DIY: Painting Leather Furniture
3 Materials
$75
3 Hours
Easy
I revived a misfit piece of furniture in my house using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. The combination I used: Cocoa, Paris Grey and Old Violet. You can read more about this misfit's transformation on the blog :)
Painting Leather using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.
BEFORE: leather seat cushion up close. Below are some tips about about maintaining a natural looking leather with chalk paint:
ASCP in Cocoa and Paris Grey. Criss cross and rolled on. I kept a wet edge.
1). Use two colors! Using two colors achieves a more natural effect. Make sure they are two colors that blend well.In my case I applied one as a base coat, then layered on the second color of paint in a cross-hatch pattern. If more color variation was needed I would repeat by adding the two colors again in a cross-hatch pattern. (Meaning, apply paint in an “X” pattern).
2) Keep a wet edge. This means you should have water and spray your piece, or dip your brush to to thin the paint and eliminate brush strokes (Tip: remember using water color paint kits as a kid? Treat the paint like that).
3). Apply many, thin layers. Apply thin, but many layers. (don’t try to achieve 100% coverage on the first coat). I used a cross-hatch pattern throughout the entire process (see below).
4). Use a foam roller. Use a clean foam roller before your cross-hatch application (above) dries for additional blending.
After each coat I would decide if it looked natural. If not, I’d add some variation of color by layering or “dotting” additional paint onto the chair, and work it in the cross-hatch pattern again. (Basically repeating all the steps above several times). I always had water on hand and use the dry foam roller to eliminate brush strokes. I used water to keep a wet edge to help with blending.
One you like the look and feel the leather looks natural, WALK AWAY and let it dry.
After the cushion dried, I decided to add a ticking stripe down the center. I used a third color, for this–Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Old Violet. (I had not yet waxed the cushion, that was the last step).
Before I painted the wood in ASCP Cocoa
Step 5: Apply Wax. Which reminds me to tell you….I used clear wax on the leather, and a combination of clear + dark wax on the wood.
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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3 of 12 comments
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I cannot tell you how much I LOVE what you did to this chair! 100 per cent improvement! Genius!
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Great transformation! Another easy way is to use shoe dye. Be sure to deglaze the leather first. That old 70's orange leather recliner has been burgundy for the last ten years. Our son Is now using it. another ten. Thank you Elkhorn and shoe dye.
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I have a leather couch that is 18 years old it is in perfect condition but the leather needs to be refurbished can I paint with chalk paint the couch and cushions?