Refinishing Ikea Outdoor Furniture

Remember when your first brought home your brand new Ikea Applaro outdoor furniture? How great the acacia wood looked on your patio? If you’ve had your furniture for several years like me, that may seem like a distant memory. The good new is that it’s easy to refinish your wooden outdoor furniture and make it look good as new No, really. It’s easy!

All you need are a few basic things to make your furniture look like new again:

Sand Off the Old Finish

Restoring your weather-beaten outdoor furniture is a simple 2 step process: Sand & Stain.

Use an orbital sander with some coarse (80-grit) sandpaper to make the stripping process quick. Sand down the entire surface, removing all the visible finish. You need to strip the wood all the way down to bare wood, stain free.

Finish by hand sanding with the grain using some fine 220-grit sandpaper.

Tip: In most cases only the table top needs to be stripped. The legs and sides are usually in acceptable condition and can be reconditioned without sanding.

Apply Varda All-in-one Outdoor Stain & Protector

Before applying the new finish, make sure to wipe off all the sawdust using a painter's rag.

Simply use a clean cloth to wipe on Varda stain & protector. I simply love this product because it's both a stain and an outdoor furniture protector all-in-one. Wipe on the stain in the same direction as the grain and work one plank at a time to avoid inconsistent or blotchy finish. Wipe off any excess stain immediately. Varda is so easy to work with. All you need is one coat!

Tip: Don't apply in direct sunlight - find a spot in the shade - and wear nitrile gloves to prevent orange stained fingers!

Like New Again

Now all that’s left to do is wait 24 hours before use. See? Told you it was easy!

If you haven’t already, watch the short YouTube video.

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