If you’re wondering how to paint a chair, read this easy DIY tutorial for using paint that doesn’t require any prep work!
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Velvet Finishes. All opinions, images and love of painting projects are 100% mine.
I have such a sweet chair makeover to share today: this cute rocking chair!
Our toddler loves to “rock” as she calls riding her rocking horse, so when I saw this little chair, I knew I had to paint it for her, too.
It started like this:
And now:
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Don’t you just love the color?! It’s the sweetest pale pink: Nostalgic by Velvet Finishes.
I feel like with two girls, I can’t help but be all about the pink. I was painting nursery pieces blue and green before (see this changing table makeover and this reading bench makeover), but now it feels like a pink free for all around here.
Velvet Finishes is super easy to use and is designed by my friend Kellie, which makes me love it even more.
Supply list for painting a chair:
- Drop cloth or old blanket
- READY by Velvet Finishes
- A clean cloth
- Paint stir stick
- Paint brush
- Paint – I used Nostalgic by Velvet Finishes
- PROTECT by Velvet Finishes
How to paint a chair:
1. Clean your piece.
Clean your piece to get rid of any dirt and dust.
2. Use Velvet Finishes’ READY to prep your piece.
Velvet Finishes doesn’t require any sanding. Yay for less prep work.
You just spray on their READY mixture, let it sit for a minute and then wipe it down. SO easy!
If your piece still has some shine to it, spray READY on again and wipe off.
I love READY and use it often on furniture makeovers. It makes prep work SO easy.
3. Paint your chair!
Shake and stir your paint.
One of my favorite things about Velvet Finishes is that brush strokes don’t matter, meaning you can paint furniture whichever way you feel like, and they won’t show when the paint dries.
When you’re painting a chair with several spindles, this is awesome news!
Velvet Finishes is self-leveling, so paint and move on. Don’t go back over any paint that is starting to dry. You can always get more paint coverage with a second coat. (This is good advice to note for painting most things in general, honestly.)
You can wrap your brush in a damp paper towel and keep it in a plastic resealable bag in the fridge in between coats. Don’t waste time washing out when you’re just going to use it again!
4. Paint a second coat.
It’s always amazing what a second coat of paint does for basically anything. It makes a piece look more finished.
Do a third coat if needed, but keep in mind, Velvet Finishes doesn’t recommend more than 3 coats of paint in a 24-hour period.
5. Apply Velvet Finishes’ PROTECT.
Velvet Finishes’ PROTECT is a non-yellowing polyacrylic that protects painted furniture.
Brush it on with a paint brush. If you see streak marks, apply more, which I know seems like the opposite of what you should be doing, but it works!
6. Let your paint cure.
Let your paint dry, and then let it sit for several days. Cure time always matters! If you let your chair cure, you’re much less likely to scratch or dent the paint later.
Hope this is helpful if you’ve been wondering how to paint a chair! It’s so easy.
If you have any questions about Velvet Finishes, check out their FAQ section on their website.
So sweet, right?!
GET THE LOOK:
Since a popular question I get is “Where’d you get that?!,” here are links to the same or similar sources:
- Wall color: Camelback by Sherwin Williams
- Trim color: White Dove by Benjamin Moore
- Doll here or here
If you want more painted chair ideas, check these out:
- A painted chair makeover (another Velvet Finishes makeover!)
- How to paint barstools
- Painting an old chair from an estate sale
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Rebecca says
I’m curious on how much paint you used to paint the chair? What size container of paint would be needed for 2-3 coats?
GreenWithDecor says
I used about 1/3 of a Velvet Finishes jar, which is 32 ounces. Keep in mind this is a child-sized chair, so a regular sized chair would use a bit more! Happy painting!