• Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Collaborate
  • Blog
  • Parties
    • Children’s Parties Ideas
    • Holiday Parties
    • Adult Party Ideas
  • Holiday Ideas
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Fourth of July
    • Spring
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
  • Seasons
    • Winter
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Autumn
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
  • Project Gallery
    • Crafts
    • Decorating
    • DIY
    • Good Ideas
    • Tutorials
  • Shop My Home
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

  • Book
  • Speaking
  • Meet Vanessa
    • Featured

January 26, 2015

How to Paint a Pillow

Hello, At the Picket Fence friends…it’s me, Julie from Redhead Can Decorate.
I’m back at the fence, and I’m ready to start 2015 with a little something you may have never thought of trying…

I painted a pillow…

Thrift-Store-Pillow-Makeover-by-Redhead-Can-Decorate

Last month, while browsing through our Good Will store here in Michigan, my daughter and I came across a throw pillow that cost $3.99. It was very plain, but in very good condition.

At home I was in the process of painting a wingback chair from the same store, and wondered if I could paint the pillow too. hmmmm?
Now, painting fabric of any kind sounds a little crazy, I know. If you know me even a little, you know that I love to take risks. I also love to save money. So, I tried it, and it worked. Not only on the chair, but on the pillow. Now, I am in love with them both.
The pretty, elegant, romantic pillow pairs up well up against the rustic, velvet-y, chic chair.

A match made in a heaven if you ask me.
Thrift Store Chair & Pillow Makeover by Redhead Can Decorate .com
Before I tell you how I painted the pillow, if you would like to know more about the $9.99 “Wingback Chair Makeover”, you can find my full tutorial here: “How to Paint an Upholstered Chair“.

When I decided to paint the pillow, I knew in the back of my head that the pillow wasn’t going to be the type of pillow that you get all cozy with and stuff under your head. In fact…it’s really only meant for decorative purposes. You know…the ones with beads, buttons, or sequins. Those just are’t meant to be cozy-fied pillows. They sure are pretty, though.

Transform an ugly pillow with paint.

The original pillow was a light salmon pink with a slight zig zag pattern. I decided to paint it creamy vanilla white with my usual go-to white paint by Behr. The color is “Swiss Coffee” and it is egg shell sheen.
The first thing most of us worry about when painting fabric is the paint developing a hard shell on the surface. To help soften that, and to get the paint to penetrate the fabric better, you must add water to the paint. I used a jar and mixed 2/3 paint, and 1/3 water. It was nice to be able to shake it well in the closed jar before each use.

Painting Tip
A few tips: I used tin foil to line a bowl to pour the paint into while painting, and then stored the rest in the jar. I also used tin foil to wrap my wet paint brush in when I was in between coats. Storing the wrapped brush in the freezer will keep it from drying out.
This pillow took 4 coats. It went on very easy, and the pillow is still very soft to the touch. I did sand it slightly at the end to make it as smooth as I could.

Then came the fun part. Decorating it. This is actually where I had no idea what I was going to do until I got to Joann Fabric’s. I’m inspired there a lot. When I saw this pretty pink rose for $1.99 I could not resist designing the rest of the pillow around it. The pink ribbon was also at Joann’s and it has wire on both edges which makes it so much easier to work with.

Clip-on Flower
Thrift Store Pillow Makeover by Redhead Can Decorate
To tie the ribbon I started with a full wrap around the pillow and then wrapped it back around to the front, and tied it in the front like I tie my sneakers, but with out a bow. I skipped making a bow and left enough to tuck under the rose to almost look like a bow (the wires made it very easy). The folds you see in the top layer around the pillow happened naturally with out me trying. I liked them so much, I just left it that way.
To be honest, any way you tie a ribbon around a pillow it will look cute. Just play with the ribbon a little and give it your own touch.

The final touch, the rose, just clipped on. So pretty!

Pretty Pillow Makeover by Redhead Can Decorate

 

I hope you’ll stop by redheadcandecorate.com to see what else I’m up to. I’m now in Instagram, too.
~Julie XO

11 Comments Filed Under: Crafts, Decorating, DIY, Good Ideas, Holidays, Valentine's Day Tagged With: Valentines Day crafts

Subscribe

Get the latest goodness straight to your inbox!

