Breathe new life into your home by using upholstery paint for furniture! Explore using upholstery paint on fabric & leather for an easy DIY makeover.
If you’re looking for a cost-effective and exciting way to revamp old furniture within your home, then why not try some upholstery paint? Not only can you find upholstery paint for fabric pieces, but they also offer dyes. With the right amount of preparation, technique and upholstery paint for furniture, you can transform any old, worn-down piece of furniture into something new and exciting.
Upholstery Paint for Furniture: Preparation (Before You Start)
Before you can start your painting project, it’s time to take a moment to prepare the furniture. Preparation is key to ensuring that the project is a success because you want the paint to adhere, properly be durable, as well as professional looking.
Cleaning
Vacuuming
Start the preparation process by thoroughly vacuuming the furniture to remove any bit of dust, debris, or dirt. If any of this is on the fabric, then it can prevent the paint from sticking properly. If the piece is extremely dirty, then you may also want to steam clean it.
Spot Cleaning
Sometimes you may find just a few small stains or spots located throughout the piece. If this is the case, then make use of a suitable cleaner to remove the stains or spots, as they may interfere with the adhesion process. One of the easiest fabric cleaners you can make at home is some water and mild detergent. For leather, instead of detergent, you will mix the water with some white vinegar.
Deep Cleaning
But, when it comes to fabric pieces that need to be deep cleaned, you will want to pick up a steam cleaner or a shampooer. Take your time, because it is the little things that improve the success rate of any furniture project.
Repairs
After you have thoroughly cleaned the piece of furniture, it’s time to inspect it and remake repairs where needed.
Inspecting
Start by examining the piece of furniture for any type of damage such as holes, tears, or even loose seams. You’ll want to repair these imperfections before you begin the painting process.
Patching Fabric
For fabric, you can use any readily available over-the-counter repair kit that includes patches or iron-on mending tapes. Just make sure that the patch is securely attached and smooth before you begin the next step of the process.
Fixing Leather
When it comes to leather, you will want to make use of a repair kit especially if you have cracks or holes. Make sure that you follow the kit’s instructions carefully for the best possible result.
Reinforcing Seams
If you have found any loose seams, then you are going to want to first reinforce them with some fabric glue, and then sew them back together. Any of these basic imperfections can dramatically affect the outcome of your painting project, so it’s important to take your time to get it done right the first time.
Sanding (Leather Only)
Sanding
Before you can paint or dye the leather, it’s important that you lightly sand the surface with 220-grit paper to provide a surface that the upholstery paint for furniture can adhere to. Make sure to follow the instructions included with your painting kit for the best results.
Cleaning Again
Naturally, after you have sanded the leather, you will want to wipe off any dust that is created from the sanding process with a damp cloth, and then let it dry thoroughly.
Choosing the Right Upholstery Paint for Furniture
Although there is a wide selection of upholstery paint available on the market today, it’s important to take your time to choose the right product for your particular project. Choosing the correct upholstery paint is critical to achieving that long-lasting and professional finish you are looking for.
Fabric Paint
Acrylic Fabric Paint
Most upholstery paint for furniture are composed of acrylic, and these are ideal for most types of furniture. The acrylic paint is extremely flexible and will not crack or peel off easily.
Fabric Spray Paint
At the same time, spray-based fabric paint allows you to cover large areas of fabric with ease. However, it’s important to make sure that you select fabric spray paint, as other forms of spray paint can be too stiff and will easily crack or peel off.
Dye-Based Fabric Paint
Next, you have dye-based fabric paint. These dye-based paints penetrate the fibers and give them a more natural look. However, special care must be taken because the finished color depends heavily on the original color or pattern of the material, and you will often need multiple coats to achieve the desired result.
Leather Paint
Acrylic Leather Paint
If you choose to paint your leather furniture, make sure to purchase an acrylic-based paint that is specifically formulated for use on leather. Although it may be tempting to use a general fabric paint to complete the job, it’s important to remember that the grain structure of leather is very different from that of fabric.
Leather Spray Paint
You may also find several different brands of leather spray paint available on the market. These provide more even coverage, and they are simple to use. However, you must make sure that it is specifically designed for use on leather to ensure a long-lasting finish.
How to Use Upholstery Paint for Furniture: Painting Techniques
Unlike painting a wall, applying upholstery paint can be very different. It is important to apply the paint correctly to ensure a smooth and even finish across the entire piece.
Using Upholstery Paint for Furniture: Fabric
Priming
As with any painting job, it’s important to make sure that you prime the material first. This is especially true when dealing with light-colored fabrics. Using a high-quality fabric primer will ensure a more even color distribution during the painting process.
