One of the best ways to enjoy a backyard and patio is with a beautiful, welcoming space with furniture that catches your eye. But that furniture, especially metal outdoor furniture, can take a beating from the elements and look worn and faded. Today I’m going to share with you one of the easiest and cheapest ways to update your outdoor space – how to rejuvenate faded metal outdoor furniture using spray paint.
It’s an easy project that anyone can tackle in an afternoon. Plus refurbishing faded metal outdoor furniture this way will help your wallet, costing a fraction of the price of brand new furniture.
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Here’s my metal outdoor side table. I picked it up for free last year from a neighbor through a Facebook Freebie group. It’s a small round metal outdoor side table. Very unassuming. But I see a lot of potential in it. It would be perfect in a corner of my patio to hold a small planter, or sit next to my chair for my morning tea or a good book. Or hold a Sangria pitcher and glasses for two.
While it was in overall decent shape when I picked it up from my neighbor, I wasn’t keen on the color. I wasn’t necessarily repulsed by the color. It just didn’t do anything for me. So I decided to refurbish this faded metal outdoor furniture piece – and I’m so glad I did!
By the end of this short tutorial you’ll know how to rejuvenate your outdoor metal furniture in just 4 quick and easy steps. Ready?
Supplies to Rejuvenate Faded Metal Outdoor Furniture
- Large tarp or drop cloth
- Wire brush(es)
- Sandpaper – 80 or 120 size grit
- Scrub brush and bucket
- Dishwashing soap, or stronger cleaner and degreaser like Krud Kutter
- Lint-free absorbent cloth
- Blocks of old wood
- Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch 2X Ultra Cover Spray Paint
- Chip brushes
- Optional:
- Gloves (in case you are messy like me and don’t want to go around with a blue finger for a few days…)
- Spray paint handle (your trigger finger will thank you if you have a big job!)
How to Rejuvenate Faded Metal Outdoor Furniture
Step 1: Prepare Work Area
Set up your work area by covering the spray area with a drop cloth or tarp. Make sure that you have covered enough to capture any rogue sprays. You don’t want to inadvertently spray a part of your basement floors or driveway a new color! If you are a complete klutz like me, you might want to do this project on grass. That way if you make a mess, the grass will grow and the paint will go away when the lawn is mowed.
Also, ensure your work area is well-ventilated. My basement where I do most of my winter DIY projects has poor ventilation. So while I picked up this table back in the fall, I didn’t actually do this project until a warm spring day so I could be outside. (Spray painting should be done during a 50-90 degree day with lower humidity.)
Here’s my set-up, which might give you a laugh. There was light wind so I used some of my girl’s outside toys to keep the drop cloth secure from blowing in the breeze. And as you can see, “management” was keeping a close eye on me. ?
Step 2: Remove Flaking Paint with Wire Brush and Sandpaper
First run a wire brush briskly over your metal outdoor furniture to remove peeling paint chips and rust. There’s a variety of wire brushes out on the market, but I ended up using brushes I already owned.
For the larger spots I used a retired metal grill brush. Every year we buy a new metal cleaning brush for our grill, so I clean and retire the old one for potential cleaning or DIY projects.
But to get into the corners and tight, odd-shaped spots and spaces on this outdoor metal table, I used a circular metal radiator cleaning brush. It’s actually the same brush I use to get in between the fins to clean my cast iron radiators.
Next, give a hard sand to the rusty areas with 80-120 grit sandpaper. I sanded until a good portion of the rust was completely removed.
Honestly, I’m terribly sure this is the best route to remove the rust on this outdoor metal side table. In hindsight I probably should have picked up a can of Rust-Oleum’s Clean Metal Primer.
But, I want to test it out without the rust prohibited. Even if I get a few years out of his table before I have to re-do, I’m OK with it.
Once you have tackled the rusty areas, follow by lightly sanding the entire faded metal outdoor furniture piece. My outdoor metal side table is small, so I just used a regular 9 inch x 11 inch piece of sandpaper. But if you have a larger project, like an entire patio set, you might want to consider investing in an orbital sander.
Step 3: Clean Metal Outdoor Furniture
Once the surface is lightly sanded, clean the metal outdoor furniture piece. My piece had been stored in the garage over the winter and wasn’t terribly dirty nor covered in muck and pollen, so I just used warm water mixed with a few squirts of dishwashing soap in a bucket with a scrub brush.
