How to Paint Fabric with Annie Sloan Paint
I’m embarrassed to say I’ve had this ugly chair sitting in my bedroom for months. I bought it last summer and everyday I get up and think I’m going to make that beautiful….when I have time. I finally had a day off this week and decided that I couldn’t look at it any longer. So today I’m going to show you how I paint fabric with Annie Sloan paint.
I’ve debated how I was going to refinish it for quite awhile. I have a boatload of fabric stashed away and I’m fully capable of sewing a new cushion and reupholstering. In fact I posted about it here. But honestly I knew that painting the fabric would be faster and I wanted to get it done. I was VERY skeptical about painting fabric until I painted my patio cushions last summer, you can read about that here. They are exposed to the elements year round and still look great. So I figured GAME ON!
I started out by painting all of the wood and caning with Annie Sloan Pure White. On a side note this is the one and only color of ASCP that I’m not crazy about. I LURVE all of her other colors but Pure White always seems to give me trouble. It seems to always come out “chunky” not smooth. I knew I was going to do some distressing though so I didn’t let it bother me this time. Any who, use Pure White at your own risk and if you have tips about using it please feel free to comment below.
I then moved on to the fabric. I decided on Duck Egg because I wanted a good contrast to the white and because I have lots of it in my house already. Since I am planning to keep this chair (at least for now) I need it to fit in with the rest of my house.
There’s this tiny bit of piping that goes all around the bottom of the chair so I used a small brush to paint it. It’s the little things that make all the difference in my opinion.
I stepped back to take a look and could hardly believe the difference in this chair. The fabric looks as though I completely reupholstered it and I didn’t. It’s paint people….PAINT!
I tried to take several up close pictures so you can get an idea of how good it really looks.
Now for the feel. I waxed the entire chair, fabric and all because it’s going to stay inside and I read on Pinterest lately that waxing the fabric would make it feel like leather. Well that’s the truth it really feels like soft leather. No kidding! I also gently buffed it and now it has a sheen to it too.
So there you have it. Do you have something in your home that needs a facelift? Go ahead and give it a try! You can paint fabric and get great results!
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Thanks for reading and commenting below.
This is soooo amazing!! I love the results! Do you know if any brand of paint will work for this? Or just ASCP? Thanks for the tutorial!
Thanks! I’ve only used Annie Sloan but I’m going to try Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint next time. I’ll let you know how it goes. 😉
Wow! This looks like a totally different chair. I’ve been wanting to try this technique for a good while. My cousin has a 70’s green wing chair that I’m trying to talk her into letting me experiment on. I’m going to show her this post so she’ll see an excellent end result.
Hi Beth,
love your work. I was wondering if you if you sprayed the fabric with water as you did with the outdoor furniture?
Please keep posting!
Karen
Hi Karen,
Thank you so much for your kind words. I didn’t spray them this time. I wanted to try it without spraying them. I do think the water helps to make the paint go further. Thanks for asking!
Beth
I can NOT believe how awesome this looks! I have really been wondering how this would feel, I love leather! Pinning this!
First of all I love the transformation. I have a thrift store chair that is upholstered in pink and I just haven’t wanted to spend the money to recover it, well now I have another option!
I exclusively use Annie Sloan paint and the hard part about the pure white is that it is the only color that does not have pigment in it, so it spreads differently and you usually have to do more coats of paint to cover over darker stains. Something that I do to smooth it out is after I am done painting the second coat I use around a 400 grit sand paper to sand out the rough spots. Most of the piece I do are not overly shabbied, so I like sanding out the rough brush stokes. I do shabby chic, but I am more on the chic end than the extra shabby look.
Awesome advice, thank you!!! I knew about the lack of pigment but wasn’t sure how to make it better. I’ll try the sanding technique next time.
Blessings,
Beth
Turned out beautifully! Who could have imagined…such a great idea and the color is perfect!
Blessings,
Cindy
It looks great. How long did it take to dry? Did you put it out in the sun or keep it inside to dry?
Would it have come off on clothes if you had not waxed it? Did it feel hard before you waxed it?
I’m going to try it on two chairs that desperately need a makeover. Thanks for showing us your work.
Hi Jill,
Thank you! It only took a couple hours to dry. I just let it dry inside. No, after it cures it’s not going to come off on your clothes. Without wax it is firm but I wouldn’t say hard. I recommend waxing because it creates a more durable surface. I suggest buying a pillow from a thrift store or using something you already have. Paint it and see how you like it before you go all out on your chairs. Thanks for your questions. Have fun with your chairs.;)
Blessings,
Beth
Beth,
Another question. Do you think this will work on manmade fabrics as well as natural ones?
Thanks again,
Jill
Most definitely Jill. As long as you use enough paint to cover the pattern I think it’ll be fine.
