How to Paint a Canvas Chair

Wash older canvas pieces with soap and water to remove stains, grime and plain old dirt. Allow the canvas to dry completely.

Remove the canvas from any wood parts when possible. Tape off wood when you can't remove it easily. Use painter's tape and mask anything you want to keep unpainted.

Mix your acrylic paint well and apply paint to both sides of the canvas. You may need to hang the fabric or do one side at a time. Try not to clog all the holes in the canvas and make it stiff. If you feel your paint is too thick, thin the paint with water or glaze and apply multiple thin coats.

Draw a design on the canvas if you want to paint in a more painterly or artistic way. Sketch out shapes, patterns or a design you like with a pencil.

Paint directly on the canvas with acrylic artist paints. Keep a spritzer bottle with water close at hand to keep the paint wet if you are painting outside and it is drying too quickly. Acrylic will adhere well to the canvas and is outdoor safe once it dries. You can paint any design on the canvas you like.