How to Paint Fabric
, by Mary Kate King, 5 min reading time
Are you tired of looking at that old, outdated couch or chair in your living room? Before you go out and spend a fortune on new furniture or re-upholstery, why not consider giving your existing pieces a makeover with a coat of paint? Painting upholstery is a surprisingly easy and affordable way to give your furniture a fresh new look, and the transformation can be absolutely stunning. In this video, we'll show you just how simple the process can be, and how you can achieve amazing results with just a few basic tools and a little bit of creativity. Get ready to be inspired!
Products Used:
- One Step Paint - Black
- 2.5" Flat Paint Chip Brush
- Mesh Stencil - Birds in the Garden
- Gel Art Ink - Metallic Silver
- Mind Your Own Beeswax
- ChalkArt Spreader or Artist Brush
Additional Supplies:
- Fabric Softener
- Water
- Plastic containers for mixing paint
- High grit sandpaper
- Water mister or spray bottle
- Lint free cloth (or old t-shirt)
Want to recreate this exact look? Shop our Upholstery Refinishing Bundle!
BEFORE
Amy and Gene found this outdated chair at the Haven House Thrift Store in Santa Rosa Beach, FL. It was outdated and worn, but still had great integrity. Keep reading to see the process and reveal!
Step One
Take your One Step Paint, fabric softener, and water and mix together in a ratio of 1 part water, 1 part softener, and 2 parts paint. Mix until well combined. Take the spray bottle and mist the area of the fabric you will be working on first. You will mist the fabric before painting as you go. Using the synthetic chip brush, begin painting the fabric. Don't use too much paint or worry about any spots or colors still showing through. You will come back and add a second coat that will cover it. Continue to mist the fabric first, then paint until the piece is completely covered with the first coat. Allow to dry completely overnight.
Step Two
Once the fabric is completely dry, use a high grit sandpaper to lightly sand all over the piece in the direction that you painted even if you see some cross hatching appear. You will instantly feel the difference in the softness. You might also see some white scuffs appear as you sand, but don't worry about those.
Once the piece is lightly sanded all over, take your paint mixture and begin the second coat. You will not need to mist the fabric with water before painting the second coat. Once fully painted with the second coat, allow to dry overnight. Once fully dry, repeat the sanding process, remembering to sand in the direction that you painted.
Step Three
(Optional)
Take the Birds in the Garden Mesh Stencil (or your chosen design), and line it up on the chosen area of the piece (Amy added hers to the cushion of the chair). Burnish (rub firmly) the stencil to the fabric, making sure it is well adhered. Using a ChalkArt Spreader or Artist Brush, apply a small amount of the Metallic Silver Gel Art Ink to the stencil and push through the mesh of the stencil, coving the whole design. Once done, peel the stencil from the fabric and wash it in lukewarm water, rubbing all the paint out of the mesh with your fingers, and laying adhesive side up to air dry.
Once the stencil is dry, repeat this process for the remaining area you want covered with the design. Note: if using a repeating pattern like Birds in the Garden, you will need to line up all additional applications very specifically to the one before. Make sure the very edge of the mesh of the design is lined up directly beside the previous, or you will be able to see the line/discontinuity.
Step Four
Add a quarter size amount of Mind Your Own Beeswax to a lint free cloth and apply to the painted fabric in a circular motion. Apply evenly all over the piece, adding more to your rag as needed. Once dry, after 20-30 minutes, buff all over the piece with a clean part of the lint free rag.
Finally
Enjoy the Bragging Rights!
Now you can enjoy your newly restored fabric piece for years to come.
AFTER
Can you believe this transformation?! What was a $12.50 thrifted old chair is now an intricately detailed and modern piece you will be proud to have in your home. You can do it too!
Watch the tutorial to see the full process from start to finish.
Want to see more stunning transformations? Join the Before and After Facebook Group to see how people just like you are flipping furniture, saving money, and Enjoying the Bragging Rights. You can also follow us on Facebook and get alerts when Amy goes live with her next project!
Comments
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Can you paint leather chairs?
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Love the chair with the Birds in the Garden transfer. We have 2 chairs that we love but the no longer go with the rest of our furniture. I will be looking for ideas as to painting tuck point chairs.
