If your outdoor patio furniture has seen better days, a few coats of milk paint in your favorite colors can quickly spruce it up.

You’re probably wondering, “Can I use milk paint for outdoor furniture?”

The answer is a resounding yes.

With a bit of prep work and with our Outdoor Additive mixed in, your milk paint will be vibrant and durable enough to withstand sun, rain and snow without all the harmful chemicals contained in traditional outdoor paints.

Prepare Your Surface

 Since your outdoor furniture may be a bit weathered and rough, it’s a good idea to start your summer milk paint project by cleaning and lightly sanding the surface first. Tri Sodium Phosphate works well to remove any residual substances. For optimal adhesion, our milk paint works best when applied to raw wood or unsealed surfaces, so stripping existing paint is recommended.

Get Creative

Part of the fun of s milk paint project is the ability to mix different colors together to achieve your exact desired shade.

Here are some ideas to consider:

  • Paint a dining table one color and the chairs another.
  • Create a rainbow effect and paint each chair a different color.
  • Create an ombre effect by gradually adding more water to your paint for a lighter color. For example, your chairs can be different shades of the same type of blue.

Check out our photo gallery for inspiration.

Mix the Outdoor Additive for Milk Paint

For best results when working on outdoor projects, use our Outdoor Additive with a ‘green’ milk paint. This is a finely ground borax compound which is non-toxic. When mixed well with the milk paint, the paint should remain smooth.

The Outdoor Additive helps to:

  • Block stains, particularly on certain woods such as pine and cedar.
  • Protect from damaging U.V. rays which can warp furniture and fade colors.
  • Prevent mold growth.
  • Inhibit bacterial growth.
  • Increase resistance to flames.

With time, milk paint gently wears away naturally, particularly in areas that get the most use such as seats and edges of tables.

Other types of synthetic paints tend to blister and peel off. You may actually take a liking to a slightly weathered piece of furniture that has been painted with milk paint as it has a certain patina and charm about it.

Types of Milk Paint Finishes

There are a variety of finishes for milk paint that come in various forms such as oil, cream, pastes, glazes and wax.

For outdoor projects use Pure Tung Oil or Dark Tung Oil. Tung oil is an excellent, natural waterproofing substance that has been used for hundreds of years.

It’s particularly well-suited for wood surfaces and creates a protective layer once dried.

To bring out the natural grain of the wood and for a slightly aged look, use Dark Tung Oil, which contains a non-toxic resin.

Once you’ve completed your outdoor project, allow it to dry completely and sit under a covered area for two weeks to enable the paint to harden.

Once the two week period has passed, take out your project and enjoy!