Painting Wicker Furniture to Look Shabby Chic

Prep your wicker furniture by vacuuming it. Wicker has more nooks and crannies than an English muffin, so apply due diligence when banishing dust and grime. Next, use a toothbrush and water solution (1 tablespoon of salt per quart of water) to ferret out soil hidden in the weave of the wicker.

Remove dried and peeling paint flakes with a wire brush, flat-head screwdriver blade or paint scraper, taking care not to press down so hard you damage the wicker. In the end, you’ll distress the furniture to give it the signature shabby chic look, but it’s important to start with a smooth surface. If you like offbeat methods, take the wicker piece through a high-pressure car wash to de-flake it and then dry with a blow dryer.

Rough up the surface with light sandpaperso your primer adheres to the wicker and penetrates all surfaces. To achieve the shabby chic look, you’ll use distressing techniques, so the primer is an important protective measure. Apply a couple of coats of oil-base wood primer. There’s a reason professionals recommend two coats of primer: raw wicker is like a sponge, drinking up first applications fast.

Choose a light colored paint. Oil-base indoor/outdoor house paint has been recommended because it adheres nicely and it’s flexible but other wicker hobbyists say new latex paints are just as good and post-paint clean up is easier. If you use a spray paint, work in an enclosed area; one breeze can send your paint flying. A final choice is to buy a distressing kit and follow package instructions to wind up with a crackled or rugged, distressed shabby chic finish. No bold paint colors, please.

Distress the wicker piece. Check out photos of shabby chic wicker furnishings in library books, home interior magazines and on websites. Notice the way edges have been rubbed away to create a distressed vintage look. Achieve this by sanding the painted piece, working lightly and methodically across every surface. The primer you applied protects the raw wicker underneath.

Seal your shabby chic wicker furniture with a high-quality varnish product to protect your hard work for years to come. Now that the piece is done, it’s time to finish your shabby chic styling with a floral cushion that’s so cushy it begs to be squished. If that cushion happens to have ruffles, you’ve nailed shabby chic.