How To Easily Paint Upholstery | Indoors & Outdoors

May 19 2020, by Gene Howard, 3 min reading time

Painting fabric is a great way to rescue old upholstery!

Not only does rescuing old fabric with One Step Paint produce beautiful results, but it's also a great alternative to costly re-upholstering.

Instead of disposing of old chairs or couches, breathe new life into them by learning to rescue fabric the right way and with the right products from Amy Howard at Home.

In this tutorial, learn how to rescue an old chair by making its cushions look new while increasing its resilience in the process!

Step 1: Tape the Frame

If you don’t want your entire chair to be the same color as your cushions, protect the frame by covering it with painter’s tape.

Step 2: Prepare Your Paint

Mix some water with Ballet White One-Step Paint.

You'll want to thin your paint by about 10-15%.

Do not use the paint on fabric without thinning it down.

Step 3: Mist the Fabric

With water from a spray bottle, mist the entire surface you’re going to paint.

This process will let the fibers in the fabric open up and absorb the paint.

Step 4: Apply Your Paint

Going from top to bottom, paint in long, clean strokes.

Use a synthetic brush so the paint goes on smoother over the fabric.

Let your paint dry for an hour.

Step 5: Sand and Dust Off

Once the paint dries, it’s going to feel rough and prickly.

Smooth it out with the use of 400-grit sandpaper.

This will help soften the fabric you’re working on.

Afterward, use a chip brush to dust residue off.

Wipe the painted surface with a lint-free rag as well.

Step 6: Paint and Sand Again

Repeat steps 4 & 5. Do not settle for just one coat.

Two coats of paint are the minimum required to achieve good results.

Step 7: Wax Your Cushions

Using a lint-free rag, apply our Mind Your Own Beeswax to cover your entire painted surface. Make sure that the wax is applied evenly.

Let the wax dry for an hour and buff your chair.

Waxing will help seal your paint and protect the fabric from stains.

You can simply clean your chair with Windex or soap and water when needed.

Some Reminders:

Remember that One-Step Paint is formulated to be used for various types of surfaces.

Protect your table and stone or concrete floors when painting upholstery.

Don’t settle for just one coat of paint.

If you’re dealing with mohair or high-nap velvet, they will end up holding a lot of paint and get hard.

While linen and cotton are best to paint on, you can also paint on leather and vinyl.