If your patio furniture has seen better days, or if you've got a curbside find or hand-me-down piece that needs new life, a fresh coat of paint can be just the trick. It's so easy to transform patio furniture with a new color, and here are some of my favorite tips for how to paint outdoor patio furniture.

Tip #1 - Clean it

The first step to any furniture flip, indoor or outdoor, should always be to clean the piece thoroughly. Even if you're going to sand it, clean any grime and dirt off first, or else you'll just grind it into the surface.

A pressure washer does a great job of quickly getting rid of stubborn dirt and stains on outdoor furniture, especially wooden pieces. If you don't have access to a pressure washer, use a good ol' bucket of soapy water and a scrub brush.

Tip #2 - Prime it

Now that your surface is clean and dry, you may want to skip straight to the paint, but I urge you to take a minute to prime first. Using a proper primer will seal the surface and will make the paint stick so much better. My favorite is COLORSHOT White Primer.

As an added bonus, the solid white basecoat will make your finish color really pop, especially if it's a light or bright color, with fewer coats required.

Tip #3 - Use the right paint

Now the fun part... choosing the paint! Of course the color will be up to your personal taste and decor, but the TYPE of paint you choose is super important. Make sure you choose a paint that's suitable for your surface (wood, metal, plastic) and rated for outdoor use. For me, COLORSHOT spray paint checks all those boxes.

Be sure to paint in a well-ventilated area and spray light, even coats for good coverage.

Isn't it amazing what a bold new color can do to transform a piece?

Tip #4 - Seal it

If your patio furniture is going to be subject to extreme wear and tear, such as exposed to full sun, near water, or left outside all winter, you might want to also seal it. Choose an outdoor-rated sealer that works for your surface, and give everything a good coat to lock in that beautiful new color.

Tip #5 - Update cushions with outdoor fabric

Another great way to update patio furniture is to give it new cushions or pillows, which can be great DIY projects. Just make sure you choose an outdoor fabric so that it will stand up to the sun and weather. There are plenty of fun options at the fabric store, marked for outdoor use.

For my patio sofa makeover, I needed one long cushion, so I started with a scrap of wood that I cut to size for the seat.

Then I added a layer of upholstery foam for a cushion and wrapped the whole thing with a layer of thick, plastic drop cloth (for ultimate water protection for the foam) and then my outdoor fabric. I wrapped it all tight and stapled the edges down.

I just love this quick and simple cushion. This basic technique can be adapted to any size to suit lots of different furniture pieces.

That fun blue pattern looks so awesome against the orange sofa!

Add in a throw pillow and a glass of lemonade and my sofa now looks brand new, and so inviting on the patio.