YES! Paint Upholstery and Furniture Fabric: How-to with Pictures

Transform your old and worn out upholstery and furniture fabric by easily painting it a new color. My step by step guide (with pictures and video) will show you how to get a soft beautiful painted fabric that lasts!

This guide will teach you everything you need to know and take you through each step, so you can confidently paint and makeover your furniture upholstery and fabric.

I’m so excited to share this paint tutorial where I completely transform an old gray office chair into a beautiful pink using paint!

If you’ve ever wondered if you could paint fabric, the answer is yes, and I’ll show you exactly how to do it. This chair is now soft, flexible, and comfortable with no color transfer on clothes. 

Introduction: Why Paint Fabric?

You might be wondering if painting fabric is worth it. The great news is that painted fabric can be just as soft, flexible, and comfortable as it was before.

Following this step by step guide to painting fabric will ensure that:

• The fabric stays super soft and comfortable.
• There’s absolutely no color transfer onto your clothing.
• It’s inexpensive to update your outdated or ugly furniture fabric.

I’ll show you how easy it is to DIY paint your fabric furniture or upholstery at home.

Contains hand selected products, with affiliate marketing links where I may earn a small commission if a purchase is made. {full disclosure here}

My Fabric and Paint Expertise

Hi there! I’m Tracey, also known as Porch Daydreamer and named by fans of this site the Queen of Painting Everything!

I have a unique background with a degree in textile chemistry and engineering, a career in apparel and home furnishings product development, worked in the paint industry, and acquired an ACT (architectural coatings technologist) certification so I know the science behind paint.

This means I understand both how textiles (fabric) is made and how-to paint just about anything. I will use both of these backgrounds to teach you how to paint all types of fabric. 

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What Upholstery or Furniture Fabric Can You Paint?

You MUST know what type of fabric you are painting, BEFORE you decide to paint it! You will be applying water to the fabric, so any type of upholstery that is susceptible to water staining or would be damage by water is a NO GO!

The upholstery fabric that I painted was a cheap polyester velour, but you can paint a wide variety of fabrics. From sofa to a chair fabric there are a ton of possibilities!

Types of Furniture Fabric or Upholstery You Can Paint

• Cotton
• Chenille
• Polyester Velvet (test cotton velvet)
• Velour
• Polyester

Don’t Paint These Upholstery Fabrics

• Dry Clean Only
• Linen
• Silk
• Taffeta
• Vinyl (you’d need a primer)
• Leather or Cowhide

If unsure and if you can, test a small inconspicuous area before applying paint to all of the fabric. 

How can I test to see if I can paint my fabric?

For a skirted chair or sofa, you could try to paint the backside of the skirt to see how the fabric accepts the paint.

For furniture with cushions and legs, you could test the inside between the back and seat or underneath the furniture where the fabric wraps.

What Paint Do I Use on Upholstery?

I know the first question you might have is, “What type of paint did you use, Tracey?”

The cool thing is, you can use any acrylic paint (acrylic latex is wall paint).

Use Wall paint for fabric because:

• It adheres well to different textures.
• It offers a HUGE range of colors to choose from.
• It dries flexible, which is essential for fabric.

What About One Step, Chalk Paint, Mineral Paint?

None of these are necessary and may make the fabric feel stiff. They are also expensive!

Most of these types of paints come in limited colors, so you may have trouble matching the fabric to your other home decor.

Can you use them? Sure, but based on the results you’ll get with how I am teaching you to paint fabric I’d stick with wall paint 🙂

Will the Painted Fabric Be Soft?

If you want to make the painted fabric feel soft once it is dry, you’ll need to mix the paint with a fabric medium. This ensures when the fabric dries it won’t feel stiff, keeping it comfortable to sit on.

I’ll teach you to use as a textile medium that is cheap and you have right in your laundry room – good ole fabric softener!

You can purchase a fabric medium to mix with paint, but it will get expensive for a larger fabric furniture.

How to Protect Painted Upholstery Fabric: Top Coat

There are a variety of options to protect the fabric, but I am a big fan on making things EASY!

You can use wax designed for painted finishes or a liquid patina, but that will take more time and work to apply.

I recommend using a spray on protectant rated for outdoor use. This will ensure the fabric stays soft and is resistant to spills and stains. It takes minutes to apply and you only need to apply one coat!

How-to Paint Upholstery and Furniture Fabric

I’d recommend both reading the full tutorial and watching the video. Like this office chair? Purchase it on Amazon (you can buy it in pink!)

Fabric Painting Supplies

1. 1 Quart Acrylic Latex Paint in Satin – My color Sherwin Williams Gracious Rose (peel and stick sample)
2. Fabric softener (what I used)
3. Nylon/Polyester Paint Brush
4. 220-grit sanding block sponge
5. Microfiber Rag
6. Scotch Guard (Outdoor Fabric Protector)
7. Drop cloth or protective plastic
8. Mixing Pail
9. Measuring Cup and Stir Stick
10. Vacuum Cleaner

Step 1: Create Fabric Paint Mixture

To create a paint formula for upholstery and furniture fabric, mix the following in equal parts:

• 1/3 paint
• 1/3 fabric softener
• 1/3 hot water

To paint 3 coats, I mixed 1 1/2 cups of each ingredient. Please consider the size of your project and adjust accordingly.

