Paint

How to Use Chalk Paint

How to use chalk paint

Both the wood and fabric was painted with chalk paint on this headboard.

Chalk paint eliminates the prep work and does not require stripping, sanding or priming! It adheres to most any surface, and chalk paint dries quickly and cleans up easily with soap and water since it’s water-based. Chalk paint has low odor, is very durable, and it dries to the flat chalky finish seen on antique pieces.

Chalk paint only requires a quick washing of your piece with a cleaner like Simple Green to remove dirt and dust. Chalk paint is so great because it eliminates the need for prep work.

HOW TO USE CHALK PAINT

  1. STEP ONE: PAINT


    Paint the entire piece with chalk-type paint. I often use a brush (although for larger areas I sometimes use a small roller), and a little paint goes a long way. Only one coat may be needed, but I almost always find that I need two. This paint dries really fast, and it is easy to tell when it is dry. Apply the second coat of paint AFTER the first coat is dry.

    You can water-down chalk paint and use it in a sprayer for a smoother finish. See more on that HERE.

  2. STEP TWO: ADD A SEALER


    After the paint is completely dry, apply two coats of sealer. I would suggest using either a polycrylic or wax. I’ll talk more later about when to use which.

    For a polycrylic (a water-based sealer), you can apply with a brush, roller or sprayer. Two coats should be adequate.

    To apply wax, a wax brush is helpful (a rag can be used but I find a brush is well worth the investment since it makes the application easier and more even). It is not necessary to wait for the first coat to dry before adding the second coat. Also, for each coat of wax, remember LESS is more! You can add the optional dark wax if you like the aged look, but after all the wax is apply you will have to buff it with a lint-free cloth. Buffing helps smooth and removed extra wax.

  3. OPTIONAL: SAND

    You can sand at the end if you like the very distressed look. Sanding blocks with fine grit work best.

This bedroom furniture was painted with chalk paint and sealed with wax.

Tips for Using Chalk Paint

To Begin:

Make sure the paint is well mixed.
Tip the can over for 30 minutes and give it a good shake. Clean/dust the piece before painting.

While Painting:

Keep in mind the paint dries very quickly!
Do not load the paint brush with paint. The paint is thick.
Quick brushstrokes work best.
Most pieces take 2 coats of paint.
In-between coats of paint, put the brushes in baggies.
Keep the paint covered. It can thicken when exposed to air.
Use a roller for chalk paint.
Chalk paint can thicken over time, just add a little water to make it thinner.

While Waxing:

Do not overwax! Think about it like applying hand lotion – put on a small bit and massage until it is absorbed. Use a brush to apply the wax and a lint-free cloth to wipe off excess. USE CLEAR WAX FIRST BEFORE APPLYING THE DARK WAX. The dark wax adds dimension and age. Use the clear wax as an eraser if too much dark wax was added. See more on using wax with chalk paint HERE.

Painting Fabric with Chalk Paint

To paint fabric with chalk paint, do the same steps as before only water down the paintt. This can be done by adding water directly to the paint. When adding water to the paint, I suggest a 1:1 ratio: 1 part paint to 1 part water. Fabric really soaks up paint, so it will not go far on fabric. After the paint is dry, finish with a couple coats of clear wax. The result will feel similar to leather! Also, keep in mind that if your fabric is peeling, cracking or torn, paint will not fix this. See more on painting fabric with chalk paint HERE.

How to use chalk paint

When NOT to Use Wax as a Sealer:

I would NOT use was when sealing cabinets, desk or table-tops, or floors. I used wax years ago on my kitchen cabinets and had to repaint them, and you can see more on that fiasco HERE. However, I used chalk paint with a polycrylic sealer in our laundry room, and had great success. You can see more on the chalk-paint laundry cabinets HERE.

After Painting:

To clean brushes (paint & wax), wash with soap and water. (Dawn dish soap works well!) Buff the piece 24 hours after your last coat of wax if you want a shinier look. Keep in mind that wax takes awhile to cure. I usually allow the wax to dry a few days before I transport a piece or use a piece. However, keep in mind that it can take weeks for the wax to completely set.

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How to use chalk paint
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All You Need to Know About Chalk Paint

Chalk paint has been popular for years, and I have used it more times than I can count on various projects. After all my experience with it, I thought it would be helpful to share a post on all you need to know about chalk paint.

Chalk paint saves time – there isn’t any prep, sanding or need for a primer! You can paint over anything: laminate, wood, glass, plastic, and even fabric.

