How to Paint Fabric Furniture Easily

6 Materials
$100
5 Hours
Easy

Do Dodson Designs did a fabulous paint job on this couch! Painting fabric furniture is so much fun and way easier than reupholstering, not to mention less expensive.

This old gal will be living in a beauty salon greeting customers as they come in. But before anyone can curl up on this sofa, we gotta get her dyed up. Let’s get this color job started!

Before applying the paint to the fabric, I dampened the fabric to allow the fibers to open and accept the paint. A spray mist water bottle was the perfect tool for the job. I lightly misted the fabric in small areas as I painted. It also dilutes the paint to become more like a dye.

I applied the first coat of chalk mineral paint and allowed it to thoroughly dry, usually overnight. Then I lightly sanded it with a 220 grit sandpaper. It’s important to sand between coats of paint to keep the fabric soft and not crunchy. Remove any dust with a cotton cloth. The second coat was applied the same way. I lightly misted the painted furniture fabric with water before applying the second coat. 

The fabric was sealed with two coats of Dixie Belle's Easy Peasy Spray Wax. I sprayed the first coat on the fabric and allowed it to dry. After it dried I buffed it with a soft cloth. The second coat was applied the same way. You can apply more wax depending on the traffic your piece will be getting. The feel of the fabric is now like a soft leather, NOT CRUNCHY! I love it! 

Bunker Hill Blue was stippled on over Mermaid Tail on the wood parts of the sofa. I added Warm Gold Gilding wax to the details with my finger tip to really make them stand out.

I really love the contrast of the navy and teal with gold accents. A sofa fit for a queen! The fabric now has a soft leather-like feel too.

Suggested materials:
  • Mermaid Tail Chalk Mineral Paint   (https://dixiebellepaint.com/mermaid-tail-chalk-mineral-paint/)
  • Cotton Chalk Mineral Paint   (https://dixiebellepaint.com/cotton-chalk-mineral-paint/)
  • Bunker Hill Blue Chalk Mineral Paint   (https://dixiebellepaint.com/bunker-hill-blue-chalk-paint/)
See all materials
Dixie Belle Paint Company
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
Go
Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
3 of 21 questions
  • Amanda Amanda on May 13, 2020

    Does it HAVE to be chalk paint? Trying to think if there's any reason this wouldn't work with other kinds of paint...   I'm stingy and chalk paint is always so expensive compared to other paints...

  • Sarah Lynn Kanieski Sarah Lynn Kanieski on May 13, 2020

    Can you do this with microfiber as well?

  • Cici Cici on May 09, 2021

    I love the wall in the room how did you do that??

Comments
Join the conversation
2 of 37 comments
Next