Elena Rossi
Painting upholstery is a great way to give old furniture a new look without the hassle of reupholstering. However, a common issue with painting upholstered pieces is that the paint can make the fabric stiff and uncomfortable. To avoid this, it is important to choose the right type of fabric and paint. Smooth fabrics that are durable, such as cotton or poly blends, are best suited for painting. It is also recommended to use diluted paint and to add water to the paint when applying it to the fabric. This helps the paint absorb into the fabric, resulting in a softer finish. Additionally, it is crucial to prepare the fabric by cleaning and vacuuming it before painting. By following these tips, it is possible to paint upholstery while maintaining a soft and velvety texture.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of fabric | Smooth fabric that is durable upholstery fabric |
| Preparation | Clean the fabric with a vacuum and spot clean |
| Paint | Use diluted paint and paint multiple coats |
| Water | Spray the fabric with water and add water to the paint |
| Sanding | Sand with extra fine sandpaper between coats |
| Brushes | Use smaller paintbrushes for hard-to-reach areas |
| Number of coats | Paint until none of the original color shows through |
| Curing | Speed up cure time with a hair dryer or clothes dryer |
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What You'll Learn
Choose a suitable fabric
When choosing a fabric to paint, it is best to opt for a smooth and durable fabric. Smooth cotton or poly blends are the most suitable fabrics for painting upholstery. They are easy to work with and allow for an even application of paint.
It is important to avoid fabrics with thick textures, such as velvet or thick woven fabrics, as they are much more challenging to paint. Paint tends to form a thick crust after soaking into the textured fibres, resulting in a less-than-desirable outcome. If you are set on painting velvet, some tutorials suggest spraying the fabric with water and adding water to the paint to retain its softness.
If you are looking to purchase a piece of furniture specifically to paint, selecting a suitable fabric will be an advantage. However, if you are working with existing furniture, don't be discouraged. While certain fabrics may pose more of a challenge, it is not impossible to achieve a successful paint job.
It is always a good idea to test your fabric before committing to the project. Choose a small, inconspicuous area to perform a patch test, ensuring that the paint adheres well and maintains the desired softness. Additionally, consider practising on a similar fabric to gain familiarity with the process and the final texture.
When selecting a fabric for painting, it is crucial to prioritise absorbency. Fabrics that readily absorb paint will yield better results and contribute to the overall softness of the finished product. Dense fabrics, such as wool blends, can be suitable for larger pieces of furniture, while lightweight, thin fabrics like polyester blends work well for smaller projects.
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Clean the upholstery
Before painting upholstery, it is important to clean the fabric thoroughly. This is because paint tends to absorb into textured fibres, which can cause the fabric to feel thick and grainy.
First, use a vacuum to clean the fabric and cushions. This will help remove any excess dust and dirt. If there are any soiled areas, use a cleaning wipe to treat the stain. You may need to apply a few coats of the cleaning product to ensure the stain is removed.
Next, use a slightly damp cloth to spot clean the fabric. This will help to remove any remaining dirt or dust that the vacuum may have missed. Ensure the cloth is only lightly damp, as you do not want to saturate the fabric.
Once the fabric is clean, it is important to allow it to dry completely before beginning the painting process. This will ensure that the paint absorbs evenly and helps to prevent any bleeding or cracking of the paint.
It is also recommended to test the paint on a small, hidden area of the fabric before beginning the project. This will allow you to see how the fabric absorbs the paint and ensure that the paint colour is as desired.
Additionally, if the fabric is very textured or thick, such as velvet or a knit fabric, it may be more challenging to achieve a soft finish. In this case, it is recommended to use a liquid dye instead of paint, as it will be more effective in retaining the softness of the fabric.
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Prepare the fabric
Before painting upholstery, it's important to determine if your piece is suitable for painting. Smooth fabrics that are durable, such as smooth cotton or poly blends, are the most suitable for painting. Avoid fabrics with thick textures like velvet or thick woven fabrics as they are much more challenging to paint over and will not retain their softness. If your piece is made of such fabrics, consider using a liquid dye instead of paint.
Once you've determined that your piece is suitable for painting, the next step is to prepare the fabric. Start by thoroughly cleaning the fabric to remove any dust or dirt. Use a vacuum to clean the fabric and cushions, and use cleaning wipes to clean the framing of the furniture. If there are any soiled areas, you can use a product like Dixie Belle BOSS to paint over them and prevent bleed-through and bad smells.
After cleaning, you'll need to prep the fabric by wetting it. This will help the paint spread and seep into the surface of the fabric rather than into the cushions. You can use a spray bottle to lightly spritz the fabric with water before painting. It's important to use minimal water to avoid the paint seeping into the cushions, which can cause a breakdown of the cushion material and the development of mold.
If you have a furniture transfer or embellishment you'd like to add, now is the time to do so. Apply the transfer to the fabric by removing a small portion of the backing at a time and lightly burnishing it onto the fabric as you slowly roll away the backing. Once the transfer is applied, you can proceed to finish any remaining detail work before sanding and painting.
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Apply paint
Before applying paint, it is important to determine if your piece is suitable for painting. Smooth cotton or poly blends are the most suitable fabrics for painting upholstery. Fabrics with a lot of texture, such as velvet or thick woven fabrics, are more challenging to paint over as paint tends to form a thick crust after soaking into the textured fibres. If your piece is made of such fabrics, consider using a liquid dye instead of paint.
If you are painting a velvet sofa, it is recommended to spray the piece with water and add water to the paint to retain the soft feel of the fabric. It is also important to ensure your fabric is as clean as possible before painting. You can use a vacuum to remove excess dust and dirt, and a cleaning wipe to clean the framing of the furniture.
When painting, use diluted paint and apply multiple thin coats rather than one thick coat. Start by painting the entire piece's fabric (front, back, everywhere) with your lightest colour. This will give you a "blank canvas" and make your painted colours more vibrant. Then, with a spray bottle in hand, start a couple of circular brush strokes. Spray the area you started painting very lightly with water (1-2 spritzes).
Let the first coat dry before starting a second coat. The drying time may vary depending on the paint and fabric, but it could take around two hours. Repeat until none of the original colour shows through. For example, a stool may require three coats.
To speed up the cure time of the paint, you can use a hairdryer, put it in a clothes dryer, or use Scotch Guard.
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Cure the paint
To cure the paint on your freshly painted upholstery, you can speed up the process by using a hairdryer or putting the item in a clothes dryer. Alternatively, you can use Scotch Guard or simply let the paint cure over time.
If you are painting velvet, you can speed up the drying time by spraying the item with water. However, be careful not to use too much water, as this can cause the paint to seep into the cushions, making them feel "soppy and globbed full of paint".
Before curing the paint, you may wish to sand the fabric with fine sandpaper. This is especially important if you are painting highly detailed work.
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Frequently asked questions
Before painting, spot clean and vacuum your upholstery to remove excess dust and dirt.
Use fabric paint that is meant for painting upholstery. Avoid paint that contains latex, acrylic, or silicone fillers as these can make the fabric feel thick and grainy.
Spray the fabric with water and add water to the paint to help it spread and seep into the surface of the fabric. Use a spray bottle to spritz the area you are painting lightly with water. Then, apply the first coat of paint. Let the first coat dry before starting a second coat. Repeat until none of the original color shows through.
Smooth cotton or poly blends are the most suitable types of fabric for painting upholstery. Avoid fabrics with thick textures such as velvet or thick woven fabrics as they are more challenging to paint over and will not be soft.
The paint will not rub off on your clothes. However, if you want to speed up the cure time of the paint, you can heat-set it with a hair dryer or put it in a clothes dryer.