Typically you will add two coats of chalk paint (it dries quickly) and seal with either a wax or water-based sealer. You can sand if you want the distressed look.

My favorite chalk-based paint is Amy Howard’s One Step Paint.

Before you begin:

  • Make sure the paint is well mixed. Tip the can over for 30 mins and then give it a good shake.
  • Clean/dust your piece before painting.

While you’re painting:

  • Keep in mind the paint dries very quickly!
  • Don’t load your paint brush with paint. The paint is thick.
  • Quick brushstrokes work best.
  • Most pieces take 1.5 – 2 coats of paint.
  • In between coats of paint, put your brushes in ziplock bags.
  • Keep your paint covered. It can thicken when exposed to air.
  • You can use a roller or *sprayer for chalk paint.
  • You can add one coat and add a wash of a second coat (or even second color!) with watered-down paint.

*When using a sprayer, you will need to add some water to the paint. I talk more in detail on this later in this post.

While you’re *waxing:

  • Don’t overwax! Think about how you apply hand lotion – put on a small bit and massage until it is absorbed.
  • Use a brush to apply the wax and a lint free cloth to wipe off excess.
  • YOU MUST USE CLEAR WAX FIRST BEFORE APPLYING THE DARK WAX.
  • The dark wax adds dimension and age.
  • You can use the clear wax as an eraser if you’ve added too much dark wax.

*waxing works great on most pieces, but I would NOT recommend it for table and desk tops, cabinets, and floors.

*UPDATE: Waxing is still a great option for some pieces, but recently I’ve been using a brush on matte sealer, and this sealer is my favorite.

After you’re done painting:

  • To clean brushes (paint & wax), wash with soap and water.
  • Buff your piece 24 hours after your last coat of wax if you want a (slight) glass effect.

Want all you need to know about chalk paint as a printable? GO HERE to print them out!

Below are several chalk paint projects I’ve done over the years. Come see what worked well and what didn’t!

Using Chalk Paint on Cabinets

Chalk paint can work well on cabinets, but you need to be careful about the sealer you use – DO NOT USE WAX. I did and ended up having to repaint my cabinets (see more on why I repainted my cabinets HERE). Wax doesn’t work well on cabinets (think about heat in a kitchen).

When Not to Use Wax

Wax is a great sealer for chalk paint in most cases, but as I mentioned above, DO NOT use it on cabinets. I would also stay away from table tops, desk tops, and floors.

However, in other cases (I painted my daughter’s bedroom set and sealed it in wax over 5 years ago and it still looks great), wax is a great sealer. You can see all the details on how to apply wax to chalk paint HERE.

Chalk Paint can be used in a sprayer

This is a fantastic way to apply chalk paint – not brush strokes and a smooth finish. See more on using chalk paint in a sprayer HERE. Using a sprayer provides a great cabinet finish.

Chalk Paint Can Be Used on Fabric

Chalk paint can be used on fabric. It’s not the perfect solution (the result feels like pleather), and it can get expensive and timely since fabric soaks up so much paint. However, you can see more HERE on painting fabric with chalk paint.

Are you completely new to chalk paint? GO HERE for a tutorial on applying chalk paint.

Chalk Paint Can Provide a Faux Wood Look

I have used chalk paint to make pieces that aren’t wood (like our kitchen hood), look like wood. Go here to see the wood look paint technique!


Chalk paint was once expensive and hard to find, but it is now available at every hardware store and can often be mixed to create the perfect color for your space.

Don’t hesitate to comment with any questions! I tried to cover all you need to know about chalk paint, but I’m sure I missed a few things.

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Painting Cabinets with Chalk Paint

Today I’m sharing all about painting cabinets with chalk paint.

Painting Cabinets with One Step Chalk-Type Paint

I recently shared my laundry room makeover (to see more, click here). My laundry room lacks natural light, and I painted the cabinets to brighten the space.

Here’s the before:

Laundry Room - BEFORE

And the after:

Laundry Room Makeover To paint my cabinets, I used a chalk-type paint from Amy Howard at Home.  I love this paint because it eliminates the need for sanding or priming.  There is no prep work!  Here’s what is needed:

To begin, remove the hardware from the cabinets.

Remove Hardware before Chalk Paint

 Next, wipe down the cabinets with Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner.

Clean Cabinets Before Painting

Use painter’s tape to tape off areas where needed.

