Back in 2002, I was on the cutting edge of the black painted furniture craze, when after doing a kitchen renovation at my house in Georgia, I painted my kitchen chairs black (which I shared about 2 years ago here). And I haven’t looked back since then. There have been many more furniture transformations using black paint since that day.  I think this trend actually started with Ballards Designs (at least to me) when I picked up their catalog and began seeing black furniture, a light bulb went off. I can do that!
You’ve seen countless demonstrations of painting furniture black on the web, but here’s mine….again. 🙂 So, join me today for another black spray paint project.
These 2 harp back chairs are yardsale finds (of course, they are!) and I’ve enjoyed them in their brown state for a few years now, but have lately been eyeing them with black on the brain. So, I got busy and changed them. First, you take off the seats by unscrewing those 4 screws.  I’ve changed the fabric on these a couple of times which is as easy as stapling and pulling fabric.
Outside they went and first I wiped them down with a liquid sander. This step just deglosses wood furniture and helps the paint to adhere better.  I do this instead of priming, which most wood pieces don’t require. I hardly ever prime real wood, but I definitely prime anything that is fake or veneer.
I used Rustoleum Black Satin spray paint on these, but any brand will do. I don’t like using flat or high gloss on furniture, Satin is always my preference.
After drying about 10 minutes, the chairs are ready for their spray paint debut. Try to spray evenly with minimal drips. If it does start to drip, keep a paper towel handy to blot it before it dries that way. Not always easy to do if there is any wind outside. I prefer to do 2 light coats, letting them dry in between.  Easy, easy! 
After they are good and dry, I took the sander to the edges. You want to distress in the areas that would most likely wear with age, like the rails, top and edge of the legs.  I didn’t go too heavy with it, since I prefer a light distressing.
Like this, this looks good.
One little step I like to do after sanding, is getting out a can of stain. This is what I had handy, Cherrywood gelstain.
Grab a q-tip and swipe a little stain on that bare wood that you’ve just sanded down. It will give it a nice deep brown tone and seal it up. I just love the way this looks afterward. Take a paper towel and wipe off the excess.
And you’ll be left with some pretty distressing.
The chairs are back in place and I’m happy with them. They fit in better with the black console table they are hanging out with.
Don’t you think?
I’m likin’ the black a lot. 
Yardsale chairs rescued and saved. You gotta love that!
So, do you have something that needs a can of black spray paint to renew and revive?
Added to:
Sarah’s Before and After Party
Kimba’s DIY Day
Susan’s Met Monday
What a great tutorial and they look wonderful
Thank you, thank you, thank you!! I’ve been wanting to distress some of my loved, but no longer lovely antiques and now I have the motivation to try it.
If I am successful, I’ll post before and after pics. 😉
Love, love, LOVE the chairs~~!!
Hello Rhonda,
I love your black chairs and the animal print fabric that you chose looks great with the brown or black. The destressing makes the pieces look even better.
By the way, your home is so lovely.
hugs
Sissie
Thanks for the tutorial on distressing. I still love black too. My dining room table and chairs are black, but I may be making them brown soon. Not sure yet. Laura
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I cannot wait for Thrifty Treasures Party. I love this party. It’s coming back during my birthday month…what a present.
I loooove your end result! I’m very much into projects like this. I took a liking to them, since my father is a furniture & auto upholstery master! 🙂
Sweet! Spray paint rocks!
Blessings,
Necel from the Old House in Texas
I am so excited to learn about the Liquid Sander! How have I never heard about this? The chairs turned out beautiful! Your home is absolutely gorgeous!
The chairs look great Rhoda! Love the sanded edges, give them a lot of caracter. You’ve done a beautiful job. Have a great week!
They look GORGEOUS! I have a drop leaf table I picked up thrifting that I plan to transform with black paint as soon as the snow melts. Great tutorial! Thanks so much for sharing!
Just gorgeous. Love the way they look now beside the table.
If you have time I invite you to my blog to enter into a fab giveaway I’m having in celebration of my Etsy store Grand Opening.
Rhoda, they look fab!! I love them in black! I love black paint too — nothing is safe around here. 🙂
What a difference. I really like them.
I too have been in a black furniture faze. I just love it! Those chairs look perfect now next to the table.
Heidi
love them in black! I have a minwood stain pen that is sold for touch-ups, but it is perfect for filling in those distressed areas!
ohhh rhoda, YES, I have tons of projects I want to spray with some black paint! however! mother nature is not cooperating with me at the present time. Usually we have many days over the course of a winter that we can such outdoor things… this winter, not so much!
Love the chairs in their new outfit! I also liked seeing your “canvas” that you spray paint on. I’m a “background” viewer. Love to look in the background of pictures.
have a great week!
gail
Great rescue Rhoda…love the tip with the gel stain!
Oh these chairs look fabulous!
Please stop by and enter my giveaway.
Looks GREAT! I’m jealous….we still have snow on the ground and I haven’t been able to spray paint for months!
Great post. Love the new look and the instructions were so helpful! Thank you-
Susan