How to Decorate Using Old Metal Garden Chairs

Refinish

• 1

  Place the chair outdoors for adequate ventilation. Choose a day with little or no wind.

• 2

  Remove loose and flaking paint with a wire brush. Use medium-grit sandpaper to remove rust or rough edges. Wash the chair with dish washing detergent and warm water to remove paint and dust. Rinse the chair with clean water and set the chair in the sun to dry.

• 3

  Apply a liquid deglosser to clean and dull the remaining paint. Dampen a soft cloth with the deglosser and wipe the surface. Keep the cloth damp and change to a clean cloth as needed. New paint adheres better to a dull, flat finish.

• 4

  Spray bare metal with a rust-preventing metal primer and allow the chair dry.

• 5

  Spray a finishing coat of enamel on the chair. Shake the can for several minutes before spraying. Hold the can upright and about 12 inches from the chair. Move the can back and forth while spraying and overlap slightly to ensure complete and even coverage of the chair.

Porch

• 6

  Select a paint color to complement the house shutters or window and door trim. Refresh an old chair with a new color or paint stencils for a more decorative look.

• 7

  Place the chair and a small end table on a matching area rug. The setting will provide a comfortable atmosphere.

• 8

  Set a small potted plant on the table or a large planter of flowers on the floor to complement the colors in the chair.

Garden

• 9

  Place a wrought-iron chair beside or in the flower garden bed.

• 10

  Place a potted plant on the chair for more color or choose a plant with a trailing vine. Weave the vine throughout the chair design as the vine grows.

• 11

  Display garden statues around the chair, such as gnomes or garden fairies.