Taping off Cabinets Before Chalk Paint Now it is time to paint!

Amy Howard One Step Paint Linen Begin with a brush to get all the areas the foam roller will not reach.

Using a Brush with Chalk Paint After the hard-to-reach areas are done, add a coat of paint to everything with the foam roller.

Rolling Chalk Paint Amy Howard Once the first coat of paint is dry, give everything a second coat.

Amy Howard Paint on Cabinets

I painted the insides of my cabinets with Vintage Affliction.

Amy Howard at Home One Step Paint

I painted the inside of the cabinets similar to how I painted the cabinet doors.  I used a brush for the hard-to-reach areas and went back through with the foam roller.  I gave the insides of the cabinets two coats of paint.

Trimming cabinets with Brush

Amy Howard One Step Paint Cabinets

I also painted the shelves.

Painting Cabinets with One Step Paint

Once the paint is dry, finish with Amy Howard’s Matte Sealer.  Add two coats using the brush and foam roller.

Amy Howard Sealer

My laundry room cabinets were painted in one day, and what a difference it made!

Starched Fabric Walls in Laundry Room

Laundry Room Reveal

I’ve painted a lot of cabinets over the years.  Here are a couple of other tutorials you may be interested in:

Happy Painting, and let me know if you try painting cabinets with chalk paint!

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*This post contains affiliate links and is a sponsored post through Amy Howard at Home. I received compensation in the form of product in exchange for my review. I take pride in reviewing only products that fit my brand and will be beneficial to my readers. And while this post is sponsored, all the opinions are my own.    

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Painting Furniture with Chalk Paint

Today I’m talking all about painting furniture with chalk paint.

Painting Furniture with Chalk-Type Paint

If you take a look around my blog, you’ll quickly realize I am a huge fan of any type of chalk-type paint (or miracle paint as I lovingly call it).

Painting with Amy Howard One Step Paint

Chalk-type paint eliminates the prep work and doesn’t require stripping, sanding, or priming!  It adheres to almost any surface, dries quickly, and cleans up easily with soap and water.  It’s pretty close to the perfect paint.

Distressed Yellow Chalk Paint

If you’re new to painting furniture, go ahead and try chalk-type paint!  I think it will help you gain confidence, and let you then branch out to other paint types – although you may not want to after you see how easy it is to use!

Gray Chalk Paint Distressed and Dark Wax

To begin, I usually just wipe down a piece to remove any dust or dirt.  I personally have never used a primer with chalk-type paint, but I would suggest it if the piece has a really glossy finish.

Step 1:  Paint

Paint the entire piece with paint.  I usually use a brush (but a small roller could come in hand for some pieces such as cabinets).  You’ll find that a little paint goes a long way, and I almost always use two coats of paint.  Chalk-type paint dries really fast, but make sure the first coat is dry before applying the second.

Chalk Paint Tutorial

Step 2:  Wax (Clear)

After the paint is completely dry, apply two coats of wax on the piece using a wax brush.  I don’t wait for the first coat of wax to dry before I apply the second coat.  A tip when waxing, less is more! You are not limited to using wax, but wax does work well with chalk-type paint.  However, I would recommend a water-based polycrylic for cabinets, table and desktops, floors, and outdoor furniture.

Adding Clear Wax to Chalk Paint

Step 3: Wax (Dark)

This step is optional.  Dark wax is good if you want to bring out details and/or like the aged look.  You must apply clear wax BEFORE you apply dark wax.  Go easy on the dark wax.  You won’t need much!  Apply the dark wax with a brush over somewhat dry clear wax.  Remove excess wax with a lint-free cloth.

Adding Dark Wax to Chalk Paint

Step 4: Buff Buff the wax using a lint-free cloth.  It’s pretty easy to see where you missed the wax, so you can easily touch those places up with a brush or rubbing the wax in with your cloth.  Buffing helps smooth out and remove extra wax.

Buffing Chalk Paint Wax

Step 5: Sand  I recommend sanding after you apply the wax because of the chalk nature of chalk-type paint.  It will make a mess if you sand before waxing and then you risk waxing in the chalk paint particles.  I usually sand the edges and places where normal wear and tear would occur.

Sanding Chalk Paint

And that’s it!  This is by far my favorite paint to use on furniture. You can also see the more basic tutorials in my Painting Furniture Tutorial Series by clicking HERE. Still want more tutorials and information on painting furniture with chalk-type paint, milk paint, spray paint, latex paint, and oil-based paint?  Then you need to check out my eBook, Painting Furniture.  Receive your FREE copy by signing up for my newsletter.