🙂 Beth
Could you elaborate on the waxing part a little more. I have a medium AS brush for clear wax and of course the wax but I always am afraid that I am applying too much wax. How long did it take for the wax to dry? Did you buff after it dried?
Hi Vicky,
The medium brush works great for waxing. Just make sure you apply THIN coats, two to three will work fine for fabric. Allow 10-20 minutes between coats for it to dry. As far as buffing I don’t go nuts or anything with fabric but I do buff lightly. I hope this helps!
Blessings,
Beth
Your chair looks amazing! I have wanted to try painting chairs but was worried about the outcome. I love yours and this is much more simple than spraying with water as you paint. What type of wax did you use? Thanks, Lucy
Thanks! I used Annie Sloan soft wax for my chair.
Blessings,
Beth
So freakin’ awesome.
Thanks Michelle!
It looks amazing!!! I’ve never heard of the waxing or buffing techniques. What are those, exactly?
Great redo! Luv the colors together. Can’t wait to try painting a chair and the fabric too!
That looks awesome. I have a couch I want to paint. So you didn’t use a fabric medium? I never painted furniture and have read you should use a fabric medium to keep the fabric soft. Anyone have tips on that? Also, I am wondering if anyone knows how to make a fabric medium too? The couch is nice and soft and I want to keep it that way but change the color.
Thanks.
Hi Julie~I didn’t use a fabric medium. Annie Sloan paint is a one stop paint that when used with the wax kept the fabric soft. I’d suggest buying a pillow or using one you already have to try it out. I hope this helps.
Blessings,
Beth
Julie AS is used more as a dye than a paint when doing fabric. My experience was that my red painted cushion fabric came out stiff. If I’d thinned w/ water just a little bit I’m sure it would have been more supple. Lots of painting is trying samples to see how things work for you. And reading lots of blogs to get a hand on the method best suited to your project. Trust Beth on the pillow thing. A sofa pillow, not a bed pillow.
Love how your chair turned out. Did you water down the paint or use it as it comes? I am currently using Annie Sloan paint to paint some chairs. I had read to use 50% water 50% paint but after multiple coats a shade of the original fabric color is still bleeding through. Can you help?
Hi Dusty,
I do add water sometimes but only after the first coat of full strength paint and I don’t do 50/50 but instead more like 75% (paint)/25% (water). You might try priming your chair with Zinsser Primer and then painting the ASCP (full strength) over that. Or waxing the chair and then painting over the wax with full strength ASCP. So sorry you’re having this problem. Don’t give up!!! I hope this helps!
Blessings,
Beth
Thank you!!!! I painted a small chair with a chalk paint substitute, and it turned out stiff. I’m running to its rescue with some wax now! I love your chair – better…much better. 🙂
You’re welcome Kim!
Hi – I am new to chalk painting but love it! Next project is re-doing a chair but wondering about waxing the fabric on the seat after painting it. Is there an acceptable substitute for annie sloan wax on the fabric? I don’t have an AS dealer near me (closest is 95 miles away) Thanks for any tips!
I think you can order online from The Purple Painted Lady. Wax makes fabric feel soft like leather. I’m sure there is a shop near you that carries another competitor paint. If I were you I would check local antique and gift shops. I bet someone will have a paint and wax. Have you tried Miss Mustard Seed’s wax? Her products are wonderful. You can go to her site for local stockists. Good Luck!!!!
Blessings,
Beth
I think your chair is amazing….i’ve just finished my old rocking chair in duck egg blue. I love the colour. I’ve got a tatti old chair that I was hoping to attempt to upholster but am going to have a try now at painting the fabric…I too am concerned about the waxing process, and some of the paint seems to be coming off my chair already…perhaps I am not applying enough coats…how many do you recommend? And how do you apply it? Thanks.
Karen~what kind of paint did you use?
Beth
Now that it has been done for a while, how is the paint finish holding up to use? I love the way this looks and will do it immediately if you say it holds up well!
Hi Gretchen-it’s held up GREAT! I sit in it all the time. 🙂
Blessings,
Beth
Wow! This looks like a totally different chair. I’ve been wanting to try this technique for a good while. My cousin has a 70’s green wing chair that I’m trying to talk her into letting me experiment on. I’m going to show her this post so she’ll see an excellent end result.
Dear Beth,
I LOVE what you did with your chair – what a savvy thing to do! Ive read through all the comments, and yet still no one has asked :
Will this technique (ASCP) work on upholstery other than silk??? I have two gorgeous wing backs purchased at an auction – they are covered in velvet (not thick, and not authentic velvet).
Oh please help – I’m dying to begin!
Liz,
If you will follow this link-http://heirloomtraditionspaint.com/?affiliates=105 and click on “shop” then scroll down to “sealers/additives” you’ll see a product called “Fab”. This is a primer for fabric that is fantastic! You can also purchase chalk type paint for your project. I hope this helps and thank you for all your kind words.
🙂 Beth