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5 from 2 votes

How to Paint a Fabric Chair with Chalk Paint

A STEP BY STEP TUTORIAL FOR BEGINNERS.
Active Time1 hour 30 minutes
Dry overnight2 days
Author: Esther Lewis
Cost: $55

Equipment

  • Small 1 inch paint brush
  • Spray Bottle
  • 120 grit Sandpaper
  • Plastic cup to put paint in
  • Cloths you don't mind getting wax and paint on
  • Drop cloth, tarp or large garbage bag to protect your floors

Materials

  • 1 Litre Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Paris Grey
  • 1 Sample Pot Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Original White
  • 1 500 ml Annie Sloan Clear Wax
  • 1 Annie Sloan Paint Brush Preferably the large but small will do.

Instructions

  • Step 1: Wipe down your chair with a damp cloth. I used microfiber cloths.
  • Step 2: Use the paint stick to stir the paint in the can thoroughly.
  • Step 3. Mix 1/2 water to 1/2 chalk paint.
  • Step 4: Using the spray bottle, spray down the entire chair with water.
  • Step 5: Dip brush into paint. Not overloading with paint and do circular strokes starting at the top of the chair.
  • Step 6: Paint the entire fabric chair with chalk paint . This includes the cushion(s) if your chair has one or two. The fabric can vary. It can absorb more or less paint.
  • Step 7: After the chair has slightly dried, apply a second coat. No need to respray the fabric with water. If your chair is a solid color it may only take two coats. If it has dark designs, like the one I’m doing, it could take up to 4 coats.
  • Step 8: Let the paint dry overnight.
  • Step 9: Open the small can of chalk paint for the legs and stir with a paint stick. I used the Original color.
  • Step 10: Lay chair on its side.
  • Step 11: Paint the legs with 2-3 coats of paint. Letting it dry fully between coats. It can take only 20-30 minutes to be dry enough to apply the extra layers of paint, if your impatient like me.
  • Step 12: Take chair and cushions (if this applies) outside or in an open area and lightly sand down the entire chair using very light strokes. The more smooth your sandpaper the better.
  • Step 13: For a rustic or vintage look, sand the legs along the corners and edges to reveal the wood underneath, as seen in the photo of this chair.
  • Step 14: Take chair back inside.
  • Step 15: Open the can of clear wax.
  • Step 16: Put a clean soft cloth into the wax and grab a good silver dollar size amount with the cloth. Apply the wax starting at the top doing a round circular motion to rub it into the fabric.
  • Step 17: Take a separate clean cloth and rub any overage of wax by doing a good wipe down from top to bottom.
  • Step 18: Let the chair dry thoroughly.
  • Step 19: To make sure the chair is ready to sit on, take a damp cloth and do a final wipe down. You are now done.