Go create something!

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How to Apply Wax to Chalk Paint

How to Apply Wax to Chalk Paint

Happy Friday! 

If you haven’t seen our previous videos, I teamed up with Angela from Unexpected Elegance, and we created several video tutorials.  Our first series is all about chalk paint. 

You can see our welcome video HERE.

 

Today I am showing how to apply wax to chalk paint.  I would not recommend wax as a sealer on a desk or tabletop or cabinets (go here to see what happened when I used wax on my cabinets).  However, it works well on most furniture!

But first, we have some other video tutorials on chalk paint.  If you want to see more on chalk paint, click HERE to see how to mix colors.  Or if you want to know how to prepare a piece for chalk paint and using chalk paint, click HERE.

And finally (to see what you are probably here for), watch the video below for the tutorial on using wax on chalk paint:

As I said earlier, I have successfully used wax over chalk paint for several furniture pieces.  However, I would strongly urge you to NOT use wax on kitchen cabinets.  

GO HERE to see why I had to repaint my chalk paint cabinets.

If there are any specific video tutorials you’d like to see us create, please let us know!  We are always looking for tutorial ideas.

 

Go create something!

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How to Apply Wax to Chalk Paint

 

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Chalk Paint Tutorial

I’ve blogged about many different chalk paint projects, but I felt like I needed to provide a basic, step-by-step chalk paint tutorial for you.

Simple Chalk Paint Tutorial

Chalk paint is so great because it requires no prep work.  You don’t need to sand or strip paint – you just go for it! For this tutorial, I’m using a wooden plaque I picked up at a craft store.  But you will use this same technique on furniture, cabinets, or whatever else you are chalk painting.

How to use chalk paint

For the chalk paint, I am using Annie Sloan chalk paint.  You can find local retailers by going to her website.  There are several other chalk paint options out there – don’t be afraid to test them out!

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

First, paint the entire piece with chalk paint.  I often use a brush (for larger areas I sometimes use a small roller), and you’ll find that a little paint goes a long way.  You may only need one coat, but I find that I usually need two.  This paint dries really fast, and you’ll be able to tell when it’s dry.  Apply the second coat of paint AFTER the first coat is dry.

Painting with chalk paint

Chalk Paint

You can use other finishes, but Annie Sloan’s wax is one of my favorites. Apply two coats of wax on the piece using a wax brush.  You DO NOT have to wait for the first coat to dry before adding the second coat. I love wax for furniture pieces, but I would NOT recommend wax on tabletops, desktops, or cabinets.  Go here to see why I don’t recommend wax on kitchen cabinets.

Annie Sloan Clear Wax

Applying Clear Wax

Like the paint, a little wax goes a long way.  It’s pretty easy to see if you’ve missed any spots.  After you have applied the wax with the brush, use a lint-free cloth to buff and remove any extra wax. Buffing the Wax

This next step is optional.  Dark wax is good if you want to bring out details and/or like the aged look.  You must first apply the clear wax BEFORE you apply the dark wax.  Go easy on the dark wax.  You won’t need much! Annie Sloan Dark Wax

In this tutorial, I only applied dark wax around the edges.  You can buff with a lint-free cloth as you did with the clear wax.

Applying Dark Wax

If you first applied the clear wax BEFORE you applied the dark wax, you can use the clear wax to erase and dark wax mistakes or if you find that you want a little dark wax.  Dip the cloth in the wax and rub away the dark wax. Clear wax as an eraser

 You can sand the edges if you really like the distressed look.  In my tutorial, it’s hard to see the distressing since I painted white over a light wood.  However, sanding the edges can add a lot of interest.  Especially if you paint over a dark piece of wood. Sanding Chalk Paint

One more thing you can add to the chalk paint is gilding wax.  This can be found at any craft store and comes in a variety of colors.  I used my finger and apply this.  For this tutorial, I applied the gold wax to the edges. Gilding Wax

Gold Wax

And that’s the end of the tutorial!  Once you get started, you’ll find that chalk paint is really user-friendly.  Here are some projects I’ve done with chalk paint: This first project is a headboard I paint with chalk paint (I also painted the upholstered fabric).  The headboard was gold, and I painted it with gray chalk paint and used clear and dark wax.  I also distressed/sanded it.  To see more, click HERE.

