Re-Upholster With Paint - Tutuorial

Time to dig out that old chair that's collecting dust because you "intend" to one day reupholster it.  Today, we won't be cutting or measuring fabric.  

In fact, you aren't even going to remove the fabric on your chair. 

We are going to reupholster it in paint!  

Not just any paint, but CeCe Caldwell's Chalk & Clay Paint.

Here's how this Goodwill Chair started out!

The fabric was clean with no rips or tears.  Just a bit too "office" looking.  However, the lines of this chair had LOTS of potential.  It just need a little refreshing.

I wanted to paint my wood white, so I started by taping off the wood.  

You can skip this step and paint the entire piece all one color if you choose.

Here comes the fun part!  

Paint!  

Choose your color and start painting.

Remember to really get the paint into the cracks.  

You don't want someone sitting down and seeing the old fabric peeking through the cracks.

Depending on your fabric color, pattern and the paint color you choose, it will take 2 to 3 coats of paint to completely cover.  

The first time I did this, it took 3 coats.  This one only took 2 (approx 1/2 quart of paint).  

I painted right over the brads on this one.  I'll show you how to fix this in a minute.

 Now you can remove the tape.

You could stop here and have a solid colored chair.  OR...you could stencil on a pattern.  OR...you can have some real fun, and use this chair as a canvas!  

Start painting your own custom fabric.  That's what I decided to do.

Call it dreaming of spring!  I painted an abstract cherry blossom pattern.  

I mixed up a custom coral color to pair with the Santa Fe Turquoise base. 

(1 cup Kissimmee Orange, 1/2 cup Vintage White, 1/8 cup Traverse City Cherry)

Once you are happy with your pattern (if you choose to do one), if you had brads on your chair, grab a damp rag and start rubbing the paint off the brads.  It's not going to be perfect.  There will still be some paint in the cracks. I'm OK with this. 

 If you're not, well, you might be there a while cleaning.

Here you can see where I have cleaned and where I haven't.

 Now, paint the wood in the color or your choice.  I chose, Simply White. 

I wanted a clean crisp look.  No distressing!

Let your chair dry overnight (to make sure the fabric is completely dry) and apply two coats of Satin Finish (undiluted) to the ENTIRE chair; Yes...fabric and wood.  Let the first coat dry completely before applying your second coat.

 You are done!  You now have a one of a kind chair (kid and pet friendly) and you didn't have to pull a single brad to make it happen.  

AND...who wants to pull ALL those out?  

Not me!

Let's recap...

Before and After.

Ready to paint?

Ciao for now!

Kellie

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