How To Paint A Leather Chair? Step-by-Step Tutorial

Helen Skeates
Helen Skeates
13 min read

We’ll walk you through the steps of painting a leather chair, from selecting the right paint to applying it. Easy-to-use leather paint may transform a dated piece of furniture into a modern conversation starter.

It’s possible you’re trying to decide whether to throw away the remnants of your chair or use them to create something entirely new and exciting. Anything that can be put to good use again should be preserved and restored.

How to paint a leather chair, and other necessary details, are covered in this article.

How Do You Paint A Leather Chair?

When you’re in the mood for something more flamboyant, sticking with the same old leather colors can get boring. If you’re tired of your leather chair’s color and want a fresh look for your space, you may want to think about doing rid of the traditional black.

Did you know that there is a leather paint that can be used on any kind of leather? This is done to fix it up, change the color, or add some fun patterns. It’s easy to do and won’t break the bank if you’re trying to cut costs.

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Materials You Will Need

Fabric and vinyl spray paint in the color of your choosing, together with a soft cloth, painter’s tape, some old newspapers or a drop cloth, and some elbow grease, are all you need to transform a leather chair into something new.

Step #1. Prepare and wash

Gather everything you’ll need and put it in one spot. Brush the leather chair with a soft cloth and clean it with an alcohol-based cleaner.

When cleaning leather of grime, oil, grease, and stains, exercise caution to avoid damaging the material. Assuming you’ve finished cleaning the chair, give it a good hour to dry.

Step #2. Tape the chair

Use painter’s tape to mask off the area you don’t want painted. Remember that even skipping the tiniest of tape overlaps could have a significant impact on the final output.

The location where the painting will take place is another factor to think about. It must be spacious and well-ventilated.

Step #3. Painting process

Put the chair on some old newspapers or a disposable dry cloth before you start painting. It ought to be bigger than the chair. Next, give the paint a good one-minute shake.

Proceed carefully, keeping at least 6 inches of space between the chair and the paint. You can expect less paint bleeds as a result. Once the entire chair or the desired sections have been painted, let them cure for at least an hour before adding a second coat.

Wait at least 4 hours for it to dry completely. To get the right shade, you may need to apply several coats. Carefully peel off the painter’s tape once this is done.

What kind of paint can be used on leather?

Numerous varieties of leather paint are available. Leather paint, a type of courant developed for use on leather, comes in a wide range of tones and textures.

You can choose from a wide variety of paints, including acrylic, metallic, pearlescent, paint markers, and spray paint. The sealing and protective properties of leather paint finishes help to make the painted surface resistant to water and stains.

Leather spray paint is versatile and may be used on a variety of materials, including leather, vinyl, and plastic. Depending on the state of the surface, it can be used to revitalize or alter the color of the surface. What’s more, if done properly, it won’t peel or rub off and will look natural.

Brush paints and spray paints are both readily available. Almost all of these colors are acrylic-based. Paint markers can also be used to add finer details to your work.

What is the best paint to use on leather furniture?

A select few types of paint were developed with leather in mind. Water-solvent paints include acrylic leather paints. They can be swiftly applied, rinsed off, and reapplied.

Metalic leather paint can be used to achieve a metallic sheen. It creates a shiny finish with vibrant colors that stay. Pearlescent leather paints, which come in a variety of gloss levels, are another option.

However, if durability is your first priority, you can always use a leather dye. It penetrates deeply into the fabric, making it stain-, crack-, dust-, and fade-proof.

4 Types of Leather Paint

What we generally mean when we talk about “leather paint” is a wide category that includes a wide variety of products used for staining, sealing, and adorning leather goods.

The different types of leather paints include acrylic, metallic, and pearlescent paints as well as leather dyes. These all have unique characteristics and uses.

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1. Acrylic Leather Paints

Leather paints come in a wide variety of finishes, including acrylic, metallic, pearlescent, and leather dyes. Different from one another, each have their own set of qualities and applications.

Fashion accessories including leather handbags, coats, belts, and boots are just some of the leather goods that benefit from their use in the painting process.

Acrylic paints are versatile and can be blended with various colors. They can be washed away quickly and reapplied during painting. In this way, they are perfect for trying out new styles and methods of personalization.

Acrylic paints are versatile and can be used with many different hues. They are easily removable and reusable in the event of a paint spill. The ability to try out new methods of personalization and aesthetics is what makes them so versatile.

2. Metallic Leather Paints

Metallic leather paints create a shiny metallic sheen on the leather’s surface. To acquire their glossy finish, they are constructed from metal flakes and coated with acrylic polyurethane.

Like vinyl paint, these paints find widespread use in autos. They provide a glazed appearance with long-lasting colors.

3. Pearlescent Leather Paints

Mica is a sort of ceramic shard that is ground down to make this paint.

Pearlescent leather paints, like their metallic counterparts, are used to decorate the leather surfaces of an automobile’s interior. This includes the dashboard, the seats, and the steering wheel.

In contrast to their metallic analogues, however, they offer a shine that may be used in a variety of contexts.

4. Leather Dyes

When compared to leather paints, leather dyes tend to last longer. They penetrate the surface they’re applied on, making them more resistant to wear and tear such as fading, cracking, staining, dust accumulation, and scratching.

As a result, they are put to use in more substantial painting projects and in total leather overhauls.

When opposed to leather paints, leather dyes have a smaller color palette and less saturation. They also don’t work too well for more detailed coloring and design work that calls for finer control.

