If you are looking to spruce up your living room, one very effective way to do it is by changing the color of your couch. There are a few ways to go about doing this, one being by way of painting your furniture, provided that it is made of fabric rather than leather.
This article will go into detail regarding how to transform the look of your couch in whichever way is ideal for your unique situation. Keep reading if you want to add some fresh color to your home and your life.
1 – Add a Furniture Cover
One extremely easy way to change the color of your couch to match your new decor, wall paint, or simply to add a new pop of color to a room, is by putting a couch slipcover onto it. This is also a great way to add a new pattern to your couch, making this solution incredibly versatile.
This is also a very cost-effective method for changing your couch’s color. You can find a slipcover for as inexpensive as around $20, and there are an insane amount of varieties to choose from on the internet.
Make sure you shop around to find the best deal and the colors and design that will work best with what you envision for your couch’s new start.
2 – Reupholstering
As long as your couch is structurally sound and you believe your furniture will last you for quite some time, you could consider reupholstering it. This is a much more cost-effective solution than purchasing a brand-new couch, and it is also far less wasteful, making it a more environmentally responsible method as well.
Some people are likely under the false impression that reupholstering furniture is difficult, and only those experienced in doing it can do a good job. Luckily, this is most certainly not the case, and if you have the motivation to do it, you can definitely reupholster your own couch, in turn, transforming its color.
This section will detail how to go about reupholstering your piece of furniture step by step.
Measure Your Couch
This first step is likely the most important because if you are not accurate, you could end up not getting your new fabric to fit onto your couch properly. It is easiest to measure each piece of your old upholstery by first removing it.
You need to write down all of the fabric pieces’ dimensions, and then take these measurements to the store from where you plan to buy your fresh fabric. Also, it is smart to keep track of the order you had to remove the pieces of old upholstery.
When you are picking out your new upholstery, keep in mind that thicker fabric is more protective and durable.
Remove Dust Cover
The next step is to carefully take off the dust cover that is located on the bottom of your couch, if your furniture has one of these thin pieces of protective fabric.
Make sure you are gentle when you pull out the staples to take off the dust cover so you do not damage it because you can reattach it after you reupholster your couch.
You do not need to add the dust cover back onto your furniture, but it is helpful for keeping your couch free of dust, as the name implies, and other debris, as well as pests.
Remove Original Upholstery
Next, you can take off the original upholstery on your furniture to make room for the new fabric. It is important to do this rather than placing the new upholstery on top of the old as it can end up looking bulky and lumpy otherwise.
You can also add additional stuffing to your couch at this point, if it is necessary.
Refinish Couch Frame
Now that you have the couch frame exposed, you can refinish it if you would like. You can sand it, add a new stain, and put on a fresh coat of paint, if you feel like the frame needs it.
Put Upholstery on
It is now time to cut your new fabric pieces, and you can use the old pieces to do this, which will make the job much easier and ensure that your new pieces will fit properly. Simply trace out the new pieces you need to cut out by laying the old pieces over the fresh fabric.
Be certain to use actual fabric scissors because they are much sharper than regular ones, and you can easily make clean cuts into the upholstery pieces. You can now attach the pieces using a staple gun, adding each piece in reverse order to how you took off the original pieces of fabric.
Put Dust Cover Back on
At this point, you can put the couch’s dust cover back on using staples and a staple gun, provided that it is still in good shape. Otherwise, you have the option of purchasing a new dust cover or simply going without one.
Add Trim
Your couch might have come with a decorative trim, in which case you can use high-quality fabric glue to reattach it to your furniture.
You could also consider adding your own trim to the couch, which will help cover up any staples or other signs that you reupholstered the couch. It is also great for adding a stylish touch to your newly revamped furniture.
3 – Paint Your Couch
Some people actually find painting their couch to be much easier than reupholstering it, so this is another method for changing the color of your furniture that you have at your disposal. However, this will only be an option for you if your couch is made of fabric, wood, metal, or plastic rather than a material such as leather.
This section will detail the steps you should take to paint your piece of furniture to transform its color and overall look. Similarly, see our article on how to dye a couch (including leather).
Clean Your Couch
The first step is to remove all of the cushions from your couch, then to vacuum it thoroughly, making sure to get into all of the cracks and crannies of your furniture so as to not paint over dust, pieces of food, and dirt.
Protect Surrounding Areas
Next, you need to place your couch onto a tarp so as to not get paint on your floor, if you are doing this inside, and you also should protect any surrounding walls or other objects.
Apply First Coat
It is time to add the first layer of paint to your furniture, which you can do using a spray paint that is designed for painting fabric. First, however, you can add a bit of paint to a small area of the fabric on your couch, ideally a hidden piece, to make sure that the paint is able to be applied to the fabric.
Add the layer of paint as thin and evenly as you can, trying your best to avoid paint runs, and sit back and let it dry.
Add Another Coat
After your initial layer of paint has had at least a full 72 hours to dry completely, you can add an additional coat of paint to your couch. Follow the same technique as you did to apply the first coat of paint to your furniture, keeping runs to a minimum and smearing in any paint that is not getting into the fabric properly.
You can let this coat dry for about 24 hours before applying any additional coats of paint as needed.
Use Bristle Brush
After the final coat of paint has finished drying completely, it is a smart idea to use a bristle brush to brush your couch fabric with a bit of force. This will both remove any paint drips or other pieces of excess paint while also making the fabric much less stiff from the paint.
Your freshly colored couch should now be ready to lounge on and show off to friends and family who come over.
Get New Furniture
Of course, you always have the option of simply purchasing a new couch that is the color you want. This might be the best route if your couch is worn out, with fabric that is falling apart, or if there are structural issues with your furniture.
In these cases, painting your couch a fresh color, reupholstering it, or buying a cover for it would all likely be a waste of your time and money since the piece of furniture will probably not last much longer.
Final Thoughts
As you have come to find out, there are a variety of options you have at your disposal for changing the color and overall style of your couch, as well as other pieces of furniture. It is easy to do, and it can make a huge difference in the look of a room.
Some people might find that one technique works better for them than another, so do some brainstorming to figure out which method is ideal for your situation.
I have two Associate’s degrees, one in Medical Assisting and the other in Computer Technician, and I am roughly five classes from a bachelor’s degree. Though I never ended up working in the medical field, I have five and a half years of experience in IT. I recently became a stay-at-home mom to my two young boys, and I’m so excited to start this adventure with them! In my spare time, I love to bake and read pretty much anything I can get my hands on.