How to do a Faux Fabric Finish on Furniture

Have you seen the new faux fabric finish on Furniture and wondered how to recreate it? Companies like West Elm and others have recently come out with furniture in this type of finish and it’s all the rage. People are wanting to add more texture into their living spaces. Below I’ll bring you through step by step on exactly how to achieve this finish on your own pieces.

Items you’ll need:

• Fusion TSP or a degreaser
• 150-220 Grit Sandpaper
• Base coat paint – Satin paint, Fusion paint with Tough Coat or General Finishes High Performance top coat over or Zinsser Bin White Shellac Primer
• Top coat of finish – Fusion paint in the color of your choice
• Fusion Clear Glaze
• Empty jar for mixing
• Paint brush
• Microfiber Roller
• Wisk Broom
• Painters Tape
• Fusion Tough Coat or General Finishes High Performance Top Coat

First of all you’ll need to clean your piece with Fusion TSP or a degreaser to remove any oils, dirt or grime and then scuff sand your piece. If you are new to painting furniture and would like to see a video on prep go here.

Apply your base coat. This can be any color of Satin paint or Fusion Paint with Tough Coat over. In order to achieve this finish it’s best to have a slightly shiny base coat so the next step in making the fabric look comes out even. If you’re using white as a base coat you can also use Zinsser Bin Shellac Primer, 2 coats and sand it smooth. I use a Fusion Microfiber roller and a Staalmeester Flat Brush to apply my base coat for a smooth even finish. If you’re new to painting learn how to achieve a smooth finish here. Note: the more contrast between your base coat and top coat of your finish the more dramatic the texture looks.

Let the base coat dry for 3-4 hours before moving to the next step.

Mix your second color to be used over your base coat. Mix Fusion Clear Glaze with any Fusion Color 50:50. If you’d like it darker you can add more paint, if you’d like it lighter you can add more glaze. I find 50:50 is a good place to start. Do a sample board before starting to help you figure out your mixture before you apply over your base coat. Note: Your second color is usually your darker color. I mix my paint / glaze mixture in a separate jar.

Next you’ll want to tape off the section you’ll be working on first. This keeps you from overlapping onto other areas and not having a consistent faux fabric finish on your entire piece.

Apply a generous amount of your paint/glaze mixture over your base color with a brush. Make sure to get an even amount on the entire surface. The glaze allows you more time to work before it starts drying.

Take your Wisk Broom and begin by dragging the brush, as straight as possible, across the length of your surface. Wipe the excess off your broom between passes.

Next, drag your broom in the opposite direction to form a criss cross pattern on your surface.

Depending on the look you’re going for I find it best to make a pass again across the length of the surface and again in the opposite direction.

If you aren’t happy with the look you an always reapply more paint/glaze mixture and do the broom again.

Let this area dry for at least 4-6 hours if not overnight. You’ll want it dry enough to apply tape over it so that you can do other areas without ripping off your new textured finish.

I typically do the top of a piece, then the sides and then the front. If I’m doing a dresser I do the drawers when I do my top.

After you’ve completed all of your surfaces I recommend using Fusion Tough Coat in Matte or Glossy or General Finishes High Performance Top coat over your finish for durability.