After giving the chair a quick dusting, I mixed the grey chalk paint with equal parts of water. I wanted it very runny so it would soak in good. I used a spray bottle filled with water and sprayed each section first so it was pretty damp to the touch.
I used a pretty thick, cheaper brush, and just loaded it up with the mixture so the brush was dripping. I used a mixture of usual paint strokes but also swirled it around, really working it into the fabric.
This is quite a messy process so have a rag handy to wipe up the drips and protect whatever service you are working on if needed.
Once the first coat was on, I let it sit for 24 hours to fully dry.
Have a question about this project?
My husband’s old recliner could use a refresh and I’ve been considering re-upholstering. I’m curious how well you think this would work with the following eccentricities: 1. Some slight rips that could be covered with fabric tape; 2. The fabric has a leaf motif with some of the stems and outlines machine-embroidered so it’s not a completely even surface. I’m not as handy as most on this site, but wonder how you think it would work with these features.
Hi, Linda, Michaela is right that your project won’t turn out like her chair (light, tan & smooth), but you can use her steps & her same principles to achieve a nice effect & do a“Cinderellatransformation” of your bulkier recliner! If you think of yours as the dark old leather appeal, I think that not only will you gain the practice that Michaela mentioned, but also a very masculine “Old antique smoking chair look, but with a nice clean twist, because it will be done with nice fresh paint! I would opt to use atleast two color of dark brown & darker brown (bring an old brown purse or a brown shoe of your husband’s to pick out the 2 choices.) My reason for 2 is the rips & the raised embroidery. I would “pre-treat” those areas in the high visibility places, ie. the front part of the head rest & the tops of the arms - I would think of the paint as a “glue over” on the rips (trim flapping excess first) and use spray water then paint to cover any stuffing from protruding (tape will have square edges, too hard to disguise with paint layers) & any of the embroidery that seems more raised. When your project is finished it should have a “sewn together old suede leather covered” recliner look! You can use some lighter colored throws over the back or one arm to get some light added & to hide any problem areas you may have had. You should have an attractive, practical transformation of your recliner! Yes! It will have more of a southwestern, or an English den/pub look, but it can be a fabulous reinvented look! (P.S. the 2 colors of brown help disguise the rip booboos & highs & lows of some of the embroidery!) Good Luck!
Have you ever done leather? Have a leather r
chair that some leather has rubbed off on arms and headrest but still sturdy...thinking of painting with fusion or as you did with chalk paint. Appreciate your comments...thanks so much
I haven't no but I think it would be even easier then fabric. I'd give a light sand on the areas where it's rubbed off to make sure the surface is even. With a very low grit like 220. You might not need as many coats with it being such a smooth surface and light color.
I'd love to see pics when your done!
Why didn’t you paint frames first
but nice job
Because the process of painting the fabric is messy and the water down paint gets all over, I find this order way easier.