Before & After: Painted Upholstery Chair Makeover

Materials needed:
1 Quart of latex satin paint in the color of your choice (I just got word that though Valspar called it latex, this paint is acrylic. It’s also good to note that others have tried the whole process with just latex, just acrylic craft paints and even Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. It does not seem to matter.)
1 Spray bottle full of water, ready for refills
1 Paint brush
Fabric medium (equal to the amount of paint that you use)
Acrylic craft paint in the color of your choice (It should match the color of the Latex paint should you want to use my exact method and do the final coat in acrylic craft paint.)
Sand paper in super fine grit

Note: The fabric medium is white and could lighten your paint color a bit.

Tutorial:
1. Make sure the chair is wiped free of dust and debris. Clean it well.

2. Mix 1:1 parts of paint and fabric medium.

I used Ocean Soul by Valspar. Below is a more accurate depiction of the color used:

Below is the textile medium that I used. It is by Delta Ceramcoat and I purchased it in 8 ounce containers at Michael’s.

Fabric medium keeps the fabric from getting too hard. Note: Some fabric mediums require that you place an iron briefly on the fabric (or a hair dryer) after the paint dries.

I didn’t use much paint – maybe 1/8 of the quart. I mixed mine in an old cup. A little goes a long way in this phase, as it will be very watered down.

This will be your base coat.

3. Water that paint/ textile medium mixture down. Mix in about 1/2 the amount of water as paint. (1 part water to 2 parts paint.) Stir. It should look more like a stain than a paint.

4. Remove all seat cushions that are not attached from the chair or other furniture item.

5. Spritz (fine mist) the part of the chair you will start with first with water. I started on the seat cushion first. Don’t be shy, you want the fabric wet. Rub the water into the fabric.

Sorry about the pics! I was new to blogging when I posted this!

6. Brush on the paint slowly while blending the best you can. Work the paint into the fabric. Don’t be afraid to use your hands. Always make your last stroke with the grain so the fabric lays in the right direction as it dries.

Note: I tried it on a pillow first. If you have a pillow or if there is an underside of a cushion, start there and see how it goes.

The watered down coats should give you light coverage, almost like a stain. It will also act as a primer.

7. Do two coats this way. Each should be VERY thin. Water it down even more if you have to. Let the first one dry fully before beginning the second. I let mine dry overnight.

It will look worse before better. This is after one coat.

8. Don’t worry, your arm won’t fall off. It is tiring, though, so you won’t mind resting between coats.

9. Sand any particularly rough parts. Sand lightly with a fine grit sandpaper. In the direction of the grain, if possible.

10. Once my chair was dry, I chose to spray painted the legs in a glossy white.

Below is the chair before the legs were painted, with two coats of paint on the upholstery.

After the legs were painted.

11. Now, it’s time for a final coat using the acrylic paint. Mix it 1:1 with the fabric medium, like you did with the latex paint.

Note: It is not necessary to do an acrylic coat. You can use latex if you prefer. I just got word that the Valspar paint that I used is acrylic. However, most say that acrylic has more pigment. Either way, you want a third coat and you will want this coat a little thicker.

I mixed this in a cup as well. But, this time, be more generous with the paint and dilute it less. I’d do a full cup of paint, this size. (See below.)

Add just a few thimbles of water to dilute it a little.

I had to mix my own color since the acrylic paints didn’t come in the color I wanted.

Spray the fabric with water again, just like you did on the other two coats. It simply helps it blend and go on more smoothly.

Paint this layer much more generously. This will be the layer that will cover the chair more completely. Don’t glop it on, but be generous. It should provide full coverage unlike the base coats.

12. I thought my chair needed a little bling, so I added some nail head trim on the arms. I got the spacing right by folding a piece of paper and taping it so as to laminate it.