Painting fabric furniture

What type paint should I use to paint over a fabric wingback chair?
  4 answers
  • Flossie Flossie on Aug 28, 2016
    The only paint I am aware of is chalk paint. There is so many examples on the internet/youtube. Alternatively, you could research fabric paints and if there is a method of actually painting on a surface that needs to be colourfast. Good luck with your project, I would be very interested in what other Hometalkers suggest. There is so many very knowledgeable DIYers on here.
  • Jeannine Jeannine on Aug 29, 2016
    Chalk paint made using one cup of paint, 2 tablespoons of climber's chalk (cheaper version of Calcium Carbonate which you can find at any sporting goods store like REI for example) & a few tablespoons of water to make a thinner mixture for painting furniture (add more water if necessary for a thinner mixture). You can also add Fabric Medium (which can be purchased at JoAnn Fabrics) to the paint mixture. Your chair may take several applications to get the color you want. You might also need to lightly sand it after it dries to soften the texture but you'll be able to tell after you complete it. Check out Pinterest or YouTube for how to's. Some say to keep a bottle of water to spritz the fabric before you paint an area, some don't do that. It will depend on the type of material you are painting on as the chair absorbs the paint. Repeat the paint formula as needed to make more chalk paint or multiply it to come up with a larger quantity. Good luck!
  • Crystal Jozefick Crystal Jozefick on May 11, 2017

    Chalk paint works great on fabric furniture . You want to thin it a bit so the fabric on your furniture isn't stiff. Pinterest has recipes for making your own chalp paint.

  • Patricia Patricia on May 12, 2017

    I agree with the others that Chalk Paint is the way to go. However, I recommend that you try it first on a smaller project first just to get the hang of it and to be sure you like the finish. Perhaps a pillow in a similar fabric. Good luck and be sure to take before and after photos!