Painting Wicker Furniture with Chalk Paint

Spring is in full effect here at our house, and I’ve had a burst of energy doing exterior projects and upping our curb appeal game. This included revamping a tired set of wicker chairs, bench and bar cart that my mother had purchased at Pier 1 years ago. rI had never considered painting wicker furniture with chalk paint, but I decided to give it a try. The results far exceeded by expectations! As you scroll down, you will see the before and after– it’s remarkable!

Painting Wicker Furniture with Chalk Paint

I have used chalk paint on several indoor furniture pieces with great results, so I thought I would try my hand at some outdoor furniture. I headed down to our local hardware store and purchased 2 containers of Amy Howard At Home One-Step paint. I’ve heard great things about Annie Sloan chalk paint, but Amy Howard was what I could get my hands on quickly and it did the job just fine.

The paint was $15.99 for 8 oz. I already had a few wax brushes I liked– they are awesome for getting good coverage in all of the nooks and crannies. I also had the cushions I used last year and some Minwax polycrylic semi-gloss, so I was in for about $32 when I started the project. I seriously can’t believe how little it cost to create a new set of patio furniture that I now love!

I chose to use the Cartouche green, and it’s the perfect shade to blend with the flagstone tiles on the porch and the yellow house shingles. One thing I like about the Amy Howard collection (compared with Annie Sloan) is that there are many more color choices. If you find a color you love but it’s too dark, you can always mix in some white to create a shade you love.

To get started, I assembled my supplies. Here’s what I bought and I suggest you use for chalk painting wicker:

Supplies Needed for Chalk Painting Wicker

• Wax brush
• Amy Howard At Home One Step Paint
• Drop Cloth
• Minwax Polycrylic Protective Finish (Semi-gloss)

How to Use Chalk Paint on Wicker Furniture

1. Clean off your furniture as best you can to make a smooth surface for painting. You can actually use the wax brush and go back and forth to get rid of any bits of debris before painting. Chalk paint is water-based, but it’s still better to lay down a layer of newspaper under the pieces, so clean up is easier!
2. Dip your brush into the chalk paint and then blot excess on the inside of the paint jar lid. This will prevent you from getting drips as you paint. Take your brush and move it side to side over the surface, making sure to get into any tight corners or other crevices on your piece (the wax brush will make this easy!).
3. After you have painted your furniture piece, you can decide whether you want to add another coat or leave it as is. The paint takes only 30 minutes to try under normal conditions. If you want to add more interest to your piece, you can also choose a base coat and then paint over top with another color and distress in areas with a light sand! When you are finished with the chalk paint, cover your furniture with a polycrylic finish coat. I usually do 2-3 coats, depending on how much use the pieces will get.

Other Ideas for Chalk Painting Furniture

Chalk painting is just one of many easy (and budget-friendly) ways to update your existing furniture. I have used it on many beautiful pieces I picked up at our local Habitat for Humanity Restore. Look for pieces that have great lines and details and you can imagine how they would pop with a fun color of chalk paint and some distressing to bring out those decorative touches!

I also chalk painted an old Ethan Allen dining set and chairs, and along with some new cushion upholstery (also super easy to do), we had a brand new dining set for our renovated living and dining room! Most recently, we picked up the perfect farm table and changes for our kitchen. While I loved the solid oak surface, I did NOT love the pea green legs and chairs. Some Amy Howard Bauhaus buff chalk paint and they were exactly what I wanted!