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Sara,

Years ago, Todd Oldham had a design show on MTV. On one episode, he dyed a chair and a sofa just as you're considering. He used paint brushes to apply something like Rit dye in several really bright colors. I always wondered how colorfast it would be, and I can't recall if he addressed that.

If the seat cushion is removable and reversible, you might experiment by dyeing one side using the paintbrush application technique and seeing how the dye applies and responds. If the dye looks streaky or transfers, just turn that side of the cushion over so it's hidden.

You also might consider having an inexpensive slipcover made. I really like how that style of chair looks in a simple slipcover.

What about using fabric paint? I've never tried such a thing, so I'm just throwing the idea out there in case anyone else HAS tried it.

How do you feel about DIY? (Or do you have any friends whose fingers itch for DIY?)

There should be community education classes in upholstery out there. I know when my grandfather taught upholstery for many years, the students brought their projects in and used the equipment at the college.

I won't say that it's easy (I'm the unhandy person in my family) -- but that chair doesn't look impossibly complex, especially as you use the old upholstery as the pattern for cutting the new pieces. I'd definitely stick with fabric that's solid colored, just textured, or has a small repeat -- matching a dramatic pattern at all the necessary spots on that chair *would* be challenging.

I did once paint a chair with fabric paint and it worked fine, but it was a very different type of fabric than this - it was that super stiff, burlapy type material common on late 60s furniture. The fabric got even stiffer which was fine given its original rough texture but I don't think it work well at all for this.

Another technique I saw on Trading Places was spraypaint. If it's either this or throw the chair away, you may want to try testing it on a small area first - if the seat cushion is removable, the underside would be perfect. And of course, you could still reupholster anyway if it was a disaster. . .

Wow thanks for all the good suggestions!

Furniture paint sounds like the best idea. It is a rougher fabric. I'd love to make it like a bright red. I'm going to have to find it now.

Anyone else had experience with furniture paint or rit dye?

Thanks again everyone!

I have used a clay based eco-friendly paint on a cheap Ikea chair before. First I watered it down a bit so it would soak in well and just went to town quickly to keep the streaking down... At first it was dusty (from the clay in the paint) but after some good smacks, it was a great natural orange color, without any visible paint-on-fabric globs. I've never had it transfer to my clothes or anything. Just a suggestion.

Don't do Rit dye. It sucks. I would worry about the color transferring if you use a dye. There was an article in Dwell Magazine once about a cool couple that used very creative and inexpensive ways to make their home hip. They tried dying their couch and said their asses were purple for months.

I would go with a fabric paint or take a DIY class.

sara i want to be the voice in the wilderness that cries out don't dye or paint your chair. first since this chair was in someone's house and you don't know them have it professionally steam cleaned. this chair looks like a neutral in the posted photo, leave it as it is and add a color accessory like a folded throw over the back of the chair or a bright color pillow. sometimes a diy project can look like a diy project and that ain't good.

Don't paint it, you won't be happy with the results. Slipcover is the way to go if you don't have the dosh to have it upholstered. I had an old deep-purple mohair chair that I wanted to upgrade to a newer grey, and I took an upholstery class in adult-ed nightschool. I got to leave the chair there for the 2-3 classes it took to re-cover it, and it looked great! Also, I learned enough to be able to do the same to other pieces. Scout out classes before you decide. It's worth it.

I think that’s a nice chair and would not be scared to paint it with fabric paint. I have done a number of chairs including 2 fully upholstered 2 seaters with stripes and flowers. The materials were upholstery cotton mix and became somewhat stiffer as a result of the paint. If you are going to have it reupholstered in the long run maybe you could just try a piece to see how it handles the paint. You will need to heat seal the paint in the end by using a pressing iron. I made my own shell stencils and used them with stripes in a blue scheme. I also did a couch for my sister in Darwin with very large tropical flowers (hibiscus) in very bright colours and she used it for years afterwards. Dyes can be harder to handle but it can be done.

if you happen to be near clinton hill - on myrtle btw. hall and washington - there is a SMALL storefront that is a reupholterer, next to the barber shop.

i walked in the other night and he told me that for a similar chair, if i brought 7 yards of fabric, he would do it for $250!

pretty good deal to me. i did see some of his work and it looked very professional.

Reupholstery isn't that hard! You need a really good staple gun. Just take off the current fabric, carefully and slowly. Take notes so you remeber how it all goes back on. Use old cover as a pattern for the new pieces
2)even DIY upholstery isn't cheap, because upholstery fabric is NOT cheap. You'll pay 20.00/yard, minimum, and expect to need 7 yards.

Slipcovering is also easy if you know how to sew. Many older sewing books (50s-60s-70s) have directions on how to create slipcovers. The material is also cheaper than what you'd use for upholstery (usually)

Hey patrick and Fay in Zambia, as I said it's not as it appears in the photo, hence my question. It's not neutral, it's 70s brown and tacky. Sorry patrick, the chair isn't worth the cost of steam cleaning, but I did clean it by hand when I got it. Pretty standard when buying anything used.

Slipcover wouldn't work since the whole point of buying the chair was for the wood.

It is dye it or get rid of it. That clay based paint sounds fun, sunny. The next best suggestion is upholstering classes but I have no way to get the furniture to a class.

So again, thanks for all the answers and when I get the time I'll be trying fabric paint or clay dye. Fun!

