This summer, my husband and I were driving on Cape Cod, when I spied a couple of midcentury modernesque chairs outside a thrift shop. “Stop!” I yelled–we were in need of dining chairs. When I asked the owner the price, he informed me that there were four more out back. “How much for all six"” I asked. “Thirty dollars for the set,” he replied. I gave him $35. Score!
Only problem, someone had painted the chairs a pale puce green. But for $35, I was willing to put in the labor to paint them. Here’s how I did it.

Supplies

Latex paint
Primer
Water-based polycrylic or finishing wax
Paint brush
Foam paint roller and pan
Fine and medium sandpaper
Tack cloth
Protective floor cloth Tape (if needed)

Above: My original chairs. Actually, the color looks almost looks OK in this photo. In reality, it’s quite deadly.
Step 1: Get Your Inner Zen On/Chill Out
Sure, when deadlines loom, I’ve been known to slap on a quick coat of photo-worthy paint. The results never bear close inspection.
The key to a smooth, durable paint job is to slow down. So download those TED talks you’ve been meaning to listen to, or the audio-book version of War and Peace, and settle in. If you don’t rush it, painting can be a very zen process.

Step 2: Sand, Sand, Sand
We all know that real estate adage: “Location, location, location.” With paint, it’s “Prep, prep, prep.” To achieve an even fini...