How to Paint Cottage Style Windsor Chairs
Painting an antique Windsor chair would never be recommended, even if the finish appears to be in bad shape it should be restored by an expert.
Having said that, reproductions of cottage style Windsor chairs are easily found in today's market and are a great way to incorporate Windsor chair styling into your home decor because they can be painted to match without worrying about devaluing a cherished antique.
These chairs are characterized by tall, rounded open backs with several smooth spindles, and more decorative spindles for chair legs.
Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Sand the chair. Use a sanding block for the flat surfaces of the chair and a piece of sandpaper for the spindles and other hard to reach areas. Go over the chair first with a medium grit to remove any existing varnish or paint, then go over it with a fine grit to smooth down the surface.
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Clean the chair. Lightly wipe the surface of the chair with a damp cloth to remove any dust from sanding or other debris.
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Apply primer. Just one coat of wood primer will be sufficient for this project. When applying primer to the base spindles use a small artists paintbrush to get into the small creases of the design detail.
Allow the primer to dry completely. -
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Apply paint. Brush on one coat of acrylic paint, again using a small artists paintbrush to get into the creases.
Allow the paint to dry completely. -
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Apply varnish. Apply two coats of varnish, allowing them to dry between coats. The second coat of varnish will give the chair extra luster and help keep the paint job looking professional.
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Tips & Warnings
If you are unsure whether your Windsor chair is an antique or a replica, take it to an antique dealer to inspect before doing anything with the finish. Don't be afraid of creativity. Try a faux finish for a country kitchen or painting the legs, seat and back different colors for a touch of whimsy.
Never use spray paint on wood furniture.
