How to Paint Furniture with Chalk Paint – An Expert’s DIY Guide

For anyone who is just looking to work on their furniture on their own, picking the kind of paint to use alone can be a little tricky. Sadly, things could get even more confusing if you don’t know the kind of paint to use altogether.

Well, not to worry, however, things are about to get a lot better, easier, and a lot more fun. As it turns out, chalk paint is one of the best options you could settle with, so yes, you’re on the right track,

However, just like any other kind of paint, there is out there, you need to learn a few things about chalk paint. For instance, you don’t need to sand or prim your furniture first before getting into the fun bit. One of the many features that make it stand out is its amazing sticking power and the unique feel and look it leaves your furniture with once you are done working.

How to Use Chalk Paint

Unlike most paints, the look you get from the matte look your furniture has once you are done with it is just priceless. But what if you could get a whole room to look like this? Yes, that’s right, you can use chalk paint on an entire wall, isn’t that amazing? Here’s how to use chalk paint…

Chalk paint simply is all you need to turn your bedroom dresser into a piece that stands out, give your dining room the amazing old school charm, and even with all that, there’s the icing on the cake…

When painting furniture, you won’t have to strip off the layer of previous paint. But if you want a smooth look, you could do a little bit of sanding to achieve this. Just ensure that you wipe down all the debris from the sanding before painting.

Additionally, due to its thick nature, you don’t have to apply multiple layers of paint to your furniture. Depending on the color you want, a single layer or two will be enough.

How to Paint Furniture with Chalk Paint

Looking for a guaranteed way to turn your home furniture into showstopping and breathtaking home decors? Chalk paint is the way to go. But, before you can take full advantage of the level of versatility it has, you first need to learn how to best use it

Requirements

Before getting started below is a list of tools you’ll want to have with you:

• A paintbrush and a wax brush.
• Chalk paint and chalk paint wax.
• Painter’s tape.
• Cloth pad.
• Sandpaper.
• A cleaning cloth.
• Clear shellac.

Now let’s get to the interesting part – how to paint furniture with chalk paint.

Step 1

The first thing you’ll want to do is set up your workplace. I’d recommend that you handle your chalk paint projects indoors since the paint sticks best at room temperature. It’s also important that you protect your floor from the chalk paint splatter by covering your floor with brown paper or newspaper.

Step 2

Once you have your working station set up, the next thing you’ll want to do is sand and prim your furniture and this applies even when working with varnished wood pieces. Though you don’t have to do this, it’s recommended to remove obstacles to adhesion.

Once you are done with the sanding, saturate the soft cloth with soapy water and wipe down the entire furniture surface.

Step 3

Next, you need to open your chalk paint can by turning it upside down to loosen its contents and then shake it hard to mix the chalk paint well.

Step 4

Now let’s get to the fun part- the painting. For this, I’d recommend that you go for a natural brush that has long and flexible bristles. Simply dip this in the can and then apply the paint unidirectionally to a single section of the piece of furniture till the entire surface is covered.

Step 5

In most cases, a single coat of paint is enough for most applications. However, if you need to cover up any possible imperfections or want to have a decorative finish, you can go ahead and apply another layer in the same color or one that’s got a lighter shade.

Step 6

Even though everything may look good, it’s great to examine your work. Naturally, finishing step 5 will leave you with a polished matte look. Alternatively, you could want to get the infamous look chalk paint is reputed for -a subtle worn patina. To do this, distress the painted surface with sandpaper of medium-grit. Additionally, pay attention to the edges or details you want to alter.

Step 7

Once you are satisfied with your work, seal the painted surface with a coat of either clear or tinted wax. you should also massage the wax into the painted surface using a soft brush.

The wax to paint ratio I’d recommend you use would be a 500mm tin for every 4 liters of paint. The wax could dry in as little as half an hour but just to be safe, let it sit overnight and for the best result, you could allow for its full curing of up to 3 weeks.

Step 8

Last but not least, reinstall all your hardware and cherish the accent shin of your chalk-painted furniture.

Frequently asked question (FAQs)

Q: What are the pros and cons of chalk paint?

A: once you know how to use chalk paint, one of the biggest pros you’ll enjoy is that there’s no prep work, it has amazing coverage, it’s durable, and it’s water-based. On the downside, however, it takes time to dry between layers (but a single layer dries in minutes), you have to wax it and you have to spend a little more.

Q:how do you prevent brush strokes when using chalk paint?

A:Now that you know how to paint furniture with chalk paint, let’s see how you can avoid brushes in the paint. Since you’ll be using brushes with natural bristles, paint that’s too thick for starters is a no-go zone; you have to thin it by adding water and mixing well.

Additionally, keep the brush damp when painting. You can do this by misting it a little with water before dipping it in your paint can. Something else that works is spritzing your furniture with a little bit of water before you start painting.

Q: Why does my chalk paint look streaky?

A: This mostly occurs when your chalk paint is too dry. Additionally, some chalk paint is designed to be dry.This is normally done to make the brush strokes show.

Q: how do you make chalk paint shiny?

A: To have a shiny look you need to apply wax after the paint dries. To do this best, apply the wax and after it dries, go ahead and buff it to get an amazing and durable shiny finish.

Q: How durable is chalk paint?

A: Once chalk paint is cured up and the wax finish is allowed to dry, the resulting surface is durable enough to withstand scratches and scuffs.

Final Verdict

Well, there you have it. Now that you know how to paint furniture with chalk paint and the proper way to use it, a DIY painting shouldn’t be a problem whatsoever, right?

Whereas chalk paint gives you a lot of advantages, there is a lot to watch out for when you want to get the best results. Ensuring the paint is smooth enough to avoid brushes, waxing your furniture surface after painting, and allowing enough curing time are just but some of the things you need to pay need to.

All in all, provided you do everything right, you are bound to get amazing results.