How To Paint Wicker And Metal Furniture

The best way to paint wicker and metal furniture is with a combination of spray paint and brush-on paint. Because of the woven pattern of wicker, it is almost impossible to cover it completely with paint and a brush.

I learned while researching this table that wicker actually refers to the weaving method and not the material. Wicker furniture can be made of bamboo, willow, rattan, and man-made materials. Did you know this? I learn something new every day. 

Today is Furniture Fixer Upper Day and we have some great projects for you. The links are at the bottom of the post, following my tutorial.

I purchased the table from a local vintage market for $24. The top is wicker and the base is metal, and very heavy. The wicker top was definitely dingy and had a few damaged areas.

It looked like someone had dropped metallic paint on a few spots and the wicker was also crushed a bit in those areas.

I felt like the table needed a fresh, light look maybe with a beach or cottage-type vibe. Thinking a light taupey color would be good and not having that color on my shelves I mixed my own. 

I combined three Dixie Belle paint colors together, Drop Cloth, Glacier Ice, and Badlands.

There was more paint in the three containers than I realized. I found a large glass jar to hold the new paint color.

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I wanted to spray paint the metal table base but since there was snow on the ground and the temperature was 20 degrees that didn’t happen.

Sitting on the floor and painting furniture is hard on an old woman but most times my work tables are covered with junk.

But I had just finished cleaning up the shop and realized I had a half-empty table. Pieces like this smallish table sit perfectly on my work table and makes things a lot easier on my back.

The sponge brush I started painting with wasn’t working very well and I switched to a small paintbrush from FolkArt. 

My original plan was to paint the table with the special mix taupe color and then dry brush the wicker tabletop and the base with white paint.

The problem with brush painting wicker is that the deep areas of the woven material do not get painted unless you glop the paint on and that isn’t a good look.

After painting two layers of the taupy color over the top it was obvious I couldn’t get paint coverage on all of the wicker. 

The original brown color on the bottom layer of wicker material was still brown and did not fit my plan. I was also having trouble blending the paint over the damaged wicker areas. 

Since this was day 4 after the snowfall and things had warmed up a bit, I decided to spray paint the tabletop to cover the wicker completely with paint.

The Greek Stone color from Krylon was in my supply of paint and it was close enough to the taupe color. Now the brown was covered completely.

Then I painted a layer of my custom mixed color over the Greek Stone.

Next, it was time to dry brush the wicker with white paint. The basic technique for dry brushing is to dip the brush bristles in the paint and then dab the paint off on a paper towel or cardboard. The bristles should be mostly dry with very little paint remaining.

Then you run the brush bristles over the surface to be dry brushed. 

I dry-brushed the tabletop with white paint going from side to side and back and forth in one direction until I covered the top completely.

Then I dry-brushed the paint in the opposite direction using the same process. Next, I painted the wicker border around the tabletop.

When the tabletop was finished to my liking, I dry-brushed the metal table base. I ran the brush tips over the metal slats on the bottom shelf, the legs, and the curlicue pieces. 

I have a great tutorial on dry brushing. You can find it here….Dry Brush Painting Technique For Furniture

For the metal table sides and the sharp side edges of the legs, I ran the mostly dry paintbrush over them holding the brush at an angle to the sharp edges to leave just a bit of paint on the edges, not on the entire flat surface.

This dry brush process and the technique to highlight the edges of the table and the legs may sound difficult but it isn’t. Trust me.

Now the table has a lighter, fresher look and I was able to blend the damaged areas of the tabletop so they aren’t noticeable.

Those curlicue pieces were difficult to paint. Getting in all those grooves and curves takes a long time with a paintbrush. I much prefer using spray paint for metal table bases like this one.

Dry brushing gives depth and character to the paint and keeps it from looking flat.

The table is perfect for a covered patio or sunroom.

If you have time before jumping on the Furniture Fixer Upper Tour please leave a note. Thanks! Take the tour by clicking the text links below the “before” makeovers photo collage……

Plaid 50557E Flat Brush, (2-Piece), Gold Taklon

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As always, thanks for being here, Kathy

Kathy Owen

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Author: Kathy Owen
Kathy Owen is the founder of the home decor blog Petticoat Junktion where she shares tutorials on painting furniture and upcycling thrifty finds into unique home décor. Her DIY projects have been featured on the Home Depot Blog, Plaid Crafts, Behr Designer Series, and in numerous magazines.

Last update on 2025-03-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API