Previous Post: « Modern Country Cottage Home Tour
Next Post: Homemade Valentines Day Gifts »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Marisa Franca @ All Our Way says

    January 26, 2015 at 3:57 AM

    I’ve always used saran wrap on my brush but it could dry a little in between coats. I’ll have to try the freezer trick. The chair and pillow turned out great. It certainly is cheaper than changing the fabric completely!

    Reply
    • Julie says

      January 28, 2015 at 3:22 PM

      Thank you, Marisa! I think you will love the tin foil trick 🙂

      Reply
  2. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    January 26, 2015 at 4:05 AM

    Beautiful painted pillow and I love the chair too!!!.

    Reply
    • Julie says

      January 28, 2015 at 3:23 PM

      Thank you Shirley, your sweet comments are always appreciated! XO

      Reply
  3. Susie @ The Chelsea Project Blog says

    January 26, 2015 at 4:21 AM

    Such a beautiful pillow. Surprised you did not use fabric medium. Love learning this technique. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  4. Susie @ The Chelsea Project Blog says

    January 26, 2015 at 4:24 AM

    I will need to make one of these pillows ASAP. Thx for the handy painting tip.

    Reply
    • Julie says

      January 28, 2015 at 3:24 PM

      Thank you, Susie!

      Reply
  5. Kathy says

    January 26, 2015 at 5:22 AM

    Your pillow looks fabulous! Great buy at goodwill.

    Kathy

    Reply
  6. Julie says

    January 28, 2015 at 3:24 PM

    Thanks, Kathy!

    Reply
  7. Teresa says

    January 28, 2015 at 10:40 PM

    I absolutely love the chair. It is just gorgeous! And the pillow just makes it even more so! Great job!!

    Reply
  8. debbiedoos says

    January 31, 2015 at 6:02 AM

    Julie you are always so clever! Love this idea. I have painted a lot of things but never a pillow in this nature. Thanks for the idea.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Search This Blog

Get the book!

Invite Vanessa to speak at your event!

Stay updated!

  • A New Look for the Family Room

    A New Look for the Family Room
  • Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze

    Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze
  • The Slow Exit

    The Slow Exit
  • Honed Quartzite Kitchen Counters Reveal

    Honed Quartzite Kitchen Counters Reveal

Sign Up and Never Miss A Post!

Must Reads

Latest Recipes

Strawberry Muffins with Lemon Glaze

Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze

Apple Bread Pudding

view more recent recipes

Recent Posts

  • Decorating a Sofa Table May 31, 2023
  • Strawberry Muffins with Lemon Glaze April 19, 2023
  • Console Table Refresh March 24, 2023
  • Laundry Room Makeover February 23, 2023
  • Winter Decorating Ideas January 27, 2023

Footer

Stay Connected!

Instagram

Our son just turned TWENTY and I can hardly wrap m Our son just turned TWENTY and I can hardly wrap my head around the fact that we’ve completed two decades of parenting! I’ve had time to reflect on this season of life and shared some of my thoughts over at @club31women.

“Someday, years from now, we will watch home movies of the year 2023. And it will seem like I am peeking into the life of another family. I will have vague memories of those moments but my life will be so consumed with what is currently happening that it will seem like another lifetime. So, I embrace this season…this day…this moment. And I choose to declare that the emotional war in my heart between ‘what could have been’ and ‘what might be yet to come’ is over. I’m waving the white flag. I want my children to know that it is good and proper that they grow up and leave the nest. I want them to know that I can celebrate the passing of time rather than resist it even if there may be a few bittersweet tears that spill over from time to time.”

Head over to their devotional page to read the rest and I hope my words bring you encouragement for wherever you are on your parenting journey. 🤍
There’s nothing quite like enjoying the rewards There’s nothing quite like enjoying the rewards of your labor! The whole family pitched in to get our bark spread around the yard (I’m the master at raking it until it’s nice and even) and by the end of the day we were all done. Now we can head into summer with our big yard projects completed! 🙌🏻 Do you put in fresh bark every year?
Welcome June! I’m so glad you’re here! What’ Welcome June! I’m so glad you’re here! What’s your favorite thing about this month? Mind can be summed up in this quote…

“In early June the world of leaf and blade and flowers explodes, and every sunset is different.” John Steinbeck
“No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom “No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation.”
General Douglas MacArthur

Grateful today and every day for those who were vigilant to the point of death in the preservation of our freedom and the principles upon which our country was founded. May we honor their sacrifice by being vigilant too. #memorialday
I’ve been on the lookout for small side tables t I’ve been on the lookout for small side tables to pit next to our outdoor couch and when I spotted these plant stands at @walmart from their @betterhomesandgardens line I knew they would be perfect…and they are!! 👏🏻 This is not a sponsored post. I’m just happily sharing this great find and why we should always be open to thinking outside of the box when it comes finding solutions for our decorating dilemmas.

