Can you believe it? I love the new updated color. It never ceases to amaze me what a coat of paint can do. I don't even mind that the texture from the material showed through. I think it looks really elegant. I painted two chairs in the same way. I am thinking about maybe painting the legs since they're a little rough, but they're pretty much done!
You ready for the tutorial? I can sum it up in one sentence. I had a gallon of latex paint left over from painting my office. I grabbed a paintbrush and painted the chair. That's it!
I have had a few questions come up as I have been working on these chairs. My friends and neighbors couldn't help but notice me in my garage painting a chair with a paint brush. I'm sure they weren't too shocked, but they probably thought I was a little crazy. Here are some of the questions I've encountered:
How does the fabric feel?
It feels like outdoor fabric. After researching this thoroughly, I found others have used fabric medium to make the fabric feel softer. Since these chairs are meant to be durable and in more of a commercial space, I wasn't concerned with a soft feel. If I was going to use these in my own home for more than just looks, I probably would use the fabric medium.
Is the paint going to stick to you if you sit in the chair?
Certainly not! Once the paint was dry, it didn't flake, crack, or come off the chair at all.
What kind of paint did you use?
Valspar brand paint from Lowe's in interior satin finish.
How many coats of paint?
ONE! If you are going to try this, I would suggest painting the piece a similar color to the original. I also used a heavy hand when it came to the amount of paint. If I had wanted to make these white and had used more paint, they would have turned out more stiff because of all the extra coats of paint needed.
I was very skeptical about this initially, but my cousin (who painted a thrift store chair last year) promised it would turn out. I was relieved and excited that it did. Thanks for the encouragement, Jill!
More projects to follow as I continue to spruce up the piano studio.
Please feel free to e-mail me or leave any questions you might have regarding this project in the comments section.
Easier Than I Thought!
Cost: FREE!!
Linked to: Tues: Tip Junkie, Sugar Bee Crafts, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Today's Creative Blog, Mommy By Day Crafter By Night, Wed: Gingersnap Crafts, Sew Much Ado, Thurs: 36th Avenue, 52 Mantels, House of Hepworths, Friday:Tatertots and Jello, Serenity Now, Whipperberry, Sun.: I Heart Naptime,
yay!!!! They look great!
ReplyDeleteHuge difference. Looks so much nicer painted blue!
ReplyDeleteOhmygosh. I've been searching online for DIY reupholstering and after many difficult and complicated steps, I'd given up the idea of changing my old chair around, but this post gives me hope. Thank you so much for the post!!!
ReplyDeleteNo problem. Good luck with your project!
DeleteWow... I really want to try this! We have a comfy old love seat that has seen better days, upholstery-wise, but is very sound in construction. It is a large green and white checked fabric... I wonder if I should just go with a dark green paint? Any advice? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI think you should probably stick with something in the same family so you don't have to do coats. Green or blue would probably work best. Is there a pillow or an inconspicuous area you can try it out on first? The checkered pattern might show through no matter what. It depends if the pattern is in the fabric weave or not. I would love to see pictures if you decide to try it. Happy painting:)
DeleteI am so surprised this worked! Congratulations!
ReplyDelete