Things made of artificial leather are becoming reliable companions in our lives. But over time, many of them lose their appearance. Objects that are still strong and durable become unattractive: the paint is worn and faded. This is not a reason to give up your usual things! Painting will give them a second life.
We'll tell you how you can dye faux leather items at home.
Choosing paint for leatherette
Buying a product for coloring artificial leather is easy. This can be done at different retail outlets.
Hardware stores
In hardware stores you can purchase professional paints intended for artificial leather, as well as acrylic dyes.
Handicraft stores
Products in small packages can be found in craft stores. They offer a variety of colors of acrylic paints, small containers with special dyes for natural and artificial leather. Handicraft salons also offer chalk paints. They will be of interest to those who want not only to paint the upholstery of leatherette furniture, but also to make it stylish, specially giving it an aged look.
Shoe stores
In stores or departments that sell shoes, you can choose an impregnation for shoes, which is also suitable for updating other leatherette items.
All these products will ensure high-quality painting of artificial leather.
Which paint to choose
There are many options for how to paint a leather sofa at home. There are more than thousands of paints in stores, but not all of them are suitable for leather upholstery. One of the most important factors of choice is the minimum value of toxins in the composition and the speed of drying. There are two proven means for updating the design of a sofa or chair.
Special paint
Special paint is sold in leather or shoe stores. Impregnations or sprays can be passed off as paint, so you need to be careful. They will not be able to paint the skin well, as they are intended for care.
Special paint for leather can be bought in stores.
There are many forms of paint release. These can be: aerosols, balloons with a foam tip (any other soft and porous materials), jars with sealed lids.
A specialist and someone who has ever done painting says that options with sprayers are much more convenient. Sprays and aerosols are distributed more evenly without drips. If desired, you can easily apply a second and even a third layer. This way, problem areas are painted over more thoroughly.
Aerosol is the most convenient form of paint release,
The spray can with a foam nozzle is easy to use. But it is more suitable for finishing small areas. It will be difficult for them to paint the entire product. The cost of this option is less than that of aerosol ones. But operation is much more difficult and longer.
A spray bottle with a tip is suitable for painting small areas.
Paint in a jar with an airtight lid is the most affordable option. But in the process of work it will cause many problems. You will have to paint with a brush. It will leave traces and stains. Therefore, this option is suitable only for those who are absolutely sure that they can handle it. It’s easy to ruin the upholstery of a sofa, but it’s difficult to return it to its original state.
Paint in a can is the most budget-friendly option, but it will be more difficult to work with.
Folk dyes
Folk dyes are also sometimes used, but this is the most unreliable method. They take a long time to dry and can quickly wear off during use of the sofa. If you want to paint leather furniture with high quality, then it is better to give preference to ready-made special paints. This way the result will definitely not disappoint and you will be able to save the sofa or chair.
Experts recommend painting over even small cracks with specialized paint, and not with folk dyes. Leather upholstery is very fancy and requires proper care, and if you smear it with various decoctions, it will not last long.
Preparing things for painting
The material must be cleaned before painting. If there is a layer (even invisible to the eye) of dust and dirt between the surface of the item and the dye, the layers of paint will move away from the material and cracks will appear.
The procedure for preparing leatherette for painting:
- Cleaning. To clean artificial leather, you need to treat it with a soapy solution and then rinse thoroughly with clean water. Perform the work with a cotton napkin or sponge.
- Degreasing. Using a swab or sponge soaked in an alcohol solution, wipe the item again, removing any remaining dirt.
Important! After cleaning, work with artificial leather only with gloves, so as not to leave traces of stains on the cleaned surface; they may appear during dyeing.
- Drying. Before painting, make sure that the leatherette is completely dry.
Important! Allow items to dry naturally, without using heating devices or heaters, which may cause deformation of the material.
Cleaning a Leather Bag Before Painting
To begin with, you should thoroughly clean the surface of the accessory from dust, dirt and stains, paying special attention to joints, seams, folds or draperies, as well as decor.
Don't forget the pens! Any remaining stain after painting can behave unpredictably - so we clean it conscientiously. But it is not recommended to wet natural leather with plenty of water, much less use detergents.
As a last resort, you can use a weak solution based on water, ammonia and baby soap, but immediately dry the surface. This is especially true for light-colored accessories.
To clean the accessory from dust, a dry soft cloth is suitable, and ordinary ethyl alcohol will act as a universal detergent. Soak a napkin in it, wring it out - it should not be wet, but damp, and carefully go over the entire surface, not forgetting about the decorative details. Alcohol perfectly degreases the surface; as soon as it dries, you can begin.
Paint a bag or suitcase
Have you been wanting to update your bag or suitcase? Don't delay, but start making your desires come true!
Prepare the necessary materials:
- Paint (we recommend using acrylic).
- Acetone for dilution.
- Items for applying dye (brush, sponge).
- Items for working with paint (palette).
- Gloves for work.
Advice! If you don't have a special palette (or a palette from a children's painting kit), you can replace it with regular aluminum baking foil.
Carefully read the instructions for painting leatherette items. Doing the job according to these tips will help you get a good result.
- Prepare the bag for painting by thoroughly cleaning and drying its surface.
