Greetings Friends! On Friday, I shared my latest find--a worn, dated sofa I reclaimed from a yard sale. I've been very busy giving it new life and today I am excited to reveal it...
Here's my yard sale sofa in its rejected state--you can see I had my work cut out for me...
...and here it is rescued and refreshed!
When I first started, I have to confess it was with more trepidation than when I painted my oven! For the first coat, I mixed two parts water to one part chalk paint. I used a spray bottle of water to mist the fabric in sections, as I applied the paint. This helps the fabric absorb the paint. Warning: it is messy! I wore gloves and moved a garbage bag with me under each section as I painted. Fortunately, I'd already learned it would not look
Pretty much everything I read stressed the importance of allowing the paint to dry 24 hours and sanding with 220 grit sandpaper in between coats. I know it sounds weird to sand upholstery, but it works! If your fabric does not have a pattern or is closer to the paint color you choose, you may only need two coats. Of course, I chose a light shade to cover a dark pattern so I needed three! After the first coat, the paint and water mixture is half and half and I also found I did not need to mist the fabric first.
I wanted to show a close up after the third coat. It doesn't appear to be painted--it just looks like fabric and is also not hard or stiff to the touch! I have read other tutorials where it mentioned painted fabric feeling "crunchy." Mine really doesn't! The chintz like fabric may be part of the reason but I also attribute the desired texture to adequate thinning with water, drying and sanding. This shade Mineral, by Waverly looked much lighter before it dried and almost caused a panic(!) but the dried color was perfect.
For the wood trim, I used Waverly White and lightly distressed it.
MY HEARTFELT THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING FOR FEATURING THIS POST:
Wow! That is quite and undertaking and it looks great! I have often wondered what the process entailed, thanks for sharing it. I still cannot believe that couch was $10...certainly not anymore!! :)
ReplyDeleteThe sofa turned out great. I have been too chicken to paint any upholstery yet. I have two wing back chairs that would be excellent candidates. So I'm thinking about taking the plunge.
ReplyDeleteOh yes do the happy dance some more she is a beauty! Great job on the distressing too. Really brings out her character!
ReplyDeleteOh my GOSH Cecilia, what a beauty. I would never have attempted that. Great tutorial and pictures too. I am sure this will inspire others to paint furniture. Great bargain too ... a lovely sofa costing barely over $50.00. I bet it fits perfectly in your living room.
ReplyDeleteHow do you clean the painted upholstery
ReplyDeleteI am amazed it looks so nice. Does it feel like fabric or like Naugahyde or what?
ReplyDeleteDoes it ever start cracking or peeling? I never would have thought of useing paint on it. Do you have to put a sealer on it?
This is very interesting.
It came out so pretty! I would be so nervous to do that but you make it sound easy. I would also be afraid to sit on it! It looks so good, even if it is just a showpiece in your room!
ReplyDeleteI suggest the name should be Sally..What a great ending to a sad sofa! What a wonderful job you did:)
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DeleteOkay, that is just awesome!!! I love it! You did such an amazing job, I'm so impressed. I've got a French provincial chair that I've left in its original state because I was afraid to paint the fabric and because I can't recover anything. You have given me inspiration for this. Pinning for future reference so that I can figure out what I'm doing when the time comes!
ReplyDeleteThat is gorgeous, Cecelia! You must be thrilled! Great job!
ReplyDeleteHi Cecilia, I am so glad that you tried this and that it worked out well. I has going to do this on my big pink chair and was told by followers that it was uncomfortable.But I know you would be honest about it. I will have to give it a try. I will pin this obe for sure. XO Jo
ReplyDeleteWow, that looks great! Amazing transformation, Cecilia. It's beautiful!
ReplyDeleteCecilia, that turned out beautiful! Glad to hear that it is soft. Great great job!
ReplyDeleteWow, what a transformation! I've never tried painting upholstery before, but now I'm feeling much braver about it. Good to know there's a way to keep it from feeling hard and crunchy. Thanks for sharing at VIParty.
ReplyDeleteCecilia, what an incredible makeover! I'm so glad you shared at Five Star Frugal. We'd love to have you again this week. Love, Mimi xxx
ReplyDeleteWow, great find, great deal!! This came out amazing! :) Thank you for sharing on the Art of Home-Making Mondays!
ReplyDeleteLovely Sylvia!
ReplyDeleteGreat job! In 1975, I found furniture fabric paint in all places, Canadian Tire in Ottawa, Ont. Canada. I had a dark brown couch with a short looped fabric and the matching chair. This paint was made to make it look like leather, in this case, black. The procedure was the same, sanding between coats and it looked great! People couldn't believe it! It lasted about 4 years and then the cushions started to crack and split. If there was something that I could have applied on top of the dried material to keep it from drying out and cracking, it may have lasted longer! But, it was great while it lasted and a money saver!!!
ReplyDeleteWow Cecilia, it really looks fabulous! So am I understanding right? You did make a cover for the seat cushion, but the back and sides are painted? I have seen this done, but worried that it would be still or crunchy; like you mentioned. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
ReplyDeletehugs,
Jann
Wow. That is awesome! Looks beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to invite you to come over and link up to Your Inspired Design, a cooperative link party. You'll be featured on 6 blogs at once! Hope to see you there! http://www.potentiallychic.com/potentiallychicblog/2015/10/8/your-inspired-design-6
Oh Cecilia, it is gorgeous!!! What a makeover. Besides the white paint, i love the type of fabric you choose for the sofa. VERY elegant. Thank you for linking this up at SHARE IT linky party at www.FineCRAFTguild.com A new party will open again tonight and hope to see you soon there! ~ Rose
ReplyDeleteOh, my goodness! It's amazing! Thank you for sharing. You are one of the features at The Round-Up from the Before & After Wednesday party at The Dedicated House. Here is the link to the Round-Up so you can check out your feature. http://www.thededicatedhouse.com/2015/10/the-round-up-from-before-after-wednesday_13.html Hope to see you again at the party. Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse
ReplyDeleteMy name suggestion is Eliza,after the character in "My Fair Lady". What a lovely transformation!
ReplyDeleteMy name suggestion is Eliza,after the character in "My Fair Lady". What a lovely transformation!
ReplyDeleteIn keeping with her former flower theme and the name of her sister sofa, I suggest her name be Lily. She looks so beautiful and now you can see her great bones too!
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