Gray Chalk Paint Distressed and Dark Wax

This next piece was a dark trunk that I painted with gray chalk paint.  I used clear and dark wax as well as the gold gilding wax.

Gray Chalk Paint with Gold Wax

This ornate piece is part of my daughter’s bedroom set which was originally white.  I used gray chalk paint and clear and dark wax.  I also sanded it.

Chalk Paint with Dark Wax

This is my daughter’s headboard.  The piece was originally white, and I painted it with turquoise chalk paint.  I used clear wax and sanded.  To see more in her room, click HERE.

Chalk Paint with Clear Wax

This is a hutch I painted for my kitchen.  The hutch was originally dark, and I used yellow chalk paint.  I used clear and gold gilding wax and heavily sanded.  You can see more if you click HERE.

Distressed Yellow Chalk Paint

I painted the legs on my dining room table gray.  The table was originally dark, and I used clear wax and a little sanding.  You can see more by clicking HERE.

Gray Paint with Clear Wax

This is a free dresser that was handed down to me.  It was dark, and I used white and gray chalk paint.  I also used clear and dark wax and sanded the piece.  You can see more by clicking HERE.

White Paint with Dark Wax

This is a bench that we made from a headboard.  The headboard was originally a tan color, and I used green chalk paint with clear wax.  I also sanded it.  You can see more on this project by clicking HERE.

Green Chalk Paint Clear Wax

I also have a FREE chalk paint tips printable you can get by clicking HERE. I hope after reading through this tutorial you have the confidence to go for it!  Chalk paint is a fun and easy way to instantly transform a piece. Go create something!

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Find me on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Pinterest Want to see what else I’m up to?  Click on the photos below:

DIY Concrete Table        Paint.a.Faucet          PaintedHeadboardB&A

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Chalk Paint Tutorial

Chalk Painting Tutorial | Painting a Mirror I’ve done a chalk paint tutorial in the past, but I thought it may be helpful to do a more detailed one. I love to garage sale shop, and I found this mirror at a sale recently for $30. (?!!) It’s hard to tell in the pictures, but it’s HUGE! Mirror BEFORE When painting a mirror, always tape off the mirror itself. If possible shove paper between the frame and mirror. Then, tape the paper in place. Mirror BEFORE* Next, prepare your supplies. For this mirror, I used Annie Sloan products: chalk paint (I actually mixed 1:1 Paris Grey and Florence) and wax (clear and dark). Cahalk Paint Supplies The great thing about chalk paint is that there is no sanding or other prep work (well, minus taping off the mirror). Just go for it! Chalk Painting Chalk paint dries pretty fast. Once it’s dry (20-30 mins for this project), you can add the wax. Chalk Paint on Mirror Chalk Paint on Mirror* Chalk paint dries pretty fast. Once it’s dry (20-30 mins for this project), you can add the wax. I recommend the wax brush. It’s expensive, but it makes the waxing a much easier process. I brush on the wax and then go back through with a lint-free cloth (aka: my husbands old t-shirts) and rub away the extra. Chalk Paint - Waxing waxing chalk paint For the dark wax, you just repeat the same process as before: brush on the (dark) wax and rub it away. Chalk Paint Dark Wax Adding Dark Wax Chalk Paint - Dark Wax **If you are going to use the dark (antiquing) wax, it is a MUST to use the clear wax first. The clear wax provides a coating between the dark wax and the paint. If you don’t use the clear wax first, your dark wax will stick to everything, and you won’t be able to wipe it away very easily. I like to distress my projects, so I sand. You sand AFTER the wax. I know it’s strange, but that’s what you do. You don’t have to wait for the wax to dry, but it can quickly cake up your sand paper. I went through a lot of sand paper for this project… Chalk Paint - Sanding And I had several helpers: Little Sanding Helper My little helpers I found that wax residue got stuck in the beautiful details. I used a Q-tip to remove as much of this “residue” as possible. Cleaning Wax You can add another clear wax layer after sanding if you want, but I find that I can just rub over the entire project and spread out the wax I added before. Also, if you want a more buffed project, wait 24 hours and use your lint-free cloth to buff the entire project. It will give it a nice sheen. FINAL mirror Mirror - AFTER Mirror AFTER Good luck!
Are you new to my blog? Go HERE to see my home tour and HERE to shop for items I use in our home. Find me on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Pinterest   Click HERE or on the photo below to see more chalk paint tips and download FREE chalk paint tips printable! ChalkPaintTipsPic