Now we’re ready to head into this beautiful weekend! ☀️
What do you do when you want to use a bunch of boo What do you do when you want to use a bunch of books in your decorating but it can cost $50 or more for just ONE brand new book? Head to the secondhand bookstore of course! I’m so excited about this new look in my family room and this easy, inexpensive decorating tip I’m bringing to you for this #tiptuesday
Today feels like one of those days that is worthy Today feels like one of those days that is worthy of a chef’s kiss. Blue sky with nary a cloud in sight, perfect mid-70’s temps, a gentle breeze blowing through my hair as I walk around my yard to see the status of my flowering plants.

This morning I was running errands and the weight of hard things that are happening in the world, the culture, my own community and even in our circle of friends just felt so heavy.

But, as I was exiting a store, I passed a couple who were in their late 60’s/early 70’s and holding hands as they walked through the parking lot. I happened to glance over just as the husband lifted his wife’s hand up and planted a kiss right on it. It was a moment that reflected such love and tenderness and it was made sweeter by the fact that they weren’t spring chickens. I felt honored that I had been the one to observe and appreciate that moment.

What an incredible thing it is that as humans we are able to hold so many emotions in our souls all at once. To feel sorrow for the pain a friend is enduring, grieve the decline of a culture drifting further from the Lord, ponder how to navigate a challenging school situation, marvel at and enjoy the beauty of creation right outside my door and feel joy at getting to see a tangible example of lasting love while walking through a parking lot.

I truly believe that as we mature in our lives and in our faith, we learn to embrace the tension that comes with the collision of different emotions and recognize that they can all coexist at the same time without one taking something away from another. Simple joys make the hard stuff a bit easier and hard stuff makes us appreciate those simple joys even more.

What’s a simple joy that you are thankful for today?
Oh what an absolutely lovely weekend we had!! Here Oh what an absolutely lovely weekend we had!! Here are some highlights…

*Friday night I joined some wonderful ladies at church for a time of fellowship and yummy desserts. I made a strawberry lemon coffee cake and it was amazing if I do say so myself. ☺️ We are new-ish to this church and have just felt so warmly welcomed and folded in which has been very healing.

*Saturday was filled with getting our outdoor spaces spiffed up and my guys got our new table put together!

*Sitting outside for lunch with a yummy salad and iced tea felt like a little slice of heaven.

*Sunday we went to the iris gardens with my in-laws and then came home for naps and the most mouth watering ribs that my sweet husband had on the smoker all day.

*This glorious weekend ended with some ferocious rounds of UNO-corn (a hilarious version of UNO) and brownies my sweet daughter made for our dessert.

How was your weekend sweet friends? 🌸
I am absolutely and completely a better version of I am absolutely and completely a better version of myself when the sun is shining! Raise your hand if this is true for you too.

And, not only do I feel myself seeming to physically rise up from a slumbered state to greet the sunshine we've been longing for, I find that it seems like my house is rising up too. Every room, every nook and cranny (even though I now see dust bunnies that I missed during my cleaning on the dreary days), every leaf and flower outside...it's all coming to life and breathing fresh hope into my spirit. What a gift it is to be able to enjoy this home in all of the seasons of the year and of our lives. Now, I'm going to head outside and clean our deck and maybe there will be some time leftover for those dust bunnies!
I’m slightly obsessed with these glass dispenser I’m slightly obsessed with these glass dispensers! They come with pre-made labels for SO many different options and would make a great Mother’s Day gift! I love how they add a bit of pizzazz to my kitchen. And they go perfectly with some of my antique accessories like the little dish my mother in law gave me for salt and pepper and the tiny toothpick holder which belonged to my great grandmother. 

If you’d like the link to order them, just leave a comment with the word ‘bottles’ and I’ll send it your way. They’re even on sale right now! 🙌🏻
Load More... Follow
Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2023 At The Picket Fence