There was a chair in our bedroom at the cabin that we’ve had since we purchased the house eight years ago. I call it the ‘Frazier’ chair. I think you can guess why.
It was one of those rushed purchases we all get sucked into from time to time. Suffice it to say I’ve never liked it, and when I started reading about success stories from people who have painted their upholstered furniture I figured I had nothing to lose. I had been meaning to either sew a slipcover for the chair or get rid of it completely, so I gave painting it a try.
Our bedroom at the cabin is not big by any means, and I’ve always felt this chair, among other things, was a bit too bulky for the space. I have to admit it was pretty comfy though. It rocked and swiveled which I liked, but I rarely sat in this spot and you know what they say…have nothing that is not functional and/or beautiful in your home.
So what went wrong, you might ask? Well, what DIDN’T go wrong?! For starters, I had everything working against me with this project. Yes, upholstery can be painted with excellent results, provided you are starting with the right components.
As soon as I took paintbrush to fabric, I knew I was in trouble. The fabric on this chair is basically a corduroy, which eats up the paint like a sponge. In fact, I couldn’t brush on the paint, I had to stipple it on. That white diagonal line you see on the chair back is not the light, but a part of the chair I heavily stippled.
The chair below was after more than 3 coats, with each coat taking more than an hour. Not only was the fabric not appropriate for this project, but putting light paint over a dark fabric is a lot more time consuming than the other way around and not a great idea.
Could I have finished this with decent results? Maybe. But I would have had to put so many coats on that there’s no way the paint wouldn’t have hardened and the chair would not have been anything I or anyone else would have wanted to sit on, even with sanding between coats. Not to mention it would have taken many, many hours of stippling, which is really tiring. So I knew it was time to admit defeat.
It just so happened my friend was looking to get rid of a rocking chair so I decided to put the white rocker we originally had in this spot in the living room in the bedroom and this one in its place.
I gave it a quick sand and a coat of Danish Oil and it’s good to go.
And here’s the other rocker which I think looks far better than Frazier did.
So now there’s a chair that used to have a home that is sitting in our driveway waiting for the day we can put it on the curb for pickup, another chair that has a new spot at the cabin and yet another chair that has a completely new home.
If you’re thinking of painting upholstery, I say go for it. Just make sure the fabric you’re trying to cover will take the paint well, or you’ll be calling your town’s trash department too for pick up :/.
joy says
I didn’t know it before that one can paint a fabric sofa, but it will be do much work like you did. So I wont give it a try:) you are a pasient woman:)
Anyway, nice cozy chairs.
Thanks for by the way for visiting my blog and for the heartwarming comment.
Have a nice day; )
Poppy says
Hi Doreen,
What an exhausting endeavour! I can understand, from your detailed description, how tiring and frustrating it was, but in the end, you made the right choice. The rockers look absolutely beautiful, in the space and add such a happy punch of colour and pattern. Lovely!
Poppy
Cindy Eikenberg says
Oh, Doreen, what a shame after all of your work! You are so right, though, sometimes projects just don’t go as we plan, do they? You are brave to paint upholstery – much braver than I would ever be! I think the rocker looks fantastic though and maybe it happened for a reason? Thanks for sharing the story! Hope you have a happy Monday!
Brenda Callis says
I bet there are plenty of us who will benefit from this post! We do need to see the failures as well as the successes. The new rocking chair looks great there and I love those beautiful paintings of the flowers in vases that are behind them! The lines on your white rocking chair are so pretty.
Doreen Sargente says
Thank you Brenda! I must say you have an eye for detail! I knew I liked you ;).
The painting of the vases was something I did so I’m quite flattered you like them! I can’t draw, so I’m especially proud of that project. Here’s a link: http://foxdenrd.com/diy-wall-art/
I know it’s an overused saying, but truly, if I can do it, anyone can.
Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!
