Help me upcycle/rescue hideous Facebay mistake

[WitchLady]

I could cry! I've bought a garden table and chairs - wood. Don't know what type. The chairs don't match - two different pairs. All different colours. Stupidly felt too awkward at the door to push back. Im an idiot. What can i do? Was thinking cupronol or something to make them the same colour at least.

Either paint or stain with a woodstain, or you could paint the chairs different bright colours and funky the set up. Table cloth for the table?

Post a photo and we can help with suggestions

I'd definitely go with painting the chairs different colours. Turn it into a deliberate, funky choice, rather than a mistake. The world and his wife has matchy matchy garden sets- you have the chance to be unique.

Sand the lot down and pick some bright colours. Then at least in all this rain you can look at something cheery.😁

Do this!

Sand down and paint all in different colours

Thank you. I will!

Why on earth didn't you say anything at the time, OP? You numpty!

On the plus side, mismatched chairs painted in super bright different colours will look absolutely brilliant.

Please will you post a before and after picture?

I really am a numpty!! I just couldnt, I'm so angry at myself. Stupid social conditioning!

Cuprinol do some gorgeous colours, dont beat yourself up about it, once painted you'll be pleased you bought them.

Don't be hard on yourself. It's a lesson for the future.

But also a great opportunity for now. Matchy-matchy garden furniture is shite. You've got the chance to do something really funky and get yourself some really unique furniture here.

Johnstone's will make up any colour in wood/outdoor paint for you. Go wild.

I'm jealous - I love outdoor painting in summer.

Thanks for making me feel better :-)

I'm jealous - I love outdoor painting in summer

Me too...... this isnt a normal summer though! I'm going to throw a sheet onto the kitchen floor and bring it indoors.

I find that painting everything with the same colour can bring furniture together. I have pieces from different sets ina. living room so I painted the lot and it looks like it belongs together even though it's all different in terms of design.
If it's real wood I would:

1. sand everything with fine sand paper (the thick one feels like sand, the finer one feels like something for exfoliating skin i.e. it's smoother)
2. cover holes if needed, let it dry, sand
3. paint with primer - if using a very light colour, do 2 layers
4. use a special paint for the outdoors - don't go cheap here; 2 coats - matte is very unforgiving with dirt; shiny - the most forgiving with dirt but it also shows when you're not a good painter, when you haven't sanded properly, every single bit where you cut corners will look 1000 times bigger; satin - the right balance between not showing dirt or poor painting.
5. if you feel the need, you can varnish (give it a week even after it's dry) NB: it was all be water-based or oil-based; you don't mix anything or it won't adhere, i.e. if you do an oil paint and a water varnish or primer it makes the paint weak and you might get blisters or everytime you use something it might scratch and the paint cracks over time.

if you feel the need, you can varnish (give it a week even after it's dry)
I wasn't very clear here: after using paint, you have to wait even after it's dry to the touch or the varnish brush will lift the paint. The paint must set before moving to varnish. After applying varnish you must also give a week or 2 before using the furniture; being dry to the touch isn't enough, you must give it time to set.
Other tip: brush for corners and a roll for the rest. Start at the top and work your way down. Don't use too much paint on the roll.

Painting is very very relaxing for the mind. It engages the brain, the hands, the body... it's a bit like Xanax for the mind.

I got a table and chairs free. Currently stripping all the grey off. Doing dark grey table and not sure of chair colour yet. . Using Rustoleum outdoor paint.

We've painted our hideous orange wood coloured log store a gorgeous purple using Cupranol outdoor paint. Paint the lot in either one colour or different colours. It will look amazing.