But if your piece is a bit dirtier, some folks recommend a heavy-duty cleaner like Krud Kutter or even TSP.
Wipe down the piece with a lint-free cloth to remove some of the moisture. Then TAKE A BREAK! allow the piece COMPLETELY dry. I know, I know, you want to get this project done asap so you can sit and relax with drink in hand. But spray painting a wet piece of furniture is just not going to work. You’ll regret it. I promise.
Step 4: Apply Rust-oleum Spray Paint
Your piece is now clean and ready for priming and painting. Lay your faded metal outdoor furniture on the middle of your drop cloth. Set it on top of a few old wooden blocks. Why? These blocks elevate the metal outdoor furniture piece over the drop cloth, making it easier to paint its feet. And it helps stop paint from bleeding through the drop cloth and making a mess underneath.
Next put on gloves and shake the spray paint can listening to the mixing ball rattle for at least one minute. Don’t skimp on this step an only shake for 10-15 seconds. Make sure the paint is well mixed.
Hold the can about 10-16 inches from the metal outdoor furniture and spray in a steady back-and-forth motion, slightly overlapping each stroke.
Don’t forget to keep the can in motion while spraying, and at 10-16 inches apart from the surface. I have a tendency to move the can closer to the tough-to-reach spots and corners, which only results in wrinkling. Luckily, this can has an “any-angle” spray system allows you to spray at any angle for those hard-to-reach areas.
For best results, apply 2 or more light coats a few minutes apart.
Spray painting your outdoor furniture from several angles will help get an even coat all over. For larger projects, you might want to purchase a spray paint handle.
Let your rejuvenated metal outdoor furniture dry for about 24-48 hours before fully enjoying.
How to Fix Drips
As an aside, if you get a drip (and if you are like me, you will), lightly drag a clean chip brush over the area to stop the run and smooth it out before moving on. Chip brushes are inexpensive, disposable natural bristle brushes that work well for touch ups.
And WA – LA! This table has turned from drab to fab (Gosh, I’ve always wanted to say that – “drab to fab”!) in just an afternoon.
Why Use Rust-Oleum Spray Paint?
There is a variety of spray paints out there to choose from to rejuvenate faded metal outdoor furniture. Personally, I stick with Rust-Oleum. I’ve relied on Rust-Oleum spray paint for a few other projects – like brightening up the support poles in my basement, or refreshing our living room’s fireplace door from an outdated brass to a sleek black. And this spray paint hasn’t let me down yet.
Why do I like it so? The coverage is superior, it sticks to everything, and the finish looks professional. And I’m not paid to say this! (I wish I was important enough for someone to pay me to say these things. But alas, I am just the average homeowner ?)
Rust-Oleum makes a variety of spray paints, but I especially like the 2X Ultra Cover spray paint because it is a primer and paint in one. So your project could be done twice as fast with two times the coverage. That’s key for me trying to fit in spray painting around my 3-year old twins naps (which are getting shorter and shorter….).
Note that this spray paint can be applied to a variety of surfaces – wood, plastic, metal and more. So if you like the color and want to add it elsewhere in your home, it’s easy to do.
Rust-Oleum Color Watch 2020
What do you think of the Ink Blue color of my table? Admittedly, I’m horrible, and I mean horrible at picking colors. I can’t decide to save my life and quietly, I don’t have an eye for color. Ask my husband, who actually has a talent for color. When we painted the exterior of your house, I took a few dozen paint samples for me to decide which color combination I liked best. It took him two….. (and we went with his color combo).
In any event, Rust-Oleum spray paint is available in what seems to be an infinite amount of colors. Check out the aisle at my local Home Depot. Crazy, huh? Some homeowners might salivate at this array of choices. I get overwhelmed.
So I decided to play it simple and chose one for the shades included in Rust-Oleum’s Color Watch for 2020. What is Color Watch?
For 2020, Rust-Oleum chose 9 colors meant to “empower and inspire their customers”. These colors were handpicked after visiting trade shows and reviewing fashion and home décor trends.
Rust-Oleum describe their Ink Blue color as “dramatic, yet calming and versatile, this color is very regal and bold. It’s best as a statement in the room on items such as bar stools and tables.” Well, I could use a bit bold yet still calming in my life these days, don’t we all?
Hope you enjoyed my little DIY project. Have you spray painted your faded metal outdoor furniture? If so, I’ve love to hear more.
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