You might want to consider making a slipcover from a semi-sheer material that will highlight the wood but mask the color of the fabric. If you don't want to spend the money to take a class to learn how to do it, pick up my book "Window Treatments and Slipcovers For Dummies," we show you how to do in the easiest simplest ways. Good luck!

Back in the days when you could *learn* something on HGTV, I found out you can paint upholstery with gesso. You can also use acrylic paint with fabric medium added in.

And click my name for a cool "paint your upholstery" link.

Hey again... Just wanted to add this:
I think why the clay base worked for me is because its natural, (don't ask me WHY that matters), like using tea to dye fabric.

While I think it is possible to change the hue/saturation of your chair to more of what you want, I don't think a drastic change would turn out great. OK then. Two cents added.

One more thing: have you thought about changing the wood stain instead? If it was a pretty ebonized-like black, the chair might work...

I loathed and despised Marian McEvoy's book Glue Gun Decor, but it does talk about doing a glue-gun recovering of this very kind of chair, IIRC.

I second Sunny's comment about the woodstain. Varathane even makes stain markers that are easy to use and widely available.

so sara - how did the painting of the fabric turn out on your wingback chair? i have 2 very faded red chairs that i'm thinking about doing the same to. let me know you're tips!

cool

I'VE SPENT ALL MORNING SURFING FOR URHOLSTERY DYE SOLUTIONS...In regard to this chair, I'd refer you to a Washington Post article: "Dyed and Gone To Carpet Heaven"...
Consider this: MANY fabrics are dyeable- cotton, wool, nylon.... but forget about "poly-" fabrics;
The key to dyeing, it seems, is RINSE, RINSE, RINSE, to remove any of the excess dye.
Then, use a muslin, or soft cotton, piece of cloth between the fabric and a med-hot steam iron to absorb any excess dye, and set the color.
On my "fainting couch", the stuffing is sponge and I fear it would take a LONG time to dry after being rinsed thoroughly....
I may try it anyway, and hope for hot dry weather to dry it out!
-"Wing-ged"

One more thing about dyes, and fabric.
Try for acid-base, not alkalyne-based dyes for WOOL, as aldalyne (as in "bleach") dyes will attach the structure of the wool fibers....it can eat it up.
-"Wing-ged"

OOPS, guess I will have to change my name, now!

I had flip chairs that were a nice patter, but had a red background which matched nothing I ownd.

I got fabric paint in blue and painted and then ironed them to make the dye stay.

It gave them an interesting wash effect and I've been pleased ever since with the results. I suspect that if I had done 2 layers of the paint, the chairs would be more of the blue, but I wanted the geometric pattern underneath to show through

Yeah, it would be hard to iron that chair, but far from impossible.

I think you should try simply spray upholstery(www.sunshinejoy.com) or may be automotive carpet upholstery paint/dye. Both of these products will leave your chair soft. If you can dye your car seats you should be able to dye your sofa. Hi-tech makes some great paint and you can find it for cheap at www.rightlook.com or try www.detailking.com for the carpet dye solution! I plan to do this project on Thurday with my living room set!

Hi, I went through with the project and painted one of my couches with Sem vinyl/carpet paint and yes my sofa is made of fabric material and this stuff does work. I have a stripe sofa which has a floral pattern. The stripes on my sofa are white and i hate that color so I painted the stripes with Sem's aerosol palomino paint and it came out pretty darn good! I taped of the edges of the stripes on my sofa and sprayed away! On a 7ft sofa I used 1 can of Sems paint. I didn't have to use much because i only was painting the stripes. For a drastic color change try a darker color because the light colors don't always work! My sofa is soft still too! Do not over spray because if you do, the material will get a little stiff, this stuff is permanent and does not fade at all! You csn get SEMs paint for a real cheap price at www.vinylpro.com. This is the cheapest you will find it online because it can go as high as 17.00 a can! Try this project it is great for ugly sofas and chairs!!

Hello! We have been dyeing slipcovers, and other textiles, for folks all over the USA for 15 years. We offer a top quality/professional service for beautiful, colorfast results. Use a color from our palette or request a custom color. We accept large or small projects. We are economical. We can dye the yardage and you can make slipcovers. Call me in Ashland Oregon 541.488.5911....Sherry

Sara,Sara
Instead of dying the whole chair you can also opt to paint the chair using Pebeo Stetacolor fabric paints. You can paint designs from florals to fun retro geometric shapes directly onto the fabric. Once dry simply use an iron to heat set the paints. I have done this on ottomans, upholstered chairs and throw pillows. The results will amaze you.

I am thinking about painting my upholstered walls. Has anyone ever tried that- and with what kind of paint?

OMG thank jeebus i stumbled onto this website!!
I just bought 5 boxes of Rit dye to color my enormous white couch (that my friend's kids destroyed) purple.
I am returning the dye tomorrow and going with the spray paint. maybe I'll be able to post pics? I don't care if my friend's kids are uncomfortable, but I don't want everyone leaving my house with a purple bum!
thank you so much!
beans

Hollybean,

Did you try dying your white sofa? If so, did it work? Can you post a picture? I'm thinking of ordering "Simply Spray" Upholstery Fabric Paint, but am worried it may have a gloss to it? Has anyone used it? My sofa is dark, hunter green and I want to use the Simply Spray in brown. Do you think it would cover it? Are the colors opaque or slightly transparent? Thanks if anyone out there has used this product! They have a new 8 oz. size, so I think I will only need two cans?