How to Decorate an Already Painted Chair

Faux Finishing

• 1

  Add a decorative touch to your painted chair with a faux finish. Choose the specific technique that matches your overall room decor. For example, for a rustic style dining room, try an antique-looking crackle finish.

• 2

  Select a color scheme. Use the painted color of the chair as a base coat. Match the top coat to your base. Choosing a color in the same family or tone as the base coat will create a continuous monochromatic look, while a contrasting color that is an opposite shade from the base provides a dramatic look.

• 3

  Place your chair onto a drop cloth to protect your floor or work surface. Create the faux finish. The way you get to your faux finish look will vary depending on the specific technique you use. For example, use a faux medium such as a crackle glaze to achieve an antiqued look. Coat the already painted chair with a layer of the colorless medium. Allow at least two hours for drying time. Add another coat in your choice of color in a flat interior latex or acrylic water-based crafters paint. The glaze and topcoat will interact together, causing linear paint cracks for a rustic look.

Embellishments

• 4

  Choose embellishments that coordinate with the chair and the overall room decor. Use mock jewels or more elaborate items for a dramatic or romantic look and simple accents such as metal studs or nail heads for a more subdued or modern feel.

• 5

  Mark placement lines or dots for your accent pieces. Choose a specific pattern or means of spacing the items. For example, create a line of jewels going from the top to the bottom of each chair leg. Measure the leg and decide how far apart the accents should go. Use the measuring tape and pencil to draw exact placement points.

• 6

  Lay your chair on its side or any other way that makes it easy to work on. You should have a flat, horizontal surface to apply your accents on. Dab a dot of hot glue onto the first pencil mark. Press your accent piece onto the glue. Make the glue dot smaller than the piece that you have chosen. Repeat for each mark.

• 7

  Allow the glue to completely dry before moving the chair. Wipe away any excess glue with a damp rag.