Helpful Tips for Painting Your Wooden Porch Swing

Porch swings are ideal for use all year round, but summer weather will make you want to spend hours sitting on yours with a cold drink. There are some ways you can help your swing look new after winter, and one of them is by retouching it. Read about these helpful tips for painting your wooden porch swing and enjoy the weather, the view, and the outdoors.

Cover Work Area

You will probably paint your porch swing outside where it is hanging, which is the best option, mainly because having an open space with paint allows it to dry quicker and the smell not to be overwhelming. Color paint can be a little messy, and that is why you need to be careful—but having protection will provide from any unwanted stains on your porch or walls.

A drop cloth or a plastic cover will do a great job of preventing stains. Place it under the swing with at least three feet extra on each side.

Clean Your Swing

Paint sticks to dust, and if the dust blows away, so will your paint, leaving random tiny dots all over your swing of uncovered color. To start with, use a wet cloth to clean the dust off your swing; you can use an all-purpose cleaner or some vinegar to clean it as well. It should not be damp, but you should allow the product to dry before starting to paint. The different types of wood from the swings make it easy and quick to clean.

Latex Paint

This type of paint is one of the best you can use for a wooden swing; whether it is a cypress porch swing or a cedar, latex paint will provide protection and long-lasting color for years to enjoy. Latex paint is waterproof, so it’s perfect for the outside, and you can add as many coats of paint as you like to make it stronger. To begin with, we would suggest applying at least three coats.

Use Sandpaper

Another helpful tip for painting your wooden porch swing to make it look just as good as new is with sandpaper. Use this to sand off any scratched parts or areas where the wood is a little bumpy. Take a piece of sandpaper and fold it in half so that you can place your finger in between and apply pressure to the area you want to smoothen. This will get the wood ready for paint.

Different Styles

Depending on the style of your swing, you can choose from different colors of paint. To go for a more neutral earthy tone, you can paint it the brown wood color, white, or even green to match all the plants outside. If you aim to make it an accent piece, you can paint it yellow or the highest vibrating color, red. Whichever color you choose, make sure to reflect your style and feel confident with it.