Best Spray Paint For Plastic Outdoor Furniture Revealed
It’s been a full year since I gave our chalky plastic Adirondack chairs a spray paint makeover, and they’re still looking great (a little faded, but way better than before!).
If you’re thinking about updating your own outdoor furniture without buying new, picking the best spray paint for plastic is key, and today I’m sharing the one that worked best after a full year of sunshine, backyard hangouts, and a few (sometimes adult 😉) beverages enjoyed in style.
If you missed the original post where I figured out how to paint outdoor plastic chairs, you can catch up right here. Spoiler: it made a huge difference.
Keep reading to see which spray paint actually works on plastic outdoor furniture, how it’s holding up, and what I’d recommend if you’re about to grab a spray can yourself.
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Discover 3 Easy Steps To Design A Room That Both Looks Good AND Functions Well!
How My Painted Plastic Adirondack Chairs Held Up
There they are, my spray painted plastic Adirondack chairs when I first painted them, and what they look like now.
You can see that the blue one held up beautifully but the green one faded quite a bit.
Just to give you some background info, I live in sunny Southern California and keep these chairs outside where they endure a lot of sunshine and some rain.
So why did one fade and not the other?
Best Spray Paint For Outdoor Furniture
Does Rust-Oleum work on plastic?
Here's what I found: I used two different types of Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch spray paint on my chairs, and one definitely did a much better job.
In my experience, if you're spray painting garden chairs with Rust-Oleum, the best outdoor paint for plastic has a satin finish.
The satin finish spray paint seems to handle the outdoor elements much better over time. It doesn't fade as much (if at all) and keeps your plastic outdoor furniture looking fresh and nice. However, neither of the finishes chipped, which pleasantly surprised me.
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Can You Spray Paint Plastic?
So the answer to the burning question - "Can you spray paint plastic outdoor chairs?" - is a solid YES!
It works great, adds a huge pop of color to your backyard, and as long as you choose the right paint (satin finish for the win), it can hold up surprisingly well. And let's be honest, anytime you can save money and give something a fresh new life is totally worth a bit of time and effort, right?
If you’re up for another easy DIY that makes a big impact, check out how I tackled painting vinyl floors to look like tile. It’s another great example of how a little paint can go a long way.
P.S. There's no better way to create a cohesive feel than with color, but in order to avoid mistakes and get an updated look you've got to understand color like a designer.
Inside my online course, Color Made Clear, I will teach you exactly what you need to know about selecting colors for your home in everything from paint colors, to flooring and carpet, to fabrics so you can make confident color decisions and get the exact look and feel you're going for. - Even if there are finishes in your home you can't change, I'll show you how to use color to distract from them for an updated look!
Frequently Asked Questions - Spray Painted Plastic Chairs
After painting our chairs, the paint is rough and chipped. Is there any way to fix this?
Use a very fine grit paper (220) plus a good wipe down and one more coat of paint.
Would applying a clear coat at the end provide more protection against scratching and chipping?
Certainly. Krylon, Rust-Oleum, and Plastikote all make clear coat sprays that would work.
Can I spray paint old patio cushions that have faded?
You can spray paint cushions with any enamel spray paint. They will not be as soft as they were before but it is cheaper then buying new ones.
When you spray painted the chairs did you use a primer? Also did you seal them at the end?
I didn’t use primer or a sealer. My chairs were brown and I used two coats of paint. I didn’t have any issues with coverage or chipping.
I take my chairs in and stack them during winter. Will the paint scrap off when stacking?
Assuming the chairs were prepped correctly before painting, and that they are made to be stacked, stacking should not cause chipping. To be safe, separate each chair with a sheet when stacking.
Does it work on PVC outdoor chairs?
Yes, select a paint made specifically for plastics.
