How to Paint Vinyl Furniture
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I was looking for an inexpensive way to give a new look to my dated bed, with its faux leather headboard and footboard, and considered painting it. I am always unsure about painting vinyl furniture, though. Will it crack? Will it flake? I didn't want to reupholster my headboard, I just wanted to change from brown to navy blue.
After some internet digging for tutorials for painting vinyl, I found that Fusion Mineral Paint seemed to get the job done for most people. I had never used this paint before, but I was willing to give it a try.
I started with the back of the footboard to make sure I liked it before committing to a more visible area.
The first coat covered pretty well but I ended up rolling on two coats for maximum coverage. The paint is pretty thin, so it's a good idea to lay whatever you are painting horizontally to help prevent drips. If you can't do that, consider applying three really thin coats. It covers well and dries quickly between coats so it won't add much additional time.
The paint dried to a deep, navy color with a matte finish. It can be hard to see in photos, but the difference is huge. What used to be glossy, dark brown is now a beautiful blue!
I could always go back and add a glossy top coat if I want but I actually prefer the matte finish. It is a lot rougher than the original finish so if you are painting a chair or bench to sit on, I would suggest sanding between coats and possibly adding a top clear coat to help with the feel.
Since we don't really sit on this I am not too worried about cracks. So far, it is holding up nicely!
One jar of the paint was enough to cover the entire bed in two coats. I did not paint the back side of the head board since it was against the wall (and I didn't have enough anyway!)
4 comments so far:
I can't tell when you posted this. But how is it holding up? I have the same one and it's started to flake and peel anyway.
Laura, that was about a year and a half ago, and I've had zero problems with it. Here's an update video I posted on TikTok after a year, showing that it's holding up great.
Hi! I love this article and am wanting to try it! I’m just wondering if you think it would work to lighten a bed frame. I have a black headboard and frame nearly identical to the one in your photos, and I’d like it to be cream colored. I wondered if you had any input on if the paint is opaque enough to not cover the black faux leather already on it. Or if this is better to try and use another darker color?
Mikayla, I've only ever used the navy paint, so I am not sure if cream would cover or not. You might want to reach out to the company for advice. If you try it out, let us know how it goes!