Wicker furniture has been produced for thousands of years, so we don't expect it to fall out of style anytime in the near future.
Certain styles of wicker are more popular during different decades, however more traditional shapes tend to never go out of style.
If you have an old wicker chair, bench, head board, or other piece of furniture that is showing its age or is just plain & boring, consider painting it.
Instead of a traditional white color, you might want to paint your wicker a fun, bright, bold, or trendy color to bring it back to life.
Follow the steps below the step by step instructions for how to paint your wicker furniture.
Clean Well
Make sure your wicker furniture is free of dust, dirt, oil, and anything else that might not allow the paint to adhere properly.
If it is very dirty, start by spraying it down with a garden hose.
After that, clean it with soap and water.
A degreaser, such as TSP, may be required if the surface has been in contact with anything greasy.
If the wicker is mildewed, use a bleach and water solution to remove the stains.
Make sure the wicker is totally dry before painting else the paint won't adhere properly.
Make any necessary repairs at this time.
Remove Flaking Paint & Lightly Sand
If the paint on your wicker furniture is flaking off, use a wire brush to remove as much of the peeling paint as you can. Painting over peeling paint will make the new paint peel off also, so make sure to remove it all.
If your wicker furniture was made in the 1970s or older, make sure to test it for lead paint before removing the paint.
You might also need to use sandpaper to try and get the old paint as smooth as possible. Lightly sand your wicker, especially in places that might get rubbed or touched, such as the arms and seat of a chair.
A pressure washer might help you remove the paint, however be careful to not damage the wicker.
Try to get the surface as smooth as possible.
Clean the wicker again and ensure that it is totally dry before proceeding.
Prime
Purchase a very high quality spray paint primer for your wicker furniture. Cheaper paint has a tendeny to be stiff and not flex, causing cracking and peeling over time.
If you already own a paint sprayer (or you have a large piece of wicker or several large pieces of wicker to paint), you might prefer to use it instead of buying multiple spray paint cans.
Many people also like to use a spray can grip handle #ad to make spray painting more comfortable.
Always use spray paint in a well ventilated area.
Make sure to use a vapor mask to keep the vapors out of your lungs, even if you are outside.
If the wicker was previously painted with oil based paint, make sure to continue using oil based paint else the paint won't adhere properly.
Make sure to use a drop cloth and protect the area around where you are spraying since spray paint can over spray into places you don't want it to.
When painting, turn the furniture piece upside down and spray the underside or back side first before turning right side up and spraying the more visible side.
Make sure to follow the directions on your specific primer, especially pertaining to the dry time requirement.
Before spraying your wicker, test spray something disposable so you can get a feel for how close you can spray without the paint dripping.
Several light coats are always better than one heavy coat in keeping the finish even and to reduce drips.
Paint
Purchase a high quality spray paint (or high quality regular paint if using a paint sprayer) to paint your wicker. Make sure to use outdoor spray paint if the wicker furniture is going to be outside.
Decide whether you want to use a glossy paint or a matte paint.
Oil based paint sometimes is more durable, but is not as easy to use as latex paint, so you decide which is best for you.
Paint your wicker using several very thin coats of paint instead of one heavy coat of paint to keep the paint from dripping.
Spray from different angles so all sides of your wicker are covered.
You will likely need 2 or more coats of paint to cover your entire wicker piece, especially if you are using a color that is much differernt than the original color.
Make sure to allow appropriate time for the paint to dry before using, per the paint manufacturer's directions.
Make sure that you look at your piece in very bright light to ensure that you didn't miss a spot before finishing your project.
Tip....to touch up small spot on white wicker, consider using correction fluid #ad.
