How to PAINT FABRIC wingback armchairs: no fabric medium, no cracking, and no rub off! If you are wanting to makeover a certain space in your home but can't really afford to buy anything then, try to paint the fabric upholstery of your old outdated fabric furniture. I used chalk paint and a fabric sealer as an alternative to fabric medium due to fabric medium being out of stock at the craft stores. I actually loved this method, I had no cracking, no rub off! The fabric was smooth and velvety! This is a very cheap DIY to give any piece of fabric furniture a fresh new look!