Painting upholstery or fabric is another way that chalk paint can be used. It works best on small and firmly upholstered items like a dining chair seat made of cotton or linen, but I have seen it done on wing chairs and a leather sofa with beautiful and lasting results. When using chalk paint on upholstery, you can add a little bit of water to the paint to thin it. Doing this will make it easier for the paint to saturate the fabric to produce a nice even color throughout. Once dry you can leave the paint unsealed or add a thin layer of wax and buff to a subtle sheen.