If you do home improvement projects often, you probably know that they almost always take more time (and work, and money) than you originally planned. Well friends, I stand before you today reinvigorated and re-inspired, as I can honestly say that this makeover project might be the first of its kind to have actually been easier and faster than I ever imagined. Crazy, right?
It started with our team’s shared love of rattan peacock chairs and a yearning for one in a fun, cheery color. I expected the project to take days — what with that intricate wicker work and needing to fill in each tiny crevice — but I was so wrong. From start to finish, the entire task took up the better half of one afternoon, and while I’d like to think that’s a result of my ever-improving craftsmanship, the real hero was the BEHR paint. I’ll talk a bit more about that below, but for now, let us behold the beauty that is the peacock chair: organic, shapely and light weight, there’s no easier way to make a bold statement in your decor, and surprisingly enough, they can be found at resale shops from time-to-time for around $100. Of course, even if you don’t have a peacock chair, this same technique can be applied to just about any style wicker furniture. Keep reading for the surprisingly simple step-by-step…
Our friend Candice from OH! Fox Creative (who has all sorts of fabulous rattan pieces in her shop) provided the peacock chair. It had the right shape and was in great condition, but had unfortunately fallen victim to two incomplete spray paint jobs… hence the splotchy gold-on-black look. So often we resort to using spray paint by default, but on a project like this — since the spray would simply blow through the holes in the wicker — painting with a brush was the way to go.
After comparing the different lines at Home Depot, Marquee from BEHR was the clear choice. Because of the wonky previous paint jobs on the chair, I knew we’d need a paint with a great primer. And with exceptional resistance to dirt and fading, you really can’t beat the quality of this line.
This post is brought to you by BEHR. Color that’s True to Hue. If you feel it you can find it. Visit truetohue.behr.com
Peacock Chair Makeover
- 1 can BEHR Marquee paint
- plastic paint tray
- wider paint brush
- narrower paint brush
only if chair is previously painted:
- bristle scrubbing brush
- 1 pack mild sandpaper
- handheld vacuum cleaner
- Perhaps the hardest step of all is choosing a paint color... I stared at paint swatches for 45 minutes before deciding. Ultimately I couldn't shake the voice in my head whispering "blue, blue, blue," so we went with Aquifer by BEHR Marquee.
- Choose between interior and exterior, and the different finishes. Since there's a good chance this chair will be spending a lot of time outside, we went with the exterior paint in a satin enamel.
- This chair had two coats of dried paint flaking off, so we started by using a dry bristle brush to dislodge as much of that as possible. Then we used a handheld vacuum cleaner to remove any fallen flakes or dust.
- We continued to prep the surface by gently sanding all over the chair. Don't stress about completely removing the old paint, as the primer in Marquee paints effectively ensures that any discoloration with be covered.
- Starting from the top, liberally apply a coat of paint to the entire exterior of the chair with your wider brush. The secret here is patience, attention to detail and some great music playing in the background.
- Use the narrow paint brush to carefully fill in any small cracks or crevices. Allow to dry completely.
- To ensure the brightest color and most flawless coverage, apply a second coat of paint, being careful to get into the crevices. Allow to dry.
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