Mix the Fabric Paint Formula (follow exactly)

1. Pour fabric softener into a container.
2. Add the same amount of hot water and stir to mix.
3. Finally, add the paint.
4. Stir everything until it’s well combined and feels like a thick paint but not too thick.

TIP: If the formula feels to thin add more softener with an equal amount of paint. If the formula feels to thick, add more hot water.

Step 2: Preparing the Fabric for painting

• Clean the fabric: Vacuum off any dust and dirt.
• Wipe down fabric: Ideally use baby wipes to ensure it’s nice and clean before you begin painting.

Step 3: paint the fabric

1. Dip your brush into the paint mixture and remove excess paint.
2. Apply thin, even coats, working the paint into the fabric.
3. Use the tip of your brush to get in the nooks and crannies of seams or tufting.
4. Finish off by smoothing the paint in the same direction as the nap of the fabric (see video).

TIP: If the fabric paint mixture doesn’t seem to be absorbing, using a spray bottle spritz on water to assist.

Step 4: Let the Paint Dry

The first coat will take 8 to 12 hours to dry. You can speed up drying with a heated fan.

You’ll know the painted fabric is dry when you can push down and no paint transfers onto your hand.

ONCE THE PAINT IS FULLY DRY…

Step 5: Sand Between Coats

Use a 220-grit sanding sponge to gently sand the painted fabric, focus more effort rough areas.

Work in circular and up and down motions feeling the fabric as you go. Sand until the fabric feels smooth again.

Vacuum off sanding dust and wipe down the fabric with a damp microfiber rag.

Step 6: Apply Additional Coats of Paint

Most likely you’ll need to apply 3 coats of paint to cover the original color of the fabric. I was using a similar value of paint color to the fabric and in order to completely cover the gray it took 3 coats.

• Thoroughly STIR the fabric paint mixture after storage.
• Make a new batch using the same process if needed.
• Repeat the painting process above steps 3 to 5, applying a second and third of paint. Ensure to paint in thin, even layers.

For the final coat, using a wider brush at this stage can help cover larger areas more efficiently.

Step 7: Final Sanding

After the third coat has dried for 24 hours! Sand the fabric one last time to ensure smoothness and softness. THOROUGHLY vacuum off all sanding dust.

IMPORTANT: WAIT 3 DAYS before applying protectant.

Step 8: Protect Painted Fabric add durability

To protect your hard work, use Scotch Guard Outdoor Fabric Protector:

• Apply in long, even coats about 8-10 inches away from the fabric.
• Spray in overlapping paths to ensure complete coverage.
• Let it dry overnight before use.

Safety Tip: Take your chair outside in a shady spot or cover the surrounding area with plastic if spraying indoors.

The Final Painted Fabric Result – What to Expect

After painting, you’ll notice that the fabric remains flexible, and there’s no cracking or stiffness.

• The painted fabric feels soft to the touch.
• There’s no paint transfer when you sit on it.
• The color is vibrant and even.

Painting Fabric: Answering Common Questions

Can I spray on the fabric paint mixture?

I wouldn’t recommend it! Sprayers are designed to apply paint in thin coats, so you can get a smooth finish on cabinets and furniture.

You won’t have enough control during application and may over saturate the cushion stuffing or foam inside.

Does the fabric feel stiff after painting?

No! As long as you mix your paint with a fabric medium and apply thin layers, the fabric will stay soft and flexible.

Is there any color transfer onto clothing?

Not at all! Once the paint is fully dry, it won’t transfer onto your clothes.

How do I clean the painted fabric?

Use a damp cloth to gently wipe the fabric, but avoid harsh scrubbing or soaking it. Baby wipes are my favorite for cleaning ALL painted surfaces!

Can I use other types of paint?

Acrylic latex paint is the best choice, but you can experiment with other water-based paints if you mix them with a fabric medium.

Additional Tips from My Experience

• Choose the Right Tools: Only use a high-quality nylon/polyester brush for even coverage. DON’T use natural bristle brushes.
• Be Patient: Allow sufficient dry time between coats to avoid drying issues.
• Experiment with Color: Don’t be afraid to try bold colors that make your furniture pop!

Final Thoughts: You Can Do It Too!

If you’re ready to refresh your fabric furniture, give this technique a try. It’s an easy, budget-friendly way to create a custom look that’s uniquely yours.

If you need help learning how to paint furniture in general, check out these other tutorials:

• Best Furniture Paint for Every Project: Pros, Cons and Tips
• Painting Furniture? Avoid These 6 Mistakes!
• How-to Paint Stained Wood Furniture for Beginners
• 24 Paint Colors for Furniture: Colorful, Classic, and White