How To Restore Natural Rattan Or Cane Conservatory Furniture Which Has Faded

Paint or varnish faded natural rattan conservatory furniture

Natural rattan or cane conservatory furniture will fade if placed in strong sunlight, but unlike synthetic rattan this can be restored to almost pristine condition.

• Clean the furniture first by scrubbing in the crevices with a soft brush then using the brush attachment on your vacuum to clean out all the dust.
• Brush gently with a soft wire brush to remove any loose fragments.
• Give it a light sand down with a fine grain sandpaper, this gives a better surface to which the paint or varnish can adhere.
• Make sure the furniture is thoroughly dry.
• Make sure you are painting in a well-ventilated area and wearing safety goggles and mask.
• Turn the furniture upside-down and paint the underside first.
• You can use either a brush or a spray to apply the paint but spraying does work out more expensive as paint is lost.
• Either give it 3 coats of a tinted varnish or 2 thin coats of an oil-based undercoat and then 2 thin coats of an oil-based top coat. Make sure each coat is dry before applying the next.
• Allow to dry thoroughly before use.

You may have to give the furniture a fresh coat of varnish or paint every couple of years.