How to chalk paint fabric

This chair was painted with Silver Sonnet and Pale Pewter

We recently received a question from a customer asking for some tips to paint a fabric chair. Well, it turns out a few people wanted to know so we’ve put together this little how to guide to get you started!

1) Start out by hoovering the fabric to remove any dust

Paint will always look and act best when going onto a clean surface, so remove any grime, dust or loose threads!

2) Dampen the fabric

When chalk painting fabric, you want the paint to almost soak into the material. You aren’t trying to ‘paint’ it, you want to ‘dye’ it. There are lots of ways of doing this, so try and see what works for you! Some ideas are to use a spray bottle, or a damp sponge. Other advice suggests adding a little water to the paint first.

3) Time to paint!

Go for it! Grab your favourite paint brush (we think a round brush works best) and work the paint into your fabric, adding more water if needed. 2-3 coats should do the trick! Leave to dry fully between coats.

4) Protect your work

After all your hard work, make sure to protect your painted fabric. We suggets a clear furniture wax to seal the paint - try a light sand first, then wax and repeat!