Chalk paint is great for upcycling a piece of furniture that’s dated or doesn’t match your new style, but functions so well you’d hate to toss it. It’s even better for flea market finds that have all the functionality you need, but looks a little rough.
What type of furniture works?
The easiest pieces to use chalk paint on is furniture made with real wood. But there are several brands of paint that will work on glass, metal, wood, ceramic, canvas, etc. So you can have fun making matching accent items to coordinate with your refreshed furniture.
What style is chalk paint?
The results with this paint are going to be shabby chic, think farmhouse vibes, coastal, beachy, lived in. Expect to see paint strokes, it’s all part of the appeal and look for this painting style.
Okay! Let’s Paint!
Start by removing drawer pulls and/or taping off hardware and areas you don’t want painted. Spray painting the old hardware can be a great way to update without investing in new pulls. However, new pulls can help to modernize or theme (Example: Going for a coastal look? Try nautical pulls!) your freshly painted creation. We found these options on Amazon:
Once the hardware is removed, you’ll want to lightly sand* the surface so that the paint has something to grab on to.
PRO TIP: * Furniture prep and painting is best to do in a well-ventilated area. We prefer outdoors in the shade. Use a mask and protective eye wear to protect against saw dust particles and fumes.
The paint: Now choose a paint/color! When in doubt choose a neutral color, or a color that matches your walls. This Rustoleum “Chalked” brand chalk paint has never let us down. It’s available at home improvement stores, but we got ours on Amazon. The matte finish is perfect for a true chalk paint look.
You may also want to invest in a brush specifically made for chalk paint. These round brushes just work better with this paint process. Additionally, art brushes are great for the small areas.
Chalk painting is a process, so expect to spend some time. Concentrate on painting your piece in layers, rather than rushing to cover everything in one coat. Make choices on where you want to see the paint strokes (fewer layers) vs where you want the paint to be soild (more layers). Use a light hand and long brush movements (follow the grain) and let the layers dry for several minutes between coats so that you get the maximum adhesion.
Wax: After your piece has dried. Lot’s of people wax (with a chalk-paint-specific wax) their pieces to protect the finish. This slightly darkens the color, but protects the paint. Lightly brush the chalk paint wax on and wipe it off with a lint free cloth scrap after to keep the matte look.
DeAnna & company 