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Categories: Benches and chairs

Perfectly painted garden chairs

Whimsical hand painted chairs for the garden

Our Flea Market garden chairs have created a sensation! With simple bowls filled with flowers on the seat, they’re always so charming as garden ‘plant stands’, but when you use several colors or create a theme they can star in your garden vignettes.  See these dozen examples from our files….plus materials and instructions to find and decorate your own!

Colleen Weaver

 

Myra Glandon

Here are the supplies you’ll need:

  • Drop cloth
  • Wire brush with scraper
  • Random orbital sander, optional
  • sand paper
  • Bucket, water, and sponge
  • Paint and primer
  • Face mask and protective eye wear

 

Mary Blevins

 

Rhonda Duchesneau

 

Tami Williams

Ready to paint!

First scrape all the loose paint, but leave some if you want, especially if it’s not peeling.
You may need a fine wire brush, but don’t if it gouges too much.

Sand the chair smooth and I’ll tell you, a power sander makes it really easy.

Now, get out the bucket and water or just a damp cloth and clean off all the dirt and dust. Let it dry in the sun for long enough to be completely dry.

Paint with a brush or with spray paint OR if most of the original paint stayed on or if you wanted it to stay, just give your chair a couple (two, at least) of semi or matte polyurethane.

 

Wenda Vorce: My first attempt… now to find the perfect plant for it.

 

 

Kitty Winrow‎

Kitty Winrow‎ says, “Here’s a little project from the weekend. Someone threw away this rocker and I added a bit of Sunshine to it. First I painted it reddish orange, then bright yellow, then sanded parts of it down to the original color black and bare wood. Added the sunflower and vintage bowl and Voilá, a happy seat in the garden!”

 

Tanya Goldsmith’s Floridalicious colors!

Tanya Goldsmith says, “A garden herb chair I made recently for our Native plant Society gift exchange. The old chair was from a yard sale $3 and seat was full of what looked to be cat tail reeds! Dollar store basket, liner and herbs.”

Tanya Goldsmith‎

 

Tanya Goldsmith’s chair detail

“This was for my little mermaid loving granddaughter.” Tanya tells us,  “I found this little child’s Windsor chair at a yard sale for fifty cents. I stripped it down to the bare wood knowing it was for a child then painted it with exterior house paint. Notice the mermaid is holding a DINGLEHOPPER! The grand girls and even their babysitter shrieked when they saw that! Oh and yes, I discovered my octopus has 9 legs but that makes for a great kids story.”

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Billie Hayman

Billie Hayman made her chairs from pallet wood. She says, “Don’t know who invented the chair planter but it was a good idea!”  See Penny-wise pallet garden projects

Where to find old chairs

I’m always searching for oldwooden and mismatched chairs for a good rice. Under $20 is my personal limit for a fun chair to play with,but we all agree,…free is best!

  • Yard sales and Thrift shops
  • Ask your relative, neighbors and friends
  • Trash day!

 

Michele Orwig

 

Jeanie Merritt

 

Bairbre Ryder

Bairbre Ryder confides, “My husband said I had to get rid of the old chairs in the basement so I painted them and put them in the garden.”

 

Becky Norris

See  Becky’s signature pink garden

No, wooden chairs in the garden don’t last forever, we know, but when you happen upon ine, they are too fun to pass up.  They look quaint and timeless, whether you paint or leave them shabby chic and when they go, we replace them with the ones we’re always looking for!

Sue Langley

Sue Langley, a passionate gardener and photographer lives and gardens with her husband and Corgi, Maggie on 7 acres just south of Yosemite, Zone 7 at 3000 feet. She manages the Flea Market Gardening Facebook page and website.

View Comments

  • I really like Colleen's paired with the ladder filled with interesting objects.

    • Sue Langley says:

      I do, too. It's a way to create a whole 'vignette,'...a word I'm loving more and more!

  • Donna Wheeler says:

    I bought one this past summer in an estate sale for under 5$. It was already painted green. I put pumpkins and gourds in it in the fall and a lighted Christmas wreath this season. Not sure what it will hold this spring. Probably a pot full of flowers.

  • Jeanne Sammons says:

    Oh so many cute ideas here .... recycle those old wood chairs ... curb shopping, of course, is the best!

  • I love looking at these. Thanks FMG and all who contribute...a bright spot of sweetness and beauty in this chaotic world. You make me smile!

  • I'd LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to fill small ladder with some fun finds i have, but can't for the life of me figure out how it would not all fall off on windy days! Not going to nail them on! (ARGH)

    • Sue Langley says:

      Maybe thin wire?

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