- Prepare the paint. Apply some paint to the palette or foil. It shouldn't be thick. To dilute, use acetone.
Important! Please note that acrylic dries quickly. Do not squeeze a large amount of paint onto the palette at once; it is better to add it as needed.
- Mix the squeezed out paint with a brush or sponge.
- Start painting. Try to apply the dye evenly, in long strokes.
- Once completely dyed, leave the bag to dry. This will take 15 to 20 minutes.
- Apply 2nd coat. If you are not completely satisfied with the result, after the 2nd layer has dried, you can paint it again.
- Let the bag dry on its own; do not place it near heating appliances.
How to avoid mistakes
To prevent errors, you must strictly follow the instructions and observe all stages of work. Safety rules when painting must also be followed, otherwise furniture restoration may end badly. The most important aspects are briefly described to avoid mistakes:
- Do not apply paint to an untreated surface. It must be perfectly clean.
- Paint for coloring should not contain toxins, otherwise the product will be spoiled due to their excessive content and pose a health hazard.
- Before decorating each area, the skin must be moistened with water from a spray bottle.
- Do not start applying the first layer over the entire surface at once. It is more rational to do this in zones.
- Try to apply the paint evenly.
- Avoid entry of foreign particles. They can ruin the appearance, and it’s impossible to remove them without leaving traces.
It is possible and even necessary to breathe new life into old leather furniture. Leather products are strong and durable, so they can easily withstand more than one painting. The restoration process is a very painstaking work that requires attentiveness, perseverance and minimal skills in working with coloring agents.
By following the instructions for proper and high-quality painting, you can achieve an excellent result. The most important thing is to protect your respiratory and vision organs while working. You can paint only with thick gloves so that the paint does not get on your hands.
Tips for painting leatherette items
- Pay attention to the specific type of faux leather the items you want to paint are made from. Get acquainted with the features of caring for this type of material.
- Carefully read the instructions for use of the selected dye and strictly follow its instructions.
- Do some preliminary testing before painting. Select a small part of the leatherette and test the dye on it. This will ensure that the material does not experience any unwanted reactions when interacting with the dye. Allow the painted area to dry completely to see the final color.
What do you need to paint a product yourself?
To dye a product made of natural or artificial leather yourself, you will need:
- Paint for leather products.
- A sponge or woolen cloth for applying the coloring composition.
- A special fixing agent designed to fix the paint on the material. The fixative is usually sold complete with paint. If you don’t have it, you can prepare it yourself.
- Latex gloves.
- A dummy to facilitate the application of the coloring composition.
How to care for dyed items
To ensure that the appearance of a painted item brings pleasure for a long time, you need to follow simple rules for caring for painted leatherette.
Timely cleaning
All contaminants should be removed from the painted material, not leaving even minimal ones unattended. For cleaning, use a damp cloth or sponge. You can use a soap solution, which is then thoroughly washed off with clean water.
Drying
Wet faux leather items need to be dried thoroughly. For this purpose, items of clothing are hung on hangers and given shape. Shoes can be stuffed with old newspapers. The bag is emptied of things, hung and shaped, for which you can also use paper.
Leatherette things will continue to delight you! You have already appreciated their practicality. And with the help of our article, you can paint artificial leather to restore the attractive appearance of your favorite bag, jacket or comfortable shoes!
How to dye faux leather?
Durable and practical artificial leather is widely used for the manufacture of furniture upholstery, clothing and a variety of accessories. But over time, things made from it begin to look not as beautiful as before. On sofas and armchairs, jackets and bags made of artificial leather, abrasions and other defects appear. Is it possible to do something about this?
Yes, the problem has a solution. Faux leather items can be restored, and it is not as difficult as it seems at first glance. Although, of course, such work requires diligence and accuracy.
How to dye leather at home?
What means will help restore things to their original appearance? Much depends on what exactly you are going to restore.
You can try to paint over minor defects, such as scratches, with a marker or felt-tip pen of the same color.
You can try to disguise minor abrasions with a special wax pencil. You can buy it in special stores.
If you need to clean up shoes made from artificial leather, shoe impregnation is suitable. It comes in bottles complete with a sponge. All you have to do is pass it over the problem area several times.
You can renew leatherette using special paints designed to work with this material. Most often they come in aerosol form and you just need to gently spray them onto the area that needs treatment.
An alternative option is acrylic paint. It is universal, and with its help you can renew both the leather of the sofa and the surface of your shoes. This material is plastic, so it is suitable for processing things of complex shape. It is also durable.
A large selection of colors guarantees that you will definitely find the shade that suits you.
Is it possible to paint furniture yourself?
Leather furniture is a high-quality, comfortable and stylish interior frame. But even the highest quality leather changes color and wears over time, various cracks and obvious abrasions appear. The best way to refresh old furniture is to paint it a new color. Therefore, you can paint leather furniture yourself.
Scuff marks on leather upholstery can be repaired by painting.
The main thing in the process is to follow the stages of work and basic safety rules. Painting furniture will give it a new life, so if you want to update the interior in this way, you can safely get down to business after familiarizing yourself with some of the nuances.
If you follow all the recommendations, you can return the product to its original appearance.
