brand of spray paint to use to paint wood furniture?

Frequently Asked Questions

How many cans of spray paint do I need for a chair?

Plan on using 1 to 1.5 cans of spray paint per standard dining chair for two complete coats. If you are applying a separate spray primer first, budget 1 can of primer for every 2 chairs.

Do I need to sand wooden chairs before spray painting?

Yes, but you rarely need to strip the wood down to the bare grain. Scuff-sanding with 100-grit sandpaper creates “tooth” so the paint adheres smoothly to factory finishes, polyurethane, or old paint.

Why is my spray paint rough or gritty, and how do I fix it?

A rough finish is usually caused by paint drying in the air before hitting the wood (overspray). Let the chair dry for 2 to 3 days, then lightly buff the surface with fine 220-grit sandpaper or fine steel wool to smooth it out.

How long should spray-painted chairs cure before use?

While the paint will feel dry to the touch in 1 to 2 hours, full curing takes 7 to 14 days. Avoid heavy daily use or putting cushions on the chair during this window to prevent denting or peeling.

Can I spray paint chairs indoors?

It is not recommended. Spray paint creates fine airborne mist and dangerous VOC fumes. Always spray outdoors or in a open, well-ventilated garage while wearing an N95 or organic vapor respirator mask.

More Chair Furniture Makeovers

• No Sew Chair Back Covers
• How To Make Over An Office Chair With a Throw Rug
• How I Changed the Color on Rush Seat Chairs

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