Are your outdoor cushions in need of a makeover? Wondering about painting outdoor fabric patio cushions? Say goodbye to dull and worn-out cushions by painting them yourself! In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of spray painting your outdoor cushions, giving them a fresh new look. Follow our step-by-step instructions on how to spray paint your outdoor fabric cushions to achieve impressive results and transform your outdoor space. Sounds scary, I know. But it’s not that bad and I think the result is great. What do you have to loose?
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As far as outdoor yard or garden home DIYs go, this one is so easy. All you need are some old outdoor fabric patio cushions that you might be considering throwing away anyway and some spray paint. When you are done, you have saved yourself a ton of money and refreshed your deck or patio for the upcoming summer season.
BEFORE AND AFTER PAINTING OUTDOOR CUSHIONS
Check out the remarkable transformation of my lounge chairs’ cushions. I decided to take matters into my own hands, and the outcome was amazing! Our focal point by the pool now looks better than ever. After three cans of spray paint, my faded red patio cushions were a fresh navy!
HOW TO SPRAY PAINT YOUR OUTDOOR CUSHIONS
STEP ONE: CHOOSE YOUR COLOR
Choose your color wisely. Opt for a darker shade that matches or complements your existing fabric. We found that navy worked wonders for our faded red cushions. I recommend choosing a color that is darker than your existing outdoor cushion fabric.
STEP TWO: PREPARE YOUR SPACE
Lay out a large piece of cardboard and place your cushions on top for easy and mess-free spraying.
STEP THREE: WET YOUR CUSHIONS
Dampen the fabric with a wet washcloth. This will help the paint adhere better to the material. You don’t want the fabric to be soaking wet, but it definitely needs to be wet. Using a wet washcloth was better than spraying my outdoor cushions with the water hose.
STEP FOUR: SPRAY PAINT YOUR CUSHIONS
Spray paint your cushions. Apply two to three coats of spray paint, allowing each coat to dry before adding the next. Remember to cover all areas, including the edges and piping.
TIP: The fabric really soaks up the paint. The first coat will look terrible, but it gets better with each coat.
TIP: I didn’t actually spray paint both sides of these outdoor lounge cushions. I sprayed just enough around the edge of the backside so that you couldn’t tell.
STEP FIVE: ACCESSORIZE
Add the finishing touches. Complete the refreshed look by accessorizing with fresh new pillows. Now, sit back and enjoy your revamped outdoor oasis!
ADDITIONAL TIPS AND CONSIDERATIONS WHEN PAINTING OUTDOOR CUSHIONS
- Keep in mind that the fabric may feel slightly less soft after painting your outdoor fabric patio cushions. If desired, you can lightly sand or rub the fabric with steel wool between coats for a smoother texture, but it’s probably not ever going to be super soft. We don’t sit out here very often. Like I said, it’s more of a focal point than resting place.
- If you have pets that use the cushions, be aware that the paint may scrape or rub off over time. Consider doing touch-up painting as needed.
- The painted fabric is somewhat waterproof, allowing you to leave your cushions outside even during light rain.
- Note that if your cushions have patterns, they may still be slightly visible beneath the paint. Decide whether you prefer this effect or opt for solid-colored cushions. There was no pattern on the fabric that I painted.
I recommend spray paint, but if for some reason that’s not a possibility for you, here’s a different approach to painting outdoor patio cushions I found without spraying paint.
Discover the satisfaction of rescuing your outdoor cushions with a simple and budget-friendly solution. Don’t forget to check out my other helpful posts, such as how to enhance your planters and creatively use spray-painted gourds and other outdoor yard and garden DIYs.
How To Dry Out Gourds and Keep Them For Decorations
BACKYARD UPDATES
At the time I did this DIY about painting my outdoor fabric cushions, it was a great solution. We actually kept these outdoor cushions for several years after this DIY of spraying them with spray paint. A few years later we renovated our swimming pool and our entire backyard. These lounge chairs got relocated to my parent’s pool deck and our backyard got a major overhaul. Check out all of or backyard makeover projects below.
Hanging Outdoor Lights The Easy Way
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What spray paint did you use?
I think it was Rustoleum 2X.