How to transform wicker

Janet van Oordt of Pretoria writes

I’d love to add colour to these wicker chairs before putting them in our beach home; we have a white, grey and blue colour scheme. How do I go about it?

Jani Goussard of The Colour Collectors replies Adding colour to your wicker chairs will make a huge difference. I recommend painting them with Annie Sloan Old White. But first make sure they’re clean and dry; sugar soap and a scrubbing brush works well and once clean, you won’t need to apply a primer before you paint. Use a stiff-haired brush to paint and ensure that you get into all the nooks and crannies. Once the paint has dried, seal it with a clear, water-based varnish such as Annie Sloan Lacquer or Woodoc Water-Borne Sealer.

Home You could also use an aerosol from Rust-Oleum’s Painter’s Touch range to transform your chairs. First, remove any peeling paint and sand the wicker lightly. As the wicker is porous, first apply a good primer such as Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 Primer Spray and let it dry completely. Then move the chairs to a well-ventilated area and place them on a plastic drop sheet covered with newspaper (the newspaper will absorb excess paint). Hold the can approximately 30cm from the surface of the furniture and spray in a steady back and forth motion, overlapping slightly with each stroke. Spray the chairs with two coats, letting the paint dry for about 24 hours between coats.

janigoussard@gmail.com; shellybergh@gmail.com >>

DIY contributor Shelly Bergh adds