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1. DIY Painted Vintage
Barrel Chair
How To Paint Upholstery
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2. TOOLS & MATERIALS NEEDED
- Paintbrush
- Paint stick (or something to stir the paint with)
- A medium size plastic bowl or cup
- Drop cloth (or other material to cover up the floor)
- Tack hammer
- Paint (latex OR acrylic)
- Staple gun
- Staples
- Fabric medium
- ¾ yard of fabric
- An old rag
- Plastic spray bottle
- Water
- Painter’s tape (optional)
- Screw Driver
- Fine Grit sanding sponge (180-grit)
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3. STEP 1: PREP
• Clean the chair thoroughly to make sure there was no lent, dust or dirt, etc.
• The chair is a wood & upholstery combo, so use painter’s tape to cover up the all
of the wood areas that were close to the fabric to avoid getting paint on the
wood. Please note that this step is optional. Really the key is to take your time
and be careful.
• Make paint mixture. Using the plastic bowl, I mixed 2 parts fabric medium; 3
parts paint; and 1 part water. (2:3:1 ratio). The majority of this mixture was used
for the 1st and 2nd coats of paint coverage.
• Use paint stick to stir up the paint really well.
• Fill the plastic spray bottle with plain water.
• Lay down drop cloth in the work area. Set the chair on top of the covered area.
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4. STEP 2: REUPHOLSTER SEAT CUSHION
• Turn chair over and use screw driver to remove the seat cushion from the chair
• Lay fabric out on the floor with the outside of the fabric facing down.
• Cut to size, leaving at least 2-3 inches of excess fabric to be pulled over the cushion
• Center the seat cushion on the fabric with bottom of the cushion facing up.
• Start by folding over one side of the fabric on to the cushion.
• Use the staple gun to secure the fabric to the seat cushion. Make sure the staples are
not too close to the edge of the seat. The staples should be placed at least an inch a
part. You definitely want to put enough staples to that the fabric is secured.
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5. STEP 2: cont
• If needed, use the tack hammer to make sure that the staples
are pushed all of the way into the wood.
• Proceed to the opposite side of the cushion and repeat those
same steps. Make sure to pull the fabric tight as you staple the
second side. The fabric should be tight and hug the cushion.
• Move on to the remaining sides to complete the stapling,
leaving the corners for last.
• For the corners, you may have to cut off excess fabric so that
you are able to fold it down neatly without it looking bulky.
• Once the seat cushion has been recovered, the painting can
begin.
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6. STEP 3: PAINTING
• Start with the upholstery on the front of the chair. Use the spray bottle to
saturate the fabric with water before applying the paint. The fabric needs to
be wet 1st in order to allow the paint to soak in. Plus it helps thin the paint
and ensures that the paint goes on smoothly.
• Once the fabric has been wet enough, then take the paintbrush and begin
applying the paint to the fabric. When brushing on the paint, make sure that
you last stroke always goes along with the grain of fabric. In those really
tight areas like around the button tufting, you may want to just go ahead
and use you fingers to make sure the paint gets in all of the nooks and
crannies.
• Next move on the cushion. Use the spray bottle to saturate the cushion with
water. Then apply the paint.
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7. STEP 3: cont
• Drying time: Wait to let the paint dry overnight before applying the 2nd
coat of paint.
• Once the 1st coat is completely dry, you can then proceed to use the fine
grit sanding sponge to lightly sand the fabric. Doing this loosens up
and/or softens the fabric a bit. And it makes the surface smoother in
case there are any dried clumps or patches.
• Next, using the same steps above, spray the fabric with water again,
then apply the 2nd coat of paint.
• Let the 2nd coat of paint dry
• Once dry, sand again lightly.
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8. STEP 3: cont
• By now, your 1st paint mixture should be gone. Mix up a 2nd
batch of paint. The final coat of paint should be a bit heavier
coverage. So I made a 2nd batch for the final coat using 1 part
fabric medium and 2 parts paint with NO water this time. (1:2
ratio)
• (3 coats of paint were required for this chair in order to cover
all of the dark stains.)
• Lightly, spray the fabric with water and then apply a thin layer
of the final coat of paint.
• Next, if you use painter’s tape, remove the tape from the chair
before the paint dries. Once the paint dries on the tape, it will
be more difficult to remove.
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9. STEP 4: REATTACH SEAT CUSHION
• Once the final coat of paint is dry, you can proceed to reattach
the seat cushion to the chair.
• Make sure the seat is screwed in well.
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10. FINAL STEP: (CLEAN UP)
• Last steps are to slightly wet the rag and use it to wipe down
the chair. Make sure that there are not any paint marks on the
wood.
• And viola! I now have a chair that looks brand new. And it
didn’t really cost me much except for getting my hands a little
dirty.
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11. DIY PAINTED BARREL CHAIR
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