Best paint for rattan furniture to spruce up your space for summer
The Evening Standard's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Rattan has been a long-running trend in interiors for many years now.
The organic look is perfect for creating an exotic, laidback vibe across the house, from rattan headboards and bed frames in the bedroom to side tables and mirrors in the lounge.
It's also a firm favourite for garden furniture with synthetic styles able to weather everything Mother Nature throws at it.
While plastic versions require minimal maintenance, genuine cane and rattan can start to look shabby after a few years. General wear and tear can fray the strands and fade colour, making it more of an eyesore than something you're proud to display in the house.
In the past, the common thing to do would be to bin it or give it to charity and look for a shiny new replacement. But the twin forces of the cost-of-living crisis and a newfound zeal to make do and mend means more of us are willing to take up the upcycling challenge.
But before you go rooting around for a paintbrush and start swooning over colour charts, choosing the right paint is vital. Any old emulsion won't do.
Acrylic or chalk paint formulas are best suited for sprucing up indoor rattan furniture, but if you're thinking of making over garden furniture, choose outdoor paint to ensure your pieces get the right level of protection from the elements.
As with any paint job, preparation is key. Thoroughly clean surfaces to get rid of dust and grime and dry completely. Some light sanding can help the paint stick to surfaces, especially if they’ve been varnished. A primer can be a useful addition to apply before colour, but if you want results fast, look for a self-priming paint to cut down the steps. Also, consider spray paint to apply colour; it’s faster and gives a more even finish when applied with a steady hand.
Whichever option you choose, patience is key. You’ll need to allow coats to fully dry before going in with a second, and possibly third, layer.
To help your rattan furniture makeover project, we’ve gathered the best tins of paint to get you on your way.
Shop now
Frenchic Constance Moss Al Fresco
No need to reach for a base coat thanks to Frenchic's Al Fresco range. The chalk-based paint specialist has mixed primer into this collection, perfect for painting furniture whether it's placed outside the house or inside it.
The eco-friendly formula glides onto clean surfaces and dries with a flat finish, making it ideal for rattan. We love this deep moss green, perfect for midcentury-minded uplifts.
Frenchic Hornblower Lazy Range
As well as an Al Fresco range for painting garden furniture, Frenchic offers this aptly named Lazy Range. The formula all but paints itself: not only is it self-priming and self-sealing, but the wax infusion means it is self-levelling too, so you shouldn’t see many brush marks.
It works on a range of surfaces including wood, laminate and metal yet is gentle enough to use on kids' toys and furniture. Bravo.
Rust-Oleum AE0050009E8 400ml Painter's Touch Spray Paint - Blossom White Satin
Want fast results? A spray paint is your best bet. Rust-Oleum offers lots of shades ready to revive tired rattan. Our favourite is this clean white shade which reminds us of beach holidays - perfect even if we're miles away from the coast. As well as rattan, the paint will also work on wood, metal and ceramics, meaning it's a multi-use hero to keep in your upcycling kit.
Spray in light strokes in a well-ventilated area, ideally outdoors.
Rust-Oleum Garden Furniture Spray Paint Belgrave - 400ml
Old garden furniture need some love? Try this option, which dries with a water-resistant finish. From Rust-Oleum and formulated specifically for garden furniture, the 400ml can comes in two more shades in addition to this teal number, named Belgrave. Combine in an arm workout and shake well before use.
Shabby Chic Chalk Based Furniture Paint 100ml
Upcycling furniture allows you to take more risks than you might on your walls. Shabby Chic offers a range of chalk-based furniture paint with a metallic finish to give it an edge. We can't make up our minds over gold and the dazzling blue in the range; you might find it easier to pick depending on the project at hand.
CL COSMOS LAC Duck Egg Blue Chalk Effect Spray Paint
Much like olive green, duck egg blue is a magical shade that makes things look expensive instantly. If you've got some rattan on its last legs, see if a makeover with this dusky blue hue can bring it back from the brink. It will need sealing to maintain the matt finish, which the brand also sells.
The spray caps can do fine sprays but there is also a larger opening to allow renovators to cover a wider surface area.
Lick Green 18 Eggshell
As well as bringing your walls to life, you can give last-chance furniture and homewares new life with Lick’s eggshell paint, as long as it's wood. Simply apply a thin coat of paint and let dry before sanding off bumpy sections in preparation for a second coat.
Lick’s paints only come in 2.5L tins, so it’s a good purchase if you’re planning to refresh large pieces or want to paint sections of your home in the same colour.
Vintro Paint Satin Furniture Paint - Light Stone
Fans of soothing, calming tones can make use of Vintro Paint’s Pebble shade, a warm cream that can be used to stain everything from walls to woodwork and of course, furniture. In fact, the water-based solution is safe enough to use on children’s toys and furniture, useful if you want to give their Little Tykes pedal car a showroom-worthy makeover. Once tried, it’s easy to keep your upcycled project in good nick as it’s washable, making cleaning a breeze too.
YesColours Joyful Pink
Spark joy back into rattan with YesColours. The brand offers some truly dopamine-spiking shades, including this bubblegum pink. You'll need to sand, prime and varnish in between painting if you plan to apply this on furniture, but for this colour pay-off, we're convinced it's worth the effort.