Today I’m sharing how to paint leather. I painted a leather chair but you can use the same techniques for other leather.
Have you ever made a purchase, loving it at the time, and then later wondered what on earth you were thinking? I have. I’ve not only looked at it several hours each day, I’ve been sitting on it. It’s my own office chair. I loved the style of this chair from the day I laid eyes on it. Had to have it. But… I bought it in red. Yup..red. I’ll say in my defense, that was before I had a clue that I’d choose a turquoise and euro vintage style office. Clearly, the red had to go, and go it did! I’ve seen lots of projects on vintage furniture that used paint to change the color of leather furniture so I thought why not give it a try.
My chair is sporting a fabulous new coral color that looks so good, you’d never be able to tell it was a DIY.
I saw a recipe to mix my own coral colored Chalk Paint®. It was an aha moment for me! That moment I knew how I was going to save my awesome chair with the wrong color.
Because this is a chair that gets used every day I did a little paint prep on it. I’ve read you don’t need to when painting with Chalk Paint®, but the conservative side of me could not prep. I rubbed the leather lightly with 100 grit sandpaper all over. Just enough to take the light shine off of the grain. Next, I wiped down the leather with a TSP solution. This took all of 10 minutes.
Next, I taped off all the chrome.
This is my paint recipe to make a luscious coral color with Chalk Paint®. The one I initially tried was not the shade of coral I needed, so I tweaked it until it was what I wanted.
- 2 parts Pure White Chalk Paint®
- 1/2 part Emperor’s Silk Chalk Paint®
- 1 part plus a few teaspoons Barcelona Orange Chalk Paint®
Mix well and store any leftover paint in an airtight container.
The consistency and coverage were exactly what I’d hoped it would be. I applied two thin coats of paint with a good quality brush.
I gave it a day to dry and applied 1 coat of Annie Sloan Clear Soft Wax , waited a day and applied another coat. On the third day I gently buffed my new painted modern leather chair with a white soft cotton rag.
This chair looks like it came from the store in this color! I don’t see a brush stroke anywhere. Not one.
This color is perfect in my office and pretty against my desk that I just repainted with the faux cedar slab wood top.
I love my modern painted leather chair even more than I did when I brought it home.
My painted modern leather chair trial was a huge success. Chalk Paint® worked magic, and had excellent coverage. Plus, a little went a long way. I’m now on the lookout for more things to paint with my leftover coral chalk paint color.
Do you have a furniture item that could be saved with a color change?
elvira says
Great work Wendi!
I have retro white chairs which I thought I would reupholster but now considering to paint them instead. I am very nervous tho…
The chairs are vinyl, would it still work?
Wendi says
Hi Elvira!
Yes, paint will absolutely take to vinyl! Just make sure to use the right paint. Plus, I’d prep vinyl thoroughly too. Probably with TYSP and then I’d rub the entire surface down with a high grit sand paper to help the surface grip the paint. Have fun with your project!
Shelly says
When the leather is painted, is it stiff or does it remain soft when waxed? Thank you
Wendi says
Hi Shelly, The leather doesn’t get stiff at all. I’ve found that the leather has the same feel as it had before I started. This chair had thick leather but I’ve painted other leather items before and it didn’t make them stiff. Hope that helps! Thanks so much for your visit!
Tanya says
Hi there!
Where did you get your adorable leather office chair?!
I need it in my life!
Wendi says
Hi Tanya, isn’t it pretty? I fell in love with it and had to have it right there and then. I found it a at TJ Maxx. I’ve seen this same style on Amazon too, I’d look there first. Happy hunting, I hope you find one with your name on it! Thanks so much for your visit:)
Tanya says
Thank you, Wendi! Excited to find mine and paint it, too!!!
Wendi says
Hi Tanya, Share a picture on my Facebook page, H2OBungalow when you finish it!
Melonie says
A year later. Are you still happy with the painted leather?
Wendi says
Hi Melonie, Thats a really good question. The painted leather has held up much better than I thought it would, even where I’ve been sitting. The only issue I’ve had has been my fault. I’m short and adjust the height of the chair down. When I do that the chair handle rubs hard under the desk top on one side as I get in and out of the chair. The paint wore off some in that spot. So I’d say with normal use it would be fine. Good luck!
Maya says
Great paint job!
Would this work on a faux-leathet chair?
I have one that I love but is starting to peal off and I’d like to give it a fresh look.
Thanks
Wendi says
Maya, It sure will work on faux leather! I’m not sure what is peeling, the paint or the faux leather but just be sure to sand any peeling areas extra well so the paint adheres to the surface. Follow my instructions and you should be fine! Good luck!
Jeanette says
Wendi, Wow I adore the color and your bravery. We have a large leather sofa, two chairs, and two ottomans I want to paint…but so far I’m not brave enough. They are dark brown and I want light grey. Hum!!!
Wendi says
Jeanette, It took me a while to gather up enough courage to try it. Grey sounds beautiful. Maybe try a test piece of leather furniture first? Find a thrit store one and paint it in your color to see how well it turnd out and holds up. Good luck!
Deb says
It’s a beautiful chair, beautiful paint job! Chalk Paint is amazing. I’ve painted rugs that have had chair legs dragged back and forth over them, and the paint does not come off. Love how you can so easily mix custom colors too.
Wendi says
Thank you so much Deb! I loved the chair and wasn’t sure how I was going to make it work in my office. Painting was my only alternative. It worked so well I wish I’d done it a year earlier! Just like you mentioned, the color stays on. I sit in this chair every day and none of the paint has worn or rubbed off! Thanks so much for your visit!
Rebecca says
I never knew you could paint leather !!!! What a neat idea – this opens up many new things to do in the decorating dept. And your color is beautiful. Thanks so much for sharing. Visiting fro Monday Musings.
Wendi says
Thanks so much! Yes, painting leather works beautifully and is pretty easy too. Thanks so much for your visit!
TwoPlusCute says
I wanted to post here. I was so impressed by this DIY (I pinned it of course).
I am on the more contemporary/modern side and this chair… I love it!
Perfect color and I had no idea we could paint leather and look so fantastic.
Just to make sure: the color doesn’t rub off when people sit on it, right?
Wendi says
Nope, It doesn’t wear off. Do be sure to add the wax to seal the layers and allow the wax to cure. I use my chair every day and none has worn off. While the wax was curing, I’d lay a white cotton t-shirt on the chair to protect it and my clothes just in case anything did rub off. I was surprised that nothing, not one spot of color rubbed off at all.:)
TwoPlusCute says
Thank you Wendi. 🙂
Marie@The Interior Frugalista says
Love that custom coral color Wendi and your chair definitely looks like it came from the factory in that color. Beautiful!
The timing couldn’t have been better for this post too. Last night over a glass of wine my girlfriend was telling me how she wanted to paint her leather couch. Having never painted leather before I told her to do a google search for instructions. Will be sending her to your website instead – thanks!
Hugs,
Marie
Wendi says
Marie, I do too! I love blending my own colors and this recipe allowed me to make the exact shade of coral I wanted. Tell your friend .. yes! you can paint leather. Use the thinest coats possbile on cuhions that will bend a lot. Thanks for sharing my info girlfriend!