Spray Painting Vinyl Cushions


I’m back with another installment in our sun room makeover. This is probably one of my favorite rooms  I’ve ever done. I’m having fun trying all sorts of things, like making a room plan, staining a cargo love seat, painting a table in golden and geometric patterns, and rub ‘n buffing chairs. It’s been a whirlwind that’s just going to keep on trucking. The new project I tried out this time was spray painting vinyl cushions. As you remember, the cargo loveseat came to me all rough and ready for a makeover.

sun room furniture before

Then it got a little makeover…

staining-a-love-seat

It was looking quite charming with its new dark stain, but it just made the brown vinyl cushions look even more blah. They just faded into the love seat. I was never a fan of the color to begin with and always knew that I was going to change them. Originally I was just going to recover them with fabric, but when I saw how great a condition they were in and what a great material they were for an indoor/outdoor room, I just knew I had to try something different. Enter, Dupli-Color Vinyl and Fabric spray paint (found at an auto store near you – I cleaned out the meager supply in 3 stores!).

spray-painting-vinyl-cushions-dupli-color

The first and only step in readying these seats was to clean them. I scrubbed them with a microfiber and rubbing alcohol (my go-to method of cleaning just about anything). Then, after shake-shake-shaking the can for a minute, I started to spray.

Now I could go and say, hooray! That’s all it took, which is technically true. However, the spray painting method was a little different. This type of spray paint is the finest I have ever seen. When I did an initial pass over the seat cushions, it was like the paint had barely touched them.

spray-painting-vinyl-cushions-dupli-color

Here is the best method I found for spraying these cushions:

  1. Hold the can 4-6 inches from item (this is slightly closer than they recommend on the can but I found it got the best coverage).
  2. Always start spraying off the item. This is always true for spray painting but especially true for this paint.
  3. Do slow, even passes with the can. Not super slow but slower than (at least my) spray painting technique.
  4. You are going to have to make a lot of passes/coats to get the item fully covered in this spray. However, I found that you can do it all in one sitting. The paint dries SO fast. I would do a coat on one cushion and then the other and just alternate back and forth until each side was fully covered.
  5. The item has a fast dry time but leave it outside as long as possible. I found this paint to be VERY smelly and even irritating to my eyes. Only use it outside and I recommend using a mask and eye gear. It’s not cute but it’s safe.

After it’s all sprayed and dry, it’s an amazing finish. It’s like the original finish. I don’t think anyone ever could guess that these seats hadn’t been white forever!

spray-painting-vinyl-cushions-dupli-color

Now, here it is all put together. I’m giddy with delight!

spray-painting-vinyl-cushions-dupli-color

spray-painting-vinyl-cushions-dupli-color

spray-painting-vinyl-cushions-dupli-color

spray-painting-vinyl-cushions-dupli-color

spray-painting-vinyl-cushions-dupli-color

This is definitely a win for spray painting vinyl cushions. These seats have had many bum tests with no scratches or paint coming up. However, dirt has gotten on them and it just wipes clean (with the paint staying on the seat). Now these cushions just need a little bit of styling, eh? Working on it!

Now, as a grand finale, the always beloved before and after:

sun room furniture before

spray-painting-vinyl-cushions-dupli-color

Sharing This Project:


  • Looks awesome Megan! Good job!ReplyCancel

  • Looks really good. I wasn’t sure when I started reading. It will be interesting to see how it holds up over the next couple of months.ReplyCancel

    • Thank you! I was a bit dubious with just the first coat but once you get it fully coated and dried the finish is amazing. I’ll definitely keep you posted on its durability. ReplyCancel

  • curt

    Great before and after! I understand this paint is similar to the paints they have used for years in auto restoration shops. It is very durable. Great job.ReplyCancel

    • Thanks so much Curt! I didn’t know that about the paint. Great to know! I’m hoping it will last a long, long time!ReplyCancel

  • I had NO idea vinyl spray paint even existed! This is life changing! Thank for you the info and your seat looks fantastic!ReplyCancel

  • Amazing job! I would love to include this in a roundup I am putting together, which will be posted on my blog. I will just grab a picture and give you a link back. If you’d prefer that I didn’t use this project, please email me at nancy.verly@gmail.comReplyCancel

    • Thank you so much!! I would be honored to be in your round-up! Can’t wait to see it!ReplyCancel

  • loveeeeee!ReplyCancel

  • What can be done for cloth covered outdoor cushions that are not removable?ReplyCancel

    • Hi Mary. I have never sprayed cloth cushions before but this spray paint does say both cloth and fabric. You could give it a shot. Also, you can buy fabric medium in craft stores to add to paint so you can paint on fabric. I’m not sure if that would work well outdoors. I am thinking about painting a cushion so I will post all about it if I do. Best of luck!ReplyCancel

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  • […] One of my favorite projects to date has been my cargo love seat makeover. I bought this baby off of Craigslist for $40, sanded him down and restained him, and then spray painted the vinyl seat covers. […]ReplyCancel

  • say a pen mark ended up on the cushion, can you use rubbing alcohol or will it take the paint off? Looks crazy good! I’m filing this one away for future reference 🙂ReplyCancel

    • I haven’t tried to scrub out big stains but I have used rubbing alcohol on them to clean them after they were painted. However, if it were bad you could just paint over them again! Hurray for painting over stains, right?!ReplyCancel

  • This is awesome. Makes me want to find something like this so I can re-purpose it! ~LaurenReplyCancel

    • Thanks Lauren! There are all sorts of vinyl things to spray once you start looking. Happy repurposing!ReplyCancel

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  • Lacey

    Megan,
    How many cans of paint did you end up using for both cushions? I’m planning to personalize my salon chair. I’m thinking they may be roughly the same size.ReplyCancel

    • Hi Lacey! Unfortunately I don’t exactly remember but I think it was probably around 4. I know I didn’t use all of the last can that I bought. You can always stock up and return what you don’t use! But I did find out that this type of spray paint has a very fine coverage so it took more coats than regular spray paint I have used before. Sounds like a fun project!ReplyCancel

  • Joan

    how does this paint work with cracks in the vinyl cushions. I have boat cushions I would like to freshen up.ReplyCancel

    • I’m not sure. I’ve only used it once with smooth cushions. Perhaps you could call their customer service. Sorry I can’t be of more help!ReplyCancel

  • Lenore

    Hi! I just came across this post on pinterest and even though it’s already 2 yrs old I wanted to leave a comment. I know a painter and once asked him if there was any kind of paint to use on vinyl. He told me no. I have an old camper awning I would like to paint because it’s in fine shape but I hate the colors. I will certainly give this a try! Thanks so much for your post. By the way…since its been 2 yrs since you did this project…..how did it hold up? Is it still just as great or did it just buy some time and you have to recover with fabric now?ReplyCancel

    • Yes! You should definitely give it a try. My cushions are holding up great! However, they are in a covered porch so they don’t really have the elements beating down on them. Not sure if your awning will be outside but I can’t attest for how rain/wind worthy it is. But I do love the paint and the options it has!ReplyCancel