Asked on May 14, 2015

Advice on painting wicker/rattan dinette set?

Sandra Mills
by Sandra Mills
I would like to use my Homeright HVLP paint sprayer to paint this dinette set black. Do I have to sand it first? If so, how? What type paint would you suggest? Should I use a primer?
  7 answers
  • Rosie Walsh Rosie Walsh on May 14, 2015
    I can't answer your question, but I want to paint some already painted rattan chairs and will be following your post. That's a great looking set, Sandra. Good luck on your project!
  • Dorinda White Dorinda White on May 14, 2015
    liquid paint stripper should do it. i would say it's not necessary to use primer since you're painting it black.
  • Shari Shari on May 14, 2015
    If it were me, I would skip the sanding and use a "liquid sandpaper" product. It is also called "deglosser." That's what I use when I paint all my furniture and it is a time saver and life saver, especially when you have furniture with lots of little details that would be quite tedious to sand. You simply wipe it on and it removes grunge and leaves the surface a little tacky so the primer and paint adheres better. Since you have so many nooks and crannies in this rattan, I think I would use one or two of those foam brushes (rather than a rag) to make sure you get liquid sandpaper down into all the crevices. I also would most definitely use a primer...a couple light coats of a good bonding primer to further insure good paint adhesion. Then I would follow up with either satin or semi-gloss interior latex paint. You could also use a high gloss if you wanted. This dining set should look gorgeous in black!
    • See 1 previous
    • Shari Shari on May 15, 2015
      @Sandra Mills i wanted to add that even though the liquid sandpaper/deglosser will remove the grunge as you wipe it on, I think I would use something else like TSP or a good degreaser on the arms of the chairs before you use the liquid sandpaper/deglosser product. I say that because I have a natural colored rattan set (loveseat, chairs, end tables etc.) in my sunroom and after years of use, the arms are a bit discolored/grungy/sticky, almost like the protective finish has softened and grabbed dirt and skin oils. I've seriously considered painting my set black too and if/when I do, I know I am going to have to focus some extra attention on the arms or risk having problems with the paint adhering long-term there. In my case, I might even do a little light sanding first, just along the arm rests, wipe good with TSP and then use the liquid sandpaper/deglosser. Depending on how the arms of your chairs look and feel, you might want to consider the same. Good luck! Hope you will update with a photo when you are done.
  • Chandra | #Blessed Chandra | #Blessed on May 14, 2015
    I recently painted some rattan furniture just using Krylon indoor/outdoor spray paint and did 0 prep. It took right to it, covered evenly and turned out great. I thinou'll probably be fine without sanding it! Good luck!
    • Sandra Mills Sandra Mills on May 14, 2015
      Thanks Chandra. I have read the Krylon works well and it is a primer and paint in one. I considered using Krylon but knew it would take more paint and a very sore finger and hand cramps to finish it all! That is why I decided to use my paint sprayer instead. ๐Ÿ˜€
  • Tammie Housley Tammie Housley on May 14, 2015
    Sandra, I've never refinished rattan but I've done a lot of furniture and from the shiny finish you definitely need to do some serious prep work. If it were me I would use the liquid sander plus a primer. Then you'll be assured of the paint sticking and staying there.
  • Funnygirl Funnygirl on May 15, 2015
    I bought a rattan set that I wanted to restrain a darker color stain.I sanded by hand and got a very inconsistent finish with the stain.Stopped after one chair, would use a de glasser and indoor /outdoor paint in a color sprat paint to get this job done, very hard to remove existing varnish on rattan pieces
    • Sandra Mills Sandra Mills on May 15, 2015
      Thank you Funnygirl, I suspected as much with the sanding. I think you're right.
  • Susan Susan on May 15, 2015
    I have painted both rattan and wicker with vanGogh chalk paint. No prep at all other than giving it a good cleaning with warm soapy water and then a rinse. Applied paint with a brush. All my pieces were for outside so that was it ....just paint. If I was intending to use it indoors I would then seal the chalk paint with the vanGogh wax. Easty peasy......no muss no fuss