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    Home » Furniture Makeover » Glazed Ladder Back Chairs

    Glazed Ladder Back Chairs

    Published by Gail | Published October 9, 2019 | Updated February 22, 2022
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    Gail from My Repurposed Life loves doing easy furniture flips, and is always ready to give you the best tips about painting and repurposing furniture. You can learn from her mistakes, and she's always willing to accept your feedback about her projects. #MyRepurposedLife #furniture #makeover #painting #ladderback #chairs via @repurposedlife

    Have you ever painted ladder back chairs with rush seats? After getting two chairs from a friend for free, I figured I didn’t have anything to loose.

    Painting Glazing Ladder Back Chairs

    diy ladder back chair paint makeover before and after

    This is just after the primer coat of my infamous diy chalky paint primer that I make 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

    ladder back chair makeover

    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 Their color is outdated, but they are in decent shape otherwise.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

    sweep-clean thrift store finds before painting

    Don’t forget to do a good inspection of thrift store finds before their makeover. Make any repairs needed, then proceed to clean items before painting. I started with a broom to sweep away cobwebs from long term storage.

    clean thrift store items before painting

    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?

    tsp helps remove paint

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

    Choose the Proper Sized Nozzle

    which Super Finish Max nozzle to choose

    Looking at two of the three nozzle choices that come with the Super Finish Max   I chose to go with 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 really easy with the small wrench that is included.

    The Order of Painting Matters

    super finish max paints ladder back rush seat

    Even though I took lots 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 to to by hand, and I knew that the rush seat was going to be it’s 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.

    after first coat of diy chalky paint primer

    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 a flat paint 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

    first coat of chalky paint primer

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

    diy ladder back chair paint makeover before and after

    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?

    latex wall paint for furniture projects

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

    white painted ladder back chair makeover

    I love how easy these chairs were to paint. However, I would recommend using a sanding sponge on the rush seat before painting. This was the first time I’ve painted these type 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 of you 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

    smoked glaze on white ladder back chair

    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, not me! I prefer to use my Finish Max sprayers for painting, but for glazing, these brushes are perfect.

    Why I Love Chip Brushes For Glazing

    chip brush perfect for glazing and dry brushing furniture projects

    The bristles of the chip brush are uneven and thin. That makes them perfect for apply glaze and dry brushing paint onto furniture pieces. You can see more tips for glazing in my post How To Glaze Painted Furniture.

    chip brush glazes tight corners

    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

    white glazed ladder back chair before and after

    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?

    makeover ladder back chair painted white and glazed

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

    ladder back chair makeover white paint smoked glaze MyRepurposedLife

    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.

    Thrift Store

    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

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    1. Jo Monroe

      October 11, 2019 at 11:01 am

      Love the chair makeovers with the glaze.... have an idea for you that I do alot of and is popular here in NC country.... when I find chairs with the cane or rush busted out (often!!), I simply use men's neckties and weave new seats on them! No screws or glue required, just tie knots! Makes for chairs with a great homey feeling like Grandmas braided rugs!
      Bonus: neckties are also great for rugs or lampshades... just whatever suits your fancy!!

      Reply
      • Victoria Grady Crumpton

        June 05, 2021 at 11:19 am

        What a great idea! I have my dad's old ties. Gotta do this so the next time he visits he can sit in HIS CHAIR@

    2. Maryann

      October 09, 2019 at 4:34 pm

      Love the chairs & I love the glaze!

      Reply
    3. houseofhawthornes

      October 09, 2019 at 3:56 pm

      I'm a huge fan of chip brushes too! Plus they're cheaper than a regular brush so there's that! Oddly enough I was just out in the garage and saw my VERY OLD paint sprayer on the shelf that I may not have cleaned adequately before I put it away last time and just tossed it in the garbage. I'll check out Homeright's sprayers!

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        October 09, 2019 at 9:51 pm

        Pam,

        Ohhh how I love this paint sprayer. I've been using several of the Homeright models over the last 8 years. It's definitely my go to when I want a fabulous finish in record time!

        gail

    4. petticoatjunktion

      October 09, 2019 at 1:22 pm

      Love the new look.....glaze everything 🙂

      Reply
    5. Christy @ Our Southern Home

      October 09, 2019 at 1:18 pm

      Gosh, I absolutely love both options! Thanks for the glazing tips. I need some chip brushes!

      Reply
    6. Kristin salazar

      October 09, 2019 at 12:02 pm

      Turned out awesome, I think I like it with the glaze better 🙂

      Reply
    7. Debbie Westbrooks

      October 09, 2019 at 9:18 am

      Love it Gail, that paint sprayer is a life saver!!

      Pinned it for later!

      Reply

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    Hi, there! I’m Gail Wilson, the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. I’m obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believe that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again—myself included! I hope you’ll enjoy the journey and pick up a few tools along the way… literally!

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