Painting wooden chairs can be time-consuming with all those spindles. The quickest way to get the job done is with a paint sprayer. BUT, if you are an apartment dweller or paint indoors then you'll love these easy tips for how to paint chair spindles when you can't spray.

Easy Way To Paint Chair Spindles Without A Sprayer

Also included in this painting tutorial is what to do when sanding the old finish to prep for paint isn't an option. Plus, more tips for what to do when you encounter a challenging chair with peeling and scratched paint and/or a glossy finish.

I'll be demonstrating these tips with the wooden chair pictured below that has seen it's better days.

This is the same chair after the makeover using the techniques I'll be sharing in this tutorial.

This post contains affiliate links so you can see what products I used or recommend for this project. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

Three Tips For Painting Chair Spindles Without A Paint Sprayer

It's all about using the right brush, controlling the paint, and the brush stroke direction. Say what?

Tip 1 For Painting Chair Spindles

The type of brush you use makes a BIG difference. A round synthetic paintbrush is a game-changer. I'm not telling you this just to sell you paintbrushes, I am being completely honest when I say that when I switched to using this brush, it rocked my spindle painting world! The silky fine bristles glide over the spindles with uniform coverage and leave no brush strokes behind.

Tip 2 For Painting Chair Spindles

The next thing that makes all the difference when painting spindles is less is more!

Paint with thin coats of paint rather than having a lot of thick paint on the brush. How? By starting with a damp (not soaked) brush because it helps move the paint over the spindles. My secret weapon is this fine mist spray bottle.

Spraying a light mist of water on my round paintbrush before dipping it into the paint and then again before redipping the brush helps the paint go further. It helps both thin the paint and you get more coverage per brush stroke.

Also, thin coats eliminate any paint build-up in the tight ridges and believe it or not, help prevent dreaded paint drips. In the photo below you can see the chair after the first thin coat of paint.

Tip 3 For Painting Chair Spindles

Move the brush from side-to-side rather than in up and down motions. Seriously, it makes all the difference in eliminating brush strokes plus prevents the paint from building up in the ridges.

Wooden Chair Makeover Using This Technique

Here you can see the painted chair after using the tips above. It was painted with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in the color Old Violet, a pretty cornflower blue. I always lightly sand between coats with 220-grit sandpaper for a smooth finish.

The photo below is after the chair was protected with a clear matte topcoat, which we'll discuss further down in this post.

What To Do When Sanding Wood Furniture Indoors Isn't An Option

Many chalk paint brands say their paint doesn't require sanding but I ALWAYS err on the side of caution by going over the piece lightly with a sanding pad first. It just gives the paint that extra bite for a lasting finish.

BUT having said that there are a few situations where sanding first is not an option:

• Possibly it could have been previously painted with lead-based paint.
• Requires a dust-free zone when painting indoors.
• Has a glossy, lacquered, or melamine finish.
• Wood is mahogany or cherry and opening the pores guarantees paint bleed when painting white or a light color.

In these cases always prime the furniture first instead. I've tried several primers over the years and this is my go-to primer.

This particular old chair was made in the former Yugoslavia. It had been painted a glossy white that was chipping in some areas. Because I had no idea whether it had been painted with lead-based paint, I was not taking the chance by sanding the chair.

What To Do When There Is Paint Resist

It's important before you prime that you give the furniture a good clean to remove any grease, grime, and furniture wax build-up. One part vinegar to two parts water with a drop of Dawn dish soap is my most used method for cleaning furniture but Simple Green or a degreaser also works well.

But like humans, some furniture can be more stubborn than others and such was the case with this chair. For the life of me, I couldn't figure out why after priming, the paint was resisting in some areas. I knew it wasn't the paint because I've used this can of Old Violet chalk paint on this Vintage Farmhouse Cupboard and Art Deco Waterfall Sideboard.

When cleaning the chair I found candle wax drips in some areas and I removed the wax with a razor blade scraper. Obviously, that wasn't enough because the ever so slight wax residue left behind caused the paint to resist in those areas.

If you ever come across this problem where paint resists in some areas, simply brush more primer over the paint and that should do the trick. It worked for my chair.

How To Protect The Paint Finish On Wooden Chairs

Kitchen chairs receive a lot of wear and tear, prone to spills, and being wiped often and so I recommend protecting the paint with a durable water-repellent top coat. Dixie Belle Paint Company's Gator Hide is my go-to clear finish for chairs, tabletops, and children's furniture. I also love the beautiful matte finish over chalk paint.

Once the chalk paint is completely dry, apply three coats of the topcoat with about two hours between each coat. It can be brushed on with the same round paintbrush used to paint the chair or applied with a sponge applicator.

I should also mention that the topcoat should cure for at least 48-hours before using the chair.

Thanks for stopping by the Interior Frugalista today! I hope you were inspired by these chair painting tips. If you have any questions, please leave them in the comment section below or the Contact Me tab at the top to drop me an email. I love hearing from you!

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