Paint Upholstered Furniture, is That Even a Thing?
by
Karen Loske
6 Materials
$84
2 Weeks
Easy
I finally got tired of fighting with the cover on my sofa. I'm not ready to buy a new one and this one is still perfectly fine. The color was way too light but it's comfortable for those of us vertically challenged folks. So many of the newer ones seem designed for tall people, they just don't fit.
Decent cover.
When we moved into this house two years ago we downsized. We no longer have a family room so we decided to dump the living room stuff we'd been living with and use the family room furniture instead. We plan to replace most of it someday, just not sure what we really want. In the old family room I kept a quilt on the sofa. It was seldom used so it still looked quite new and nearly white. Now it gets used regularly. That sofa cover looks dandy fine .... until someone sits on it. I seemed to be forever straightening and tucking. After seeing several posts about painting furniture I decided to give it a whirl.
Before, in all it's nearly white glory.
As you can see, this was a very light sofa. Who buys something so light? To be fair, we bought it used, at least a dozen years ago. For $200 we got the sofa and a loveseat that we donated when I got my red leather chair.
The inspiration.
Biggest decision, what color. We have a red and a navy leather chair and a tan fabric one to work around. My first thought was something like a school bus yellow. Yikes! Next I decided to find pillow fabric for my inspiration. I was torn between that dark gold or the reddish/brown. Hubby liked the blue.
What was I thinking?
First coat of paint on a cushion. Had to ask myself how may more will it take to match that paint sample? The paint mixture was very watery. Glad I was doing this outside, on a plastic tablecloth. Paint ratio was 1 part paint, 1 part paint medium, and 2 parts water.
First coat on sofa back.
We decided not to move the entire sofa to the deck. Just turned it sideways and put it on a plastic table cloth.
Second coat.
The color is beginning to take shape, there's hope. After the first coat I changed my ratio. Equal parts of paint, water, and medium. It was still very drippy but I was getting the hang of it.
Three coats, gonna need another.
Finally, four coats.
Not bad.
I'd have to say I'm pretty pleased with the finished product. It did take some time but that was mostly dry time between all the coats of paint. Will be interesting to see how it holds up but I still have that cover I can put back on. I kinda figured if nothing else this will buy me some time before I need to replace the sofa. I didn't go into a lot of how to detail here because there are so many great posts on Hometalk. I looked at several and just winged it. Mostly wanted to share that if I can do this, anyone can.
Ta Daa ...
While it was time consuming and wasn't exactly cheap and it was certainly cheaper than a new sofa.
A few suggestions --
√-Gather everything before you start
√-Cover everything within a spray bottle range
√-Mix your paint
√-Your spray bottle is your friend, keep it damp
√-Spray the surface you want to paint, do it between each coat of paint
√-Most of the how-tos I read suggested sanding your fabric between each coat of paint. I'm not a very good prepper, I just want to get to the fun part. I didn't sand much but it's supposed to help soften the finished product.
√-Vacuuming will not suck out all the dog hair. Those little suckers weave in there and cling tight. And she doesn't even get ON the sofa.
√-Paint also will NOT adhere to dog hair. Sanding did help a little on this.
It does feel a little stiff but it wasn't soft to begin with. Definitely not the slouch-y, sink into type. Several how-tos I read said it would soften over time, with use. Time will tell but overall I'm pleased with the finished product.
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Comments
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6 of 57 comments
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Blue is better than white, but, I would've chosen one of the Burgundy colors.
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I like the color Gold also.
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Approximately 1950, I was 4 and our couch looked was very grungy.we were poor and my mom hated the couch. She went to the paint store and asked if any of their paints would work on fabric. I remember it being rather thick and shiny but it worked! Mom and Dad painted that couch at least twice. Dad had turned the couch upside down and reinforced the base before painting. The paint you used seems much nicer. I’m sure if they were still with us they would be having a great chuckle!
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In the 60s my mother painted 2 handed-down upholstered chairs. Very stiff after drying, but mainly they SMELLED. Forever!
Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
Just curious why you chose paint over a fabric dye?
Never really thought of painting my sofa, but it is a good brand of sofa, and don't have the money right now for a new one, but it is a little like microfiber , could this be painted?
do you recon it will work on canvas window Awnings ,I hate the colour of mine and like many do not have $$,
to replace. Worth a try I say , I'll keep ya posted 💕