The Best 5 Paints For Leather

If you’re in the market for leather paint, you want something that will last, can be used in a variety of ways, won’t harm your skin, and comes in a rainbow of hues. We looked at what’s out there now, and these are our top 5 recommendations.

1. Angelus Leather Paint

There is no doubt that the Angelus Leather Paint Set of 12 is one of the finest leather paints currently on the market.

Its manufacturer, Angelus, has been manufacturing leather related products such as leather paint, polishes, and protective sprays for over a century.

The 12 paint containers in this set are all hermetically sealed. One ounce of acrylic paint of a distinct hue is contained in each of the jars.

All of the primary colors plus black, white, lilac, turquoise, pink, purple, and white are represented.

Therefore, the Angelus Leather Paint Set of 12 kit has everything you need to make your own one-of-a-kind patterns.

Each paint color is uniquely identified in a jar with a label that is easy to read. All the better that the paint in such containers is safe for use around kids and pets.

You can achieve any desired hue by layering on various colors or mixing them together. Paint is easily removable and reapplyable.

For a fun and easy way to personalize your favorite leather accessories including shoes, coats, and bags, try the Angelus Leather Paint Set of 12. Likewise, it can be used to cover up scuffs and scratches on similar things.

When compared to similar offerings, this one offers remarkable value for the money.

2. Jacquard Lumiere Exciter Pack

If you’re in the market for top-notch leather paint, you should also consider the Jacquard Lumiere Exciter Pack.

The kit includes 9 individual half-ounce bottles of metallic leather paint.

Halo pink gold, halo blue gold, halo violet gold, and sunset gold are all available. In addition to the standard black, white, and blue, you also have the option of selecting from the iridescent turquoise, green, magenta, russet, and pewter options.

There is a tight seal on the bottles to keep any potential damage out.

These metallic paints are glossy because of a clear acrylic polyurethane finish. Other than leather, they can be applied to cotton, wood, polymer clay, and paper. You can use a rubbing sponge, paintbrush, or airbrush to apply the Jacquard Lumiere pack.

The Jacquard Lumiere Exciter is completely safe and meets all requirements set forth by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D4236.

3. Kaps Super Color Dye Paint Set

The Kaps Super Color Dye product is among the best to consider purchasing if you are interested in trying out a leather dye.

You can apply the leather dye in this product on your leather handbags, shoes, and other accessories, and the dye dissolves in alcohol.

Scratches and abrasions on leather surfaces are easily concealed by the dye.

To change the color of leather goods permanently, try using Kaps Super Color dye. One bottle of dye in a specific shade (25 ml) is included with each purchase.

The product comes in 70 unique shades, ranging from dark lilac and beige to turquoise and chocolate. A paintbrush and a spongy applicator are included in the set.

Kaps, a European manufacturer with extensive knowledge of leather care products, produces the Super Color dye. It offers a low price and numerous glowing testimonials from satisfied buyers.

The Kaps Super Color Dye is a fantastic option if you’re searching for a leather dye that will last longer and look better than standard leather paint.

4. U.S. Art Supply Acrylic Airbrush, Leather & Shoe Paint Set

The name of the product gives away the fact that it’s more than simply leather paint; rather, it’s a full-fledged toolkit to help you hone your design skills.

A dozen bottles of acrylic leather paint are included in the leather paint set from U.S. Art Supply. There’s a different shade of paint in each of the bottles, each holding 1 ounce.

Pink, yellow, red, purple, orange, coffee brown, hot pink, sapphire blue, flesh, deep black, grass green, and white are all hues that can be chosen.

There is also an airbrush cleaner and a base that may be used as either a reducer or an extension. You can use the U.S. Art Supply set with your airbrush if that’s how you like to paint. The paints are manufactured using high-quality acrylic resin and conform to the safety standards set out by ASTM D-4236.

The Leather Paint Set from U.S. Art Supply comes in three different variations:

  • The colors are pearlized and
  • Separated into their respective primary hues
  • There is a set of transparent colors

Paints can be used on a wide range of substrates, from plastic to wood to metal.

The U.S. Art Supply Set is a fantastic choice if you’re searching for a comprehensive leather painting kit with which to begin started on making works of art.

5. Fiebing’s Acrylic Leather Paint

An additional excellent leather paint option is Fiebing’s Acrylic Leather Paint. It comes with 2 ounces of water-based acrylic leather paint in a properly sealed bottle.

It comes in 11 different tones, some of which are blue, dark brown, red, turquoise, orange, and yellow.

Paints like Fiebing’s Acrylic Leather dry rapidly, endure a long time without peeling or cracking, and are ideal for use on leather.

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When dry, the resulting leather surfaces are resistant to moisture. When using these dyes on a leather surface, diluting them with water is recommended.

To put it simply, Fiebing’s Acrylic Leather Paint is a steal for the price. It is a high-quality, reasonably priced choice that has received numerous favorable ratings and recommendations from happy customers and would suit your needs.

Conclusion

It’s not hard to learn how to paint a leather chair. Just keep in mind that you’ll need to put in a lot of time waiting and think through the stages involved. Similarly, we suggest you stock up on additional paints just in case.

Also, protecting your face and nose from the elements is a good idea. Carefully consider the type of paint you want to use. Have some fun with it and get ready to give up that rusty old chair for good.

Helen Skeates

Helen Skeates

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