How to Paint a Glider Chair

Place a drop cloth onto the floor in a well-ventilated work area large enough to hold the chair with space to move freely around the piece of furniture. Place the chair on the center of the drop cloth.

Untie the straps of any seat cushions and remove them from the chair. Remove the top portion of the chair, the seat of the chair, the chair back and arms from the glider base using a screwdriver.

Put on a respirator and sand the chair surface using a medium-grit sandpaper to remove any peeling paint and glossy finish, as well as to create a rough texture for improved paint adherence. Wipe the sanded surface with a tack cloth to remove any dust.

Cover the chair with a coat of primer paint. Use a mini roller to cover the flat areas of the chair with the primer, slightly overlapping strokes of the primer to avoid creating visible lap lines in the primer surface. Switch to a 1-1/2 inch paintbrush for coverage of chair spindles or smaller areas that the roller cannot reach. Wait for the primer to dry before continuing. Drying times vary according to primer manufacturer and can take anywhere from two hours to a full night. Check the manufacturer’s instructions for average drying time.

Apply a layer of topcoat paint over the primer surface on the chair. Use the same coverage process and tools used with the primer. Apply two layers of topcoat, allowing the first to dry for about two hours before painting the second. The extra layer ensures complete coverage as well as making sure that the primer coat is fully concealed. Use a topcoat of the same base type as your primer: oil-based topcoat for oil-based primer, water-based topcoat for a water-based primer. Allow the final layer of paint to dry for 48 hours before reassembling the glider chair and replacing the cushions for use.