How to Change the Interior Color in Your Car
by Jenny CarverCar interior colors are normally available in various shades of gray or tan. Older models may be blue or maroon. These colors typically match most exterior colors, but aren't always on the favorite list for car owners. If you want an interior color that matches the exact color of your car, or a completely different color, learn how to change the interior color in your car.
Step 1
Cover all areas of the car that won't be sprayed, such as the windshield, windows, guages, CD player, radio, buttons, knobs and lights. Cover the seats when spraying the dash and plastic areas and cover those areas when spraying the seats.
Step 2
Clean the seats and carpet with upholstery cleaner and a stiff bristled brush. Allow the fabric to dry completely. Use the stiff brush to go over the fabric once more before applying paint.
Step 3
Spray the fabric headliner of the car with upholstery paint. Start at the front of the car and work to the rear. Spray the seats with upholstery paint, starting at the top of the head rest and working your way down to the bottom of the seat. Don't forget the back of the seat and the sides of the bottom of the seat. Spray the carpet by starting at the front near the dash and working towards the back of the car. Allow the upholstery to dry completely before touching it.
Step 4
Clean all plastic and vinyl surfaces with SEM soap and a gray scuff pad. Rinse the parts with water and allow them to dry. Wipe the surface with SEM vinyl/leather Prep, moving the application rag in one direction.
Step 5
Spray the paint onto the plastic/vinyl areas of the dash, door panels, center consoles, arm rests, sun visors. Spray a light, thin coat and allow it to dry for 30 minutes. Spray two or three additional thin coats, allowing 30 minutes between each coat. Allow the paint to dry completely before touching any parts or driving the car.
Tips
- Always wear a painter's mask when spraying paint in an enclosed area.
Things You'll Need
- Masking tape and paper
- Stiff bristled brush
- Fabric cleaner
- SEM soap
- Rag
- Gray scuff pad
- SEM plastic/leather Prep
- SEM color coat paint
- Upholstery/fabric paint
Warnings
- Don't drive your car until the paint has dried completely or it may ruin your clothes and eveything you touch inside the car.
Writer Bio
Since 1997 Jenny Carver has served as editor and freelance writer for many offline and online publications including lovetoknow.com, autotropolis.com, "Hoof Beat News," "Import Tuner" and others. Carver owns a custom automotive shop where she has been doing paint and body work, custom interior work and engine building for over 11 years.
