PAINTED UPHOLSTERED CHAIR SEATS

How many chairs have you seen in perfect condition, but with upholstery fabric that’s not to your taste? Lots, I’m sure. Here is a method for painting the fabric and wood to transform the piece. It’s difficult to give precise measurements for the ratio of paint to water, as each piece of upholstery is different—the fabric may be thick, textured, and not too absorbent or thin and very absorbent. The upholstery may be made from traditional horsehair or newer batting. So, bear these golden rules in mind. Use more water, rather than too much paint. Only apply one or two coats. Think of the process as staining, not painting. Let the fabric dry before applying another coat. Use a paint color that covers the fabric underneath—it is hard to cover a dark pattern with light pastels and whites.

YOU WILL NEED

• Chalk Paint^® in Old Violet and Château Grey

• Medium oval bristle brush

• Clean, dry, lint-free cloths

• Small flat brush

• Piece of paper

1Dilute the Old Violet with some water first because the paint needs to flow easily, be quite easy to apply, and offer no resistance. Apply the paint with the oval bristle brush, making sure you start with a wet brush and then move quickly to cover the fabric.

2Some areas of the fabric may not cover well at first, so go back into these wet areas with a little more paint. Always keep the brush wet—don’t use pure paint. Also try not to overpaint and soak the chair. Continue until you have finished painting the whole chair seat and don’t stop halfway through the job.

3Now that the paint is solid and even, take a cloth and wipe off the excess. This may expose the pattern in the fabric. If you don’t want this to happen, allow the fabric to dry and re-paint it once more. The fabric will stretch a little because it’s wet. Don’t worry, as it will shrink back again when dry.

4I chose to paint the fabric first and then the wood in Château Grey afterward, but you can paint the wood first if you wish. In either case, take care not to damage the already painted area. To avoid getting paint on the painted upholstery, rather than using masking tape, just tuck a piece of paper into the crevice between the wood and the upholstery. This method is for unwaxed upholstery and I painted this chair with the intention of not waxing, to achieve a soft natural look. If you do apply wax, then the effect will be more like leather than a stained fabric.

TIP

If you would like the fabric pattern to show through, add more water when applying the paint. Alternatively, you can apply two coats with a little water so that the pattern is obliterated. If you apply too much paint, then the surface may be too hard and perhaps even rough. If this does happen, sand the chair seat with sandpaper.