How to Paint Leather

Co-authored by Mallika Sharma

Are you bored by the color of your old leather jacket? Got a beat-up leather belt that could use some love? Leather paint is exceptionally easy to work with, and leather is an extremely forgiving material to work with. Just make sure that you finish the leather after the paint dries to keep it from rubbing off over time! In this article, we’ll show you everything you need to do to get the job done.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Cleaning and Prepping the Leather

1
Lay down drop cloths. Prepare your painting area by putting tarps or drop cloths under the leather so that paint doesn't get everywhere. Make sure to paint the leather in a well-ventilated room so that you don't inhale paint fumes.^{[1]
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2
Disassemble your leather item. If you plan on painting leather furniture, it's a good idea to disassemble the furniture before you start painting, so that paint doesn't drip onto other parts of the furniture.^{[2]
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Research source} If you are painting leather shoes, remember to take the shoelaces out before you start painting them.

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3
Wipe the leather down with isopropyl alcohol. Dampen a rag with isopropyl alcohol and wipe down the surface of the leather. The alcohol will remove any preliminary coatings, waxes, or oils that are on the surface of the leather, which will help the paint adhere to the leather.^{[3]
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Expert Source

Mallika Sharma
Certified Leather Care Technician
Expert Interview. 26 April 2021.}
- Isopropyl alcohol may not be strong enough to remove all leather finishes, so skip to sanding if this is the case.
- Paint thinner and ammonia are also good options. They'll help open up the pores of the animal hide.^{[5]
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  Expert Source
  
  Mallika Sharma
  Certified Leather Care Technician
  Expert Interview. 26 April 2021.}
4
Sand shiny areas of the leather with a fine grit sandpaper. If your leather is still shiny, sanding off the shiny areas with a 100 - 200 grit sandpaper will remove portions of the glossy finish. Put the sandpaper in the palm of your hand and work it back and forth over the shiny areas. Continue to sand until all of the shine is off of the leather.
5
Wipe the surface of the leather with a damp cloth. Before you start painting the leather, make sure that the surface is clean. Take a damp rag or a microfiber cloth and wipe over the surface of the leather. Continue wiping the leather until all of the dirt is lifted off.^{[6]
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- Any dirt or dust left on the surface of the leather will be embedded into your paint job.
6
Apply a leather preparer and deglazer to the surface of the leather. You can purchase a bottle of leather preparer and deglazer at craft stores or online. Saturate a rag with the preparer and deglazer and work it generously onto the surface of the leather.^{[7]
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- The preparer and deglazer will dry fast because it's alcohol based.
- Leather preparer and deglazer formulas are made specifically to help paint adhere to leather.
- The preparer and deglazer may fade the old color of your leather.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Applying the Paint

1
Purchase an acrylic leather paint. Go to a crafts store or look online for acrylic paint made specifically for leather. Acrylic paint will absorb into the leather without affecting its flexibility.^{[8]
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Mix paint and water together in a 1:1 ratio. Adding water to the paint will make it thinner. This also helps the leather absorb the paint. Squirt the acrylic paint into a bowl and add an equal amount of water to it, before mixing it together with your paintbrush.
3
Apply the paint to the leather in thin layers. Dip a flat paintbrush into the paint and work in long even strokes over the surface of the leather. The paint will look faint at first and the old color will come through the new paint, but this is normal. Try to get even coverage until the entire leather piece is painted.
4
Let the paint dry. Let each of the thin layers of paint dry for two to three hours before touching it. Touch the surface of the leather with your hand to see if it's dry. If it feels wet or the color transfers to your hand, the leather isn't dry enough to apply another coat.^{[9]
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Flex the leather before applying another coat. If you are painting a leather handbag or leather clothing, flex the leather back and forth in between each coat to prevent your paint from cracking later.
6
Apply additional coats and repeat. Continue coating the leather in paint and letting it dry until the hue is the shade that you want. It may take up to seven coats for a dark, solid color.
7
Let the leather dry for 24 hours. Don't touch or handle the leather for a full day. Come back to the painted leather and touch the surface to make sure that it's not sticky or wet. If it is, let it dry out for a longer period.^{[10]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Finishing the Leather

1
Purchase an acrylic leather finisher. Applying a finish to the leather will help seal in the paint and will give the leather a nicer looking finish. High gloss will be reflective and will look shiny, while a matte finish will give the paint a softer, less shiny, look. Once you decide on which finish you want, purchase a leather finisher online or at an arts and crafts store.^{[11]
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- Matte and satin finishes will look shiny when they are first applied but then dry to their respective finishes.
2
Apply the finisher to the surface of the leather. Saturate a sponge brush with the leather finisher and apply it in thin coats over the painted leather. Continue going over the surface of the leather, making sure to fill in any seams.^{[12]
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Let the finish dry. Put the leather in a dust-free area until it dries. The finisher will dry after a full 24-hours. Your leather should now look professionally painted.^{[13]
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Community Q&A

Question

Is there a simpler way to do this?

Art Aguilar

Community Answer

Yes, there is a paint by SEM called classic coat flexible coating. It changes or renews color on leather. Just spray it on, let it dry and done. If you have very soft leather it will not chip, crack, get hard and it comes in different shades in case you want to change the color of the leather.
Question

Once the leather has been painted, can I wash it in a washing machine? I want to paint a leather jacket and still be able to wash it.

Gurpreet Insan

Community Answer

Allow the fabric paint to dry for a day or two before touching, and at least 72 hours before washing. Always wash your painted garments inside out on a gentle cycle. Using warm water may help the paint not to crack.
Question

Can I repaint after applying the finishing coat, since it turned yellowish?

Community Answer

Yes, but you may need to sand it down again beforehand to make sure the paint can still properly grip onto the leather.