One of the fun changes I made to my porch furniture was spray painting my old wood former kitchen chairs in a glossy gray to better flow with the new porch. I have had this set for over 10 years now and bought them originally unfinished at a place here in Atlanta. They are solid wood and very sturdy and I’m happy to still have them, Queen Anne style that they are. I did a whole post on how I spray painted and distressed them early on, as well as a follow up post on spray painting black in 2010, which continues to bring lots of traffic to my blog. But, it’s time for a new look! I’ve changed the seat cushion fabric on them several times now and they just keep getting reinvented (sort of like me, ya know?!) 
So, this time the glossy gray spray paint won out and I love how they turned out. Now spray paint isn’t a completely fool proof way to makeover furniture so you have to be aware that there can be drips and blobs if you don’t spray carefully. Overall, I love my new chairs and think they look wonderful on the porch now.
I used Valspar (from Lowes), paint and primer in one, in Cobalt Cannon, a nice glossy gray. You can see my old table base was a little chipped up. It’s been several years (over 10 to be exact) since I painted my chairs black.
Chairs in black. I have loved them for years in black, but it was time for a reinvention for the porch.
4 side chairs, soon to be glossy gray.
I sprayed over all the chairs giving them one good coat, left them to dry and then flipped them upside down so I could get under the edges of all the wood. It took about 1 can per chair.
Spray painting outside is quick and easy and I just left them out to dry until they were dry to the touch and I brought them back inside.
I love this new color. I wasn’t sure about the gloss finish, but now that they are done, I love it.
I opted not to distress them this time, but left them with a smooth all over color.
And here’s what they look like up close. Love them!
Spray painting is such a fast and easy update on chairs like this. It would take so much longer brushing it on and when I can spray paint, I do it!
The table base is all nice and smooth now. I added some of those clear dots to the top of it and placed the beveled glass piece on top and we have dining for 4.
We have already been using this table and chairs, sitting out here in the morning for breakfast or lunch. I know it’s going to come in handy, so I’m so happy I saved this set just for this use. I don’t get rid of things that easily and if I can reinvent and reuse, I do it! This set was in my breakfast area in my old house and they are perfect out here and fit in this corner nicely. If a little rain blows in here, it won’t even matter. You can also see I hung a lantern over the table, this was a find from Homegoods ages ago and it was hanging at my old house too. Thanks to Wayfair, I also got another set of striped window panels for this side of the room. Amazing how it feels just like a room with these drapes up!
I’m loving the screened porch SO much already and it’s quickly becoming my outside office now. I love sitting at the table or on the loveseat, blogging away!
I love the new look. Gray is one of my favorite neutrals. I’m so glad you’re enjoying your new porch!!
Love the look!
Coming my way soon?
Hugs,
Kat
So nice to see something “new” – lovely glossy grey instead of a common distressed finish! I am dreaming of a screened porch as next years project.
I seriously want to know how you keep it so clean out there. My porch is a daily battle to just keep up with it. Miss one day and it is just so dirty. Am rethinking the screened in thing.
I’m not finding it extremely dirty already. I know I’ll have to periodically vacuum and keep things dusted out here, but I don’t think it will be that bad.
Everything looks just wonderful. So glad you are happy now. You deserve it!
It is hard to imagine life pre-porch once you get used to it, isn’t it?
Your chairs look wonderful! Is that store still in ATL by any chance? The only one we had here in Bham closed, and it wasn’t that great anyway. These chairs have much nicer line and detail than most of the unfinished furniture one sees.
Just curious — why does one chair have a medallion and the others don’t?
Ellen
I am not sure that store is still in ATL, haven’t checked them out lately. I don’t think they are. I had put medallions on 2 chairs, but not the other 2. My niece was actually using 2 of them & I just got them back recently just in time to use out on the porch.
Love it ALL!!!!!!!! The grey is such a nice touch! Especially with your yellow chair cushions! Love the lantern over the table, also! Wish we had a Home Goods close by! I live in Evans, GA outside of Augusta and I know a Home Goods would get my business!!!!! So happy you are loving your porch! I would, tooooooo! 🙂
Looks fantastic, I have not been quite so successful with spray paint, is there a technique you use to apply it as I found it didn’t cover very well and I had to do about 4 layers. This was a NZ brand of paint though, not the one you used.
Lee 🙂
Rhoda – My husband says I will spray paint anything that stands still long enough! And he is right. I think the secret to spray paint is patience. Spraying light coats and not trying to cover everything with the first coat. Your chairs and table look beautiful. Good job!
Judy
Love them and the fabric 🙂 See you at Haven!
Debbie
Your chairs are absolutely beautiful Rhoda. The color is perfect. I’ve spray painted picture frames and other small items but never furniture. I guess I’m so in love with the whole chalk paint craze that I’ve never even thought about it. I think I’m going to have a hard time making up my mind now about what to do with the beautiful old chairs I have sitting in my garage! Thanks so much for sharing and blessings to you, [email protected]
Hi Rhoda,
I currently have ugly old traditional wood chairs (and pedestal table). Would you recommend spray painting for a very high use tabletop? And how much sanding would you suggest?
I just love your porch. I bet the best feeling in the world is sitting out there to watch sunrise and sunset. You truly have created a gorgeous oasis right here in Metro Atl. 🙂
Chelle
Hi, Chelle, tabletops are a little more difficult to get right with spray paint, because it can show overlap marks on a flat surface like that, so I wouldn’t really recommend a tabletop. I have seen lots of girls do tables with Annie Sloan Chalk paint with good results so that is an option too. And you don’t have to sand with Annie Sloan, no priming required either. But you’d want to protect it with poly or wax. I’d probably use poly on a high-use table like that in a satin finish.
We love this idea and have a set that we will try the same on too. Now to decide on the colour?
Did you sand before or did you have to add a top cost to protect it?? Anybinfo would be great thanks so much!!
Hi, Holly, no sanding at all. On spray paint projects like this, I’ve never had a problem with paint peeling. These were previously spray painted and spray paint is oil based paint and very durable. They look great!