After over 12 years of furniture painting I can still NEVER predict what will be a hit and what will be a flop in this painted furniture world!
I hand painted this cat chair on a whim.....never expecting it to turn out so cute!
And I certainly didn't expect the painted cat chair to sell in a day!!
The cat lovers came out of hiding when I posted this....and I am thrilled that it was so well received! I've even been asked to paint a second one for another client!
If you are a new reader, hello and welcome to the Fancy Fam! With over a decade of furniture painting experience, I can honestly say that sharing my projects through this blog is still my favorite way to inspire! I've got years worth of fun and creative ways to update your home decor and furniture through paint! If this sounds like something you'd like to have delivered to you every Sunday be sure to sign up for my weekly newsletter here!
Before: Hand Painted Cat Chair Design
I thrifted two of these chairs from Facebook Marketplace.
They were in mint condition and the perfect size and shape for my furniture art. The back was also the perfect size for this new abstract funky cat decoupage paper.
Supplies Used
This post may contain affiliate links. I could make a commission at no charge to you if you purchase my recommended products. Please read my disclosure here and my privacy policy here.
Hand Painted Cat Chair: Rainbow Kitty Decoupage Paper
This is my first time ever to paint pink stripes on a seat cushion vs. black... and it's also my first time to paint a white chair!
I guess this goes to show it's nice to mix things up a little bit from time to time!
Let me show you the exact process I used to create with hand painted cat chair!
Prepping Fabric Chair
So lets go over the basic steps to prepping your fabric chair for art:
Always wipe down/vacuum the fabric thoroughly.
Always clean the wood frame with White Lightning and rinse well with water.
Always prime the wood frame and the fabric with 1-2 coats of Bonding Boss (I prefer gray or white) and allow to dry.
The chair is now ready for it's new look!
Painting Base Coat & Applying Decoupage Paper
I applied the Rainbow Kitty Decoupage paper to the back cushion of the chair using Top Coat Satin to both apply it and seal it. Learn my step-by-step FABRIC CHAIR decoupage paper application process here.
Then I painted the entire chair in two coats of Fluff ( a soft white by Dixie Belle Paint)
"Paint In" Across the Whole Chair for a Complete Look
While this was drying I measured and painted my stripes on the seat cushion.
I painted these stripes in my custom mix of pink that I call Cotton Candy.
PRO TIP: Always sand between paint layers and after your final coat!
Once the decoupage was dry I began to "paint it in"....which simply means I use paint to continue the art that is on the paper out onto the rest of the back cushion surface....
I simply matched up the colors in the rainbow kitty paper to the colors I had on hand in chalk mineral paint.
**This process was time consuming but its always one of my favorite things to do!
The most detailed step was carrying the long skinny white whiskers over onto the cushion!
Sealing For Lasting Protection
I sealed both cushions with Easy Peasy Spray Wax.
The frame of the chair is sealed in two coats of Top Coat Satin.
Both sealers will provide lasting protection and durability!
The Finished Look
And thats a wrap on this hand painted cat chair with decoupage paper blending!
Cat Chair 2.0 coming right up!
And look what else I was able to finish this past week!
ANOTHER cat chair....but in BLUE!
I love how it looks in blue.....and I'm surprised because I really liked the pink version!
The beauty of creating around a piece of decoupage paper is the final project changes greatly depending on what colors you choose to pull from it.
I can only imagine how cute this paper would also look with a green striped chair.....or even the deep bold pink!
More Inspiration: Decoupage Furniture
I have blogged about decoupaging a variety of pieces and surfaces over the years! Here are more of my unique styles for your inspiration:
Memory Trunk Restoration - floral ballerina paper on a sentimental piece
Whimsical Alice Nightstand - whimsy and soft with spring flower paper
Kidney Shaped Floral Vanity - decoupage on a curved surface
Mediterranean Armoire - bright blue colorful Spanish tiles
Click on any photo below for more up-close photos and all the design details
Even More Inspiration: Painted Fabric Chairs
I pulled a few blogs from past chair projects that came to mind when working on this piece! I hope you can use them to draw inspiration for your upcoming project.
Giraffe Chair - once upon a time there were two giraffes that fell in love...
Tattoo Decoupage Chair - love it or hate it. This one went viral on IG!
Whimsical Watercolor Mermaid Chairs - an ugly fabric chair project
Alice in Wonderland Chairs - always love the whimsy!
Painted Zebra Chair - funky and overflowing with personality
Click on any photo below for more up-close photos and all the design details
JOIN ME FOR MORE...with Curiously Creative
If you enjoyed this and want more of a deep dive into home decor and DIY processes, I would love it if you joined my exclusive online creative group, Curiously Creative. I show up LIVE to guide you through every step of updating, upcycling, crafting, and creating on-trend home decor and gift-giving ideas!
Want more fancy furniture & design?
Save & Share on Pinterest!
Please please please share my hand painted cat chair project and follow me on Pinterest!
