How to Paint a Fabric Couch

Vacuum your couch thoroughly. Remove cushions and suction into every nook and cranny of the couch. Clean the couch with an upholstery cleaner and cleanser soap to remove embedded dirt and debris. The cleaner your couch fabric is when you paint it, the better your results will be. Allow the couch to dry completely.

Place plastic sheeting outdoors in a warm, sunny location during a time of the year when there is very little wind. Position the couch on the plastic so that you have room to walk around all sides of the couch. Keep all cushions separate if possible.

Shake your fabric paint well and select a location on the couch that cannot be seen and test the paint. Allow the test to dry for the day and see how the fabric takes to the paint. If the paint isn't adhering well to the fabric fibers, you should be able to tell. If the test area looks good then paint your couch.

Paint the least visible areas first so that you can get a feel for how well the fabric takes the paint. Wear rubber gloves if you need to manipulate folds in the fabric to cover everything. The underside of cushions and the back of the couch are good areas to perfect your painting technique. Paint your main cushions, your arms and the front of your couch last, when you have become adept at how to spray for the best appearance.

Spray your detached couch cushions last, since these will be the most visible and they will take the most wear. Make sure you cover the fabric evenly. Dry the couch for 3 days. Move the couch inside every evening to protect the couch from moisture changes. Try not to touch the fabric as it dries.

Rub the couch down with white terry cloth towels once the couch is completely dry. This will remove any residues of paint, and it will soften the fabric of the couch. Continue rubbing the couch until no more residue lifts. Allow the couch to dry two to three more days.

Vacuum the couch completely and check for any spots that may have been missed. Touch up these spots as necessary and repeat the drying, rubbing and vacuuming process in those areas. Once the couch is dry and rubbed down, consider washing the upholstery using a very mild detergent. Allow the upholstery to dry completely and try rubbing the fabric with a white towel again. If the paint is properly set, you should not get any paint transfer and the couch is ready to use.