Andi says
OMIGOSH! What a pain in the butt! (Pun intended.) I have a chair that I’m planning on painting at some point. (I’ll NOT be telling Phil about it.) I hope I can have a little more “fun” than you did….! I love your rocking chairs though. 🙂
-andi
Denise says
Maybe my mind is on Halloween, but I think that chair would look great with a skeleton sitting in it. Maybe one with a top hat, glasses & cigar. I’m sorry you devoted so much time to a project that turned out to be a bust. Love the new rocker, though. xxD
Jane says
I agree with Brenda…we have to see some mistakes once in awhile to learn not to repeat them. I think you’re brave to make the attempt in the first place and you really went above and beyond trying to make it work. Good for you! And I love the new chairs!
XO,
Jane
must love junk says
I truly give you kudos for trying! Even though your other chair didn’t work out, your white rocker is very pretty in your space! 🙂
Susan
Cynthia says
I think this is a beneficial post. It is good to let us know what doesn’t work. The new chair is pretty love the throw!!
Cynthia
Angela says
OMGosh! What a ton of work only to have it fail! 🙁
But I love your new rocker! 🙂
Thanks for sharing, dear friend. Makes me think twice about painting my settee in my bedroom! Then again, I wouldn’t mind having to replace it, so……again, thanks!~~Ang
Cecilia says
Oh wow, I think I would be either crying or mad. I love the rocker though. It suits your space. I’m sorry your project didn’t work out, Doreen but thanks for sharing so we can hopefully avoid the same disaster.
Cecilia
Talya Tate Boerner says
I love the honesty of this post. I pin a picture of the chair to my “Pinterest Fail” pinterest board, but received the message that your post isn’t pinnable??? That too made me laugh.
Doreen Sargente says
I figured that it was too ugly for anyone to pin it, but I went ahead and added a button in your honor 😉 Go ahead and shame me for all to see! LOL
Talya Tate Boerner says
That should be “I wanted to pin a picture of the chair…” T.
diane morgan says
I completely empasize with you. I did plug forward after 3 coats of white over a velvet strip fabric, then 3 more coats of dark blue – it now feels like cheap leather, very crunchy. Not to mention I have invested over 6 hours of my time and close to $100 in paint and textile medium. Plus adding the white textile medium to the blue paint does not allow the darkness I really wanted – time to cut my losses. ALso the “paint” is so thin that I have dripped all over the wooden legs so I had to sand those to try and salvage them – yikes, a complete FAIL.
It will go out on the curb with a “free” sign and I bet I get no takers!! Not sure I would ever try this project again!!
I do own 9 bottles of Martha Stewart Textile medium – lucky me!!
diane morgan says
The fabric is a velvet stripe…
Doreen Sargente says
Ugh! I feel your pain Diane. I’m just going to chalk this one up and file it in the ‘fail’ folder. Sorry your chair didn’t work out also. It’s very frustrating when you have a vision and you spend both time and money trying to make it happen and you end up with something that you have to put on the curb.
Thanks so much for visiting!
Erin Menke says
THANK YOU ! I was going to attempt painting my large but comfy 80’s couch. but now know the fabric will probably eat up the paint and cost too much time and money. searching for a slip cover makes more sense.
Doreen@househoneys says
Glad you found it helpful Erin. If you’re in the market for slipcovers, check this out http://uglysofa.com
I bought one for the porch and I am very satisfied with the quality and their prices are less than half off retail.
Stop back and let me know how things work out.
Danielle says
Did you Wet the fabric before you painted, and as you were painting Wet the brush?
Doreen@househoneys says
Yes, I used a spray bottle Danielle. I was just doomed from the start because of the nature and color of the fabric. Live and learn.
Cee says
Hello
I’m looking to paint my upholstered chair also and I’m somewhat scared of doing it. I appreciate your post, definitely helps. However unless I missed it you didn’t really give us a brake down of what steps you took to paint the armchair. so how can we know how to prevent making a mistake. Did you follow and use all the recommended supplies? Thanks