Fabric paint-how does it feel?

Trish
by Trish
I want to paint an old 1970's tub chair but am afraid that fabric paint will feel stiff and unnatural. Does it feel like regular fabric or does it feel like it's been painted?
  10 answers
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Jan 13, 2016
    I would try spray fabric paint. If you are uncertain test a scrap piece of fabric that would be similar to the chair.l
  • Brenna Morgan Brenna Morgan on Jan 13, 2016
    I have to be honest - I have used both fabric paint and watered down chalk paint. Both feel stiff to me. And fabric spray paint is expensive. Perhaps if you did the watered down chalk paint and added fabric softener to it..... I haven't tried it but it may help.
  • Patti Paints Patti Paints on Jan 13, 2016
    I painted the seat of an oak chair. The fabric was maroon and dated. The whole chair got an Annie Sloan chalk paint makeover and looks great now. The seat isn’t as soft as it was before but still has a cushioned feel and the paint won’t crack or peel.
  • Ann Ann on Jan 13, 2016
    You can use regular acrylic craft paint or even latex interior paint by adding fabric medium to the paint. It is much cheaper than buying fabric paint. Once it is dry, sand the painted fabric between new coats of paint. The finished fabric feels a bit like suede to me. Fabric medium is available in craft stores in their paint sections. If you are still unsure do a test run on a bit of fabric similar to your chair and then decide.
  • Kathyanne Pera Kathyanne Pera on Jan 13, 2016
    I painted an old 1940's fabric chair with ELMER'S GLUE, FOOD COLORING AND WATER and it is soft and beautiful...not to mention that the colors are dramatic...since it's a peacock!!
  • Trish Trish on Jan 14, 2016
    thank you Kathyanne for the response!
  • Kristine Ellis Ritter Kristine Ellis Ritter on Jan 14, 2016
    Look on Pinterest under chalk painting furniture, looks like soft leather when finished, on my list to try this winter
  • It depends on your paint and how heavily you put it on. If you are doing a piece of furniture you might want to try the spray fabric paint. You can go slow with light coats stopping before it gets too heavy.

  • Janice Janice on Mar 26, 2024

    The fabric feel can be "softened" by sanding with a fine grit sandpaper.