Place a drop cloth over the floor of your work area, then place the metal furniture in the center of the cloth.
Put on a facemask and a pair of safety goggles. Clear the surface of the furniture of debris including rust and peeling paint by brushing the debris away with a wire brush. Use a chemical rust remover instead of the brush if the brush proves inefficient at removal. Follow the remover manufacturer’s instructions and protect your hands with rubber gloves during use.
Brush a layer of paint stripper onto the furniture to remove the existing paint from the surface. Allow the stripper to sit until the paint begins to blister and then remove the stripper and paint both with a rag.
Sand away any scratches in the surface of the furniture with medium-grit sandpaper. Smooth the scratches left from sanding with fine-grit sandpaper, and then wipe the surface clean with a damp rag.
Put the rubber gloves back on and wash the furniture clean with a mix of equal parts warm water and bleach using a sponge. Rinse with water and wait for the surface to dry.
Shake a can of metal primer spray with rust inhibitor vigorously to mix. Cover the furniture with the primer, holding the nozzle about 6 inches from the metal surface and spraying from top to bottom. Allow the primer to dry for about two hours, and then sand the surface smooth with fine-grit sandpaper. Wipe with a tack cloth.
Shake up a can of metal compatible spray paint in the top coat color desired. Spray the furniture using the same process used with the primer. Use a light layer of the paint, aiming for even coverage. Allow the paint to dry for two hours and then apply a second layer, building upon the first to cover the primer completely with a solid color coat. Allow the paint to dry overnight.