Kitchen Bar Stool Painting Ideas

Bar stools get a fresh, updated look with paint.

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Photo by: Emilee Ramsier

Emilee Ramsier

By: Gina Hannah

It isn't difficult to give your bar stools a fresh look. Try some kitchen bar stool painting ideas. All it takes is a little time, creativity, and paint.

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Wooden bar stools are fairly easy to paint. Consider whether you want your bar stools to blend in with the rest of your kitchen's decor or give the room a color pop. You can paint them in a solid color, or paint the legs or base one color and the seat another shade. If you want to get really creative, use the bar stool as your canvas and incorporate a unique pattern or design. If your style is more rustic, country or shabby chic, you can go with a distressed look. Or let the beauty of the wood grain show through a stain or color wash.

Whether your bar stools already have a finish on them or you're working with bare wood, you'll need to prime the wood first. If the paint is chipped or the wood is damaged, you'll need to repair those areas to provide a smooth surface for the paint.

If you want to paint metal bar stools, you'll need to prepare them first by giving them a good washing to remove any oily residue that has accumulated, then roughing up the metal so that the paint will adhere to the surface. If your stools are assembled with screws, you should take the pieces apart if possible and remove the cushions, so the paint will cover all of the nooks and crannies. If you're spray painting, spray with a primer first, even if the paint you'll be using has primer. This will keep you from having to use several cans of paint. Expect to apply at least two coats, letting the paint dry completely between treatments.

You can also paint fabric and vinyl seats on bar stools. You'll need paint especially designed for this purpose. Spray and brush-on paints are specially designed for that use on fabric. For vinyl, you can use a kit with the same type of products used by automobile seat restoration professionals, or choose spray paint that is designed to adhere to vinyl. Whatever products you use, you'll need to clean the seat to remove all dirt and grime, so the paint will adhere to the vinyl. Use a mild solution of dish soap and warm water, then make sure the seat is completely dry before proceeding. Follow the instructions on the products you have purchased.

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