How to Paint Velvet Chairs with Chalk Paint by Annie Sloan

We do a lot of custom paint jobs at Maison Decor.

One of the current projects in house is a pair of Victorian chairs

with velvet upholstery.  Velvet wears like iron, its pretty hard to wear it out

and often you will find pieces in great condition, but you just don't like the color.

These chairs belonged to a young couple who inherited them from a grandparent

and they plan to use them in their dining room at the ends of the table.

However they wanted a color that went with their decor, and thats where we 

stepped in....with our Annie Sloan paint brushes and Chalk Paint!

 Lightly mist the surface of the upholstery with water, then paint in your choice

of color.  These chairs were going from chartreuse green to Napoleonic Blue.

We recommend lightly dipping your brush into a cup of water, then straight into

the paint can, then onto the surface of the fabric. It should take two or three coats doing

it this way, so as not to overburden the fabric with thick layer of paint.

This will help reduce any cracking that a heavy layer of paint could produce.

Velvet is a lot trickier than regular fabric, as it has a nap.  So work your paintbrush

with the direction with the nap, so it lays down.  

 In this photo you can see the first coat has been applied to the chair on the left.

Let the coat totally dry out, then lightly sand 

in the direction with the nap, using #500 grit 

sandpaper.  Then it is time to do the second coat.

This photo shows the second coat has been applied.  

The color is richer and there is none of the

green color showing through anymore.

  If there is, do another layer, let dry and then sand again.

 After the paint is all dried, and you have sanded the surface 

very lightly with #500 grit to make it nice and soft to the touch, 

its time to wax it!  Yes~you will wax your fabric. 

 But this is going to be a little bit different than waxing a piece of furniture. 

 You will want to make a 50/50 blend of wax and mineral spirits

 so it is light and will not overburden the fabric.

Using a plastic wine cup, I mix it up by eye, and then spread 

it using one of our wax brushes.

Just rub it all over the fabric, wiping off the excess with a clean lint free cloth. 

 Don't leave any excess wax on the surface of the fabric, work it in,

 and wipe it back, one section at a time. 

 It will leave the fabric looking and feeling like leather!

Here are the pair of chairs,

 all set to take their place at the head of the table!

Looking quite marvelous, and oh so much

 less expensive than a trip to the upholsterer!

Thats why I love to call Chalk Paint® by Annie Sloan:

"Upholstery in a Can".

You can sit on it after the wax cures, 

and you will not have paint or wax coming off on your behind. 

 I know, as I have been sitting on my waxed dining room chairs for 

over a year now.   Its true, Annie's paint is really special.