How to Refinish a Porch Swing

When I bought my house, I knew I had to accept all the quirks that came with it. One thing I loved was this ugly, old porch swing on the back patio. It was a hideous green, but I loved swinging on it and reading a good book.

This photo is from the listing when I bought my home. You can see the green swing on the right.

I always had plans to refinish it, but my plans got sped up when it broke. I was so sad, and I waited almost a year to fix it because I wasn’t sure how to go about it.

Unlike most porch swings, this swing was held together by thread and a thick material. I wasn’t sure what to use to fix it because I couldn’t find anything online.

So, I just decided to go into Joann’s and figure it out myself!

If you have a similar porch swing, this is what I did to make it look more modern and efficient.

YOU WILL NEED

Upholstery needles

Polyester Cord

Outdoor fabric (canvas)

Spray paint (if you need to change the color of the pre-existing structure)

INSTRUCTIONS

If you are repainting the frame, use spray paint that is made for outdoor furniture. I repainted the frame white, and it took about three coats (ignore my dead grass).

Make sure the paint is completely dry before you begin putting in the swing.

Drape the fabric over the frame and use clothespin or chip clips to hold it together while you sew.

I used a running stitch, and I doubled up on the stitch to ensure it was strong enough to hold the weight of a human.

And that was it! The project took about 45 minutes to complete, and I absolutely love it!

Plus, all the pillow were from Dirt Cheap for $3 each!

What project have you been putting off?