Revamp an Old Patio Umbrella With This DIY Painted Umbrella Makeover
Often, household items past their prime end up in landfills and trash bins. This doesn’t have to be the case! I had a very old faded sun umbrella that was headed for the trash. While it was quite old, it was still in great shape, so I decided to spruce it up a bit for the summer! With a bit of paint, I was able to not only save this umbrella from the trash, I was also able to take it to the next level and brighten up my garden. Even better, this project only takes a bit of time and money to complete. Want to see how I did it? Follow my step-by-step tutorial below!
Tools and Materials:
- Patio umbrella
- Dixie Belle chalk paint
- Paintbrush
- Chip brush
- Spray bottle
- Waterproof sealant
Before I could start painting, I had to clean the umbrella fabric. I unscrewed the top cap, popped the end pieces off, and threw it in the washing machine.
Most materials used in umbrellas can be machine washed, but if you prefer to clean it by hand you can do that as well. If you do use the washing machine, make sure not to use a fabric softener as it will add a coating to the material.
I considered adding polka dots to my umbrella, but once I realized just how long it would take me I scrapped that idea. In the end I decided to add some stripes.
First I sprayed the fabric a bit to help the paint go on more smoothly.
Then I added a short stripe with a chip brush. I love how you can see the bristles on the very end of the stripe.
I added different colored short stripes to the umbrella. I used four colors, a white, pale yellow, faded pink, and a turquoise that was slightly darker than the color of the umbrella. Make sure to continue spraying the surface with water before you paint to help the paint go on more smoothly.
I worked in sections, curving the edges as I went because the bottom is wider than the top. Once I had finished painting I let it fully dry before reattaching it to the umbrella.
While the umbrella fabric is waterproof, the paint is not, so once I had reassembled the umbrella I went ahead and sprayed it with a waterproof sealant. Now it is ready to be used in all seasons!
This project saved my umbrella from the landfill, and I hope that it will help you too! It’s always fun to breathe new life into old items. How have you revamped things in your house? Let me know in the comments below!
Resources for this project:
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Comments
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I have reused the frame of a patio umbrella using a new fabric cover purchased on Amazon. World Market, and possibly other places probably have them. This is much less money than buying a completely new umbrella. You have to be sure you count the spokes and get a cover with the same number of sections. Rather than paint the old cover, I used it for covering plants in the first few frosts of the fall, or you can also use it for a drop cloth. You could probably also dye a cover with dye designed for synthetic fabric, but it would most likely fade after one summer.
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Nice!!
Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
You say in the beginning of your how to do's that you SPRAYED the fabric to make it easier to paint..sprayed with what? Water???
If I spray paint it, what type should I use? Can I change the color to any color?
What kind of paint did you use??