How to spruce up your garden furniture
Whether you’re getting ready for some al fresco dining or you’re just wanting somewhere to sit with a good book and a cuppa, outdoor furniture can make all the difference to your garden. It doesn’t take too much time at all to look after and maintain your garden furniture, and our handy how-tos will walk you through how to clean, treat and paint it. We’ll also answer those niggling questions like ‘what kind of paint is best for furniture?’ or ‘what is the best exterior wood paint?’ So, stick with us and with just a little bit of care, your outdoor furniture will look as good as new in no time!
By Sarah- 25th Mar 2021
- 5min read
How to restore wooden furniture
Checklist
- Soapy water
- Bucket
- Cloths (one for washing, one for applying the oil and one for drying)
- Brush (to get into the grains of the wood)
- Teak oil or furniture stain
Hardwood furniture can be left uncovered throughout winter if it's protected, but we'd still recommend some garden furniture covers to further protect it against the elements. If you opt for the out-in-all-weathers option, then eventually you’ll need our tricks to restoring your wooden furniture back to its best.
Step one
Wash with a cloth or brush (depending on how ingrained the dirt is) and mild soapy water once a year to remove the build-up of pollen, sap and mildew. You can also sand your furniture if necessary, to get rid of any old flaking paint or dirt.
Step two
Bring wood back to life by applying some teak, linseed or danish oil with a. Simply rub it into the furniture, following the grain. You can add another coat if needed, just make sure you let the first coat dry completely beforehand.
Step three
For a splash of lasting colour, you could alternatively choose to apply a wood furniture stain
Step four
Allow to dry following manufacturer’s instructions.
Top tip: Try to keep the feet of your furniture off the floor and the furniture tilted
Choosing an outdoor wood paint
If wood stain isn’t enough of a solid colour for you then you could opt for a paint treatment. When it comes to what kind of paint is best for outdoors, wilko garden colour offers plenty of great options to choose from. Freshen up fence panels, and brighten up your patio furniture with these gorgeous garden paint that are touch dry in just 2 hours.
Step one
Choose a look that will suit your space. Dramatic darks will look great in a modern garden, whereas pastels bring to life that country cottage garden style.
Step two
Colour picked, use an undercoat first to help give extra weather protection to exterior wood and metal. wilko exterior undercoat is more durable than conventional undercoats, making it less prone to cracking and blistering.
Step three
Make sure the undercoat is fully dry, then you’re ready for your colour.
How to paint wooden garden furniture
Once you’ve cleaned, sanded your furniture and chosen your paint it’s its time to get the paintbrushes out to give the furniture a bit of a refresh.
Step one
Stir the can of paint thoroughly.
Step two
Now, turn the furniture upside down, and brush paint evenly underneath. Try to paint along the grain of the wood.
Step three
Allow to dry before adding another layer.
Step four
Remember – when painting wood several thin coats of paint are better than one thick one and the darker the colour the more coats that will be required.
Step five
Turn the furniture the right way up to repeat the process and allow it to completely dry before use.
Top tip: For an in-depth guide, you can read our blog on how to paint wood like a pro!
How to restore plastic and rattan garden furniture
Checklist
- Soapy water
- Bucket
- Sponge
- Cloths for drying
- Wire brush or steel wool
- Metal paint
- Oil
- Paint brushes
- Paint brush cleaner
From standard bistro sets to metal framed swing seats, it’s important to keep on top of looking after metal furniture as it can start looking tired if you’re not careful.
Step one
Give it a good wash with soapy water before drying it down completely.
Step two
Check for any rust on the metal (this is also important for plastic-coated metal furniture, as the metal could rust if cracks have appeared in the plastic).
Step three
Remove any rust with a wire brush or steel wool.
Step four
Use a clean cloth to ensure that all the rust particles have been removed
Step five
Want to give your metal furniture a new lick of paint too? Our recommended colours, our white or black. (Remember to give it an undercoat with an exterior undercoat first!)
Top tip: You may also need to oil the fixings and joints to keep folding furniture moving freely.
Got any tips of your own? We’d love to hear them. Let us know on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok & X.
