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