Glazed Ladder Back Chairs

Have you ever painted ladder back chairs with rush seats? What? Didn’t you know it was this easy to paint and update old ladder back chairs? Gail will show you just how to do it the easy way. Update those old orange chairs for a new farmhouse look.

After getting two chairs from a friend for free, I figured I had nothing to lose.

Painting Glazing Ladder Back Chairs

This is just after the primer coat of my infamous DIY chalky paint primer, which I made with plaster of Paris. Of course, I used that paint in my Super Finish Max Paint Sprayer. This job would have been so difficult to paint by hand, don’t you agree?

Painted Ladder Back Chairs

These ladder back chairs are nothing special. I’m guessing they may be 10-15 years old. Their color is outdated, but they are in decent shape otherwise. After hanging around in the storage garage for over a year, their day finally came last week.

Clean & Prep Thrift Store Chairs for Painting

Remember to inspect thrift store finds before their makeover. Make any needed repairs, then proceed to clean items before painting. I started with a broom to sweep away cobwebs from long-term storage.

To wipe away grease and grime from years of being in the kitchen, my go-to product is TSP . Can you imagine how much easier this will be to paint after removing all the yuck? I prefer to wear latex gloves while doing this kind of cleaning. The TSP also acts as a deglosser, giving a better surface for the paint to adhere. Did I mention I don’t sand?

Proper prep work is very important before painting furniture, whether for yourself or especially if you’re flipping it. With a little elbow grease, the TSP easily removed this splotch of random yellow paint.

Choose the Proper Sized Nozzle

Looking at two of the three nozzle choices that come with the Super Finish Max, I chose the green one. I used the largest one (not shown) on my last big DIY project, Painting an Outdoor Building. Changing out the nozzles/pins is easy with the small wrench included.

The Order of Painting Matters

Even though I spent a lot of time prepping this project, I knew the best way to get a great finish was with my favorite paint sprayer. Painting rungs on chairs is not easy by hand, and I knew that the rush seat was going to be its own challenge! I find it’s best to paint the underside of a chair first. The best coverage happens when you’re spraying a vertical surface.

Resting my projects on the easy diy sawhorses is the best way to get good coverage on all sides. I made some of my chalky paint primer for the undercoat. The paint I used was flat, and I felt it would give me the best chance of good coverage overall. I did two very light coats over the entire chair.

Painting a Ladder Back Chair

The flat paint primer dries really fast on a sunny, breezy day!

Here’s a great look at the before and after of the chair after the primer.

Can I Use Latex Wall Paint for Furniture Flipping?

Did you know you can use latex wall paint for furniture projects? This paint works fabulously in the Super Finish Max without diluting!

I love how easy these chairs were to paint. However, I recommend using a sanding sponge on the rush seat before painting. This was the first time I’ve painted these types of seats, and I wouldn’t want you to have to do them over. I believe I’ll be sanding them back a little and painting them again.

Those who know me well probably know I can’t leave well enough alone. I love the white chairs, but I just had to GLAZE them!

How To Apply Glaze

I couldn’t leave well enough alone, I just had to glaze these white ladder back chairs. I used my favorite Smoked Glaze and a chip brush. I”m always telling you how much I love using these brushes for glazing, but I’m not sure you totally understand how fabulous they are. The chip brushes actually improve with age. I know many people use them as single-use and throw them away, but not me! I prefer to use my Finish Max sprayers for painting, but these brushes are perfect for glazing.

Why I Love Chip Brushes For Glazing

The chip brush’s bristles are uneven and thin, making them perfect for applying glaze and dry brushing paint onto furniture pieces. My post, “How to Glaze Painted Furniture,” provides more tips for glazing.

The same chip brush is really great at getting the glaze into tight spaces because of the thin bristles.

Ladder Back Chairs Before & After Glaze

Do you like it better with or without the glaze? You will notice I didn’t glaze the rush seat. That’s still up for grabs. What do you think?

Should The Rush Seat be Glazed?

Here’s the chair in my kitchen with my old table. When I make some more updates in my kitchen, I’m hoping to build a new table this fall.

I’d love for you to pin this project idea so others will know how easy it is to update ladder back chairs with paint and glaze.

In addition, be sure to check out my friends’ projects for this month’s Thrift Store Decor Challenge below!

DIY Rustic Candle Holders  Our Southern Home

Buffalo Check Fall Tray Domestically Speaking

Ladder Back Chair Makeover My Repurposed Life

Shabby Chic Wreath The Petticoat Junktion

Recipe Box Makeover Refresh Restyle

Creepy Halloween Craft with Hazard Labels Sadie Seasongoods

How to Create a Driftwood Finish Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Copper Wall Sconce House of Hawthornes