Brush Application
If you are planning on using a brush, you will want to use a high-quality brush or a foam brush to apply the paint to the fabric. Make sure that you are applying the paint a very thin and even coats making sure to work in small sections at a time to avoid any streaks.
Spray Application
For spray painting, make sure that you maintain a consistent distance from the surface of the furniture as you spray. As a general rule you will want to keep the nozzle of the spray can roughly 6 to 8 inches away from the surface of the fabric as you make long sweeping motions across the length of the piece.
Drying Between Coats
Naturally, you will most likely need to apply multiple coats to achieve the desired result. Make sure that you allow sufficient time for each coat to dry completely before applying the next one. Although it is generally recommended to give one to 2 hours for drying, check the directions on the can.
Using Upholstery Paint for Furniture: Leather
Priming (If Needed)
Many leather paints will also require some form of primer. This is especially true if you are covering a darker leather with a lighter colored paint. Always make sure to follow the instructions carefully, to ensure the best results.
Brush Application
If you are planning on brushing on the paint, then make sure you use a soft bristle brush. You may also opt to use a foam brush to apply the leather paint and thin and even coats. As always work in small sections at a time to prevent any streaks.
Spray Application
Just like spray painting the fabric, you will need to keep the nozzle roughly 6 to 8 inches away from the surface and use long sweeping strokes to apply the upholstery paint for furniture evenly.
Drying Between Coats
Unlike fabrics, leather paint will generally dry much faster depending on the paint type. You will want to let each coat dry fully before you apply your next layer, which can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.
Drying & Sealing the Furniture Paint (Optional)
As an option, you may also want to provide additional drying time and seal the paint once it has completely cured. Although you can generally add the next coat after a few hours, you will want to allow the paint to fully cure before sealing it.
Drying Times of Upholstery Paint for Furniture
Fabric Paint
Fabric paint will be dry to the touch within 1 to 2 hours depending on humidity and ambient room temperature. But remember, just because the paint is dry to the touch does not mean that it is fully cured. It can actually take anywhere from 24 to 48 hours for the paint to fully cure.
Leather Paint
As with fabric paint, leather paint generally dries to the touch within 30 minutes to an hour, but can take as much as 24 hours to cure fully.
Sealing
Fabric Sealer
A good fabric sealer is the perfect way to protect the paint and allow the fabric to be more resistant to wear and tear. You can only apply the sealer after the paint has fully cured, which means you will need to allow the piece to sit for at least 2 days before you can seal it.
Leather Sealer
Leather sealer on the other hand, not only protects the pain, but it brings back that subtle shine that is expected on leather furniture. After the leather paint has fully cured, you can apply the sealer in thin and even coats across the entire surface.
Creative Effects with Upholstery Paint for Furniture
Painting your fabric or leather furniture is not just about refreshing the look, but it’s also about allowing you to showcase just how creative you can be.
Stenciling
You will find a wide selection of stencils available with different patterns or designs that can bring new life into any piece of furniture.
Choosing Stencils
Choose the stencils carefully so that they match the decor of your home’s interior.
Applying Stencils
Use some painter’s tape to secure the stencil to the furniture, then with a stencil brush or sponge carefully apply the upholstery paint for furniture, dabbing to prevent bleeding.
Ombre Effect
You may also opt for an ombre effect, which is just a fancy term for applying color in a gradient.
Gradient Colors
Start by selecting 2 or more colors that will blend well together. This is a crucial first step.
Blending Technique
You will want to start with the darkest color at the bottom of the piece, and then gradually blend in the colors until you get to the top. With the help of a sponge or brush, seamlessly blend in the colors from dark to lightest.
Geometric Patterns
Geometric patterns are also an excellent choice for many types of furniture pieces. Although a little more difficult to set up, they can truly redefine a living space.
Taping Patterns
To create the geometric shapes, you will need to use painter’s tape. This is a painstaking process that will require that you carefully measure out the size of the material to place the tape at even intervals across the surface.
Painting
Once you have taped off the furniture, you can then begin to paint within the taped areas. Make sure that you remove the tape before the upholstery paint for furniture completely dries to achieve clean and straight lines.
Personalized Touches
There are countless additional personal touches that you can make to any furniture piece.
Adding Text
One common way of providing that additional touch to your furniture project is to paint on letters or text. To add text to any furniture, there is a wide selection of materials that you can use. However, it is suggested to use either a fabric or leather paint pen to add any names, monograms, or quotes.
Decorative Accents
Lastly, decide whether you want to add any decorative accents to the furniture. Decorative accents can include studs or trim, that will enhance the overall look and appeal of the individual piece.
