Looking for advice on chalk painting furniture

Donna Arsenault
by Donna Arsenault
This is my very old bedroom furniture. The finish is very worn. I plan to paint the dressers but not the top and drawer fronts, I want to fill in the holes and stain the top and fronts, and change the handles. I am also removing the mirror from the top, mount it on the wall and frame it. I will do the same to the mismatched nightstands. Next, I will make a cushion for the chest. I want to use chalk paint but it is hard to get in my area. Will this project work if I make my own chalk paint? Do I have to prime? I am not sure if I want to distress the paint or not. I don't mind either look, but wanted to make up my mind once the painting was done.I am also thinking about raising the nightstands a bit.looking for suggestions for paint....
  11 answers
  • Shari Shari on Dec 31, 2014
    Your plan sounds great, and well thought out, I might add. As far as homemade chalk paint, you might find this blogger's post informative and helpful. She tried 4 different homemade chalk paint recipes and rated their performance and look. http://salvagedinspirations.com/best-homemade-chalk-paint-recipes/ With chalk paint, priming is not necessary in most cases but it certainly won't hurt. In this case, since you are painting a lighter color over dark wood, priming will help cover the dark wood, thus requiring fewer coats of chalk paint. With no primer, you might use 1 to 2 coats more of chalk paint than you would if you prime first. If you decide to distress, *when* you do it will depend on how you seal and protect the chalk paint. If you choose wax as your protective coat, you can distress before or after wax, although before waxing is probably best, especially if you plan to do a heavy distressing. If you choose a protective coat like poly, you will definitely want to distress after your last coat of chalk paint but before the poly is applied.
  • Country Design Home Country Design Home on Dec 31, 2014
    Hi Donna! Looks like a fun and not too difficult project for you to tackle. If that is the look you are going for, then you will definitely need to darken the pine wood color. In that picture I think it mentions Polyshades, which is a poly and stain blend, which does tend to be somewhat shiny. If you are going to use chalk paint for the rest of the piece, that may make the contrast quite evident with shiny drawers and the rest of it a matte finish. I would use a darker wipe-on gel stain, then wax the entire piece so the finish is the same. As far as mixing your own chalk paint, its easy and requires only a couple of ingredients. Its not quite the same as Annie Sloan, for instance, but it will do the trick. I find that no matter what type of paint I use, if the old finish is very shiny, then you will need to rough it up a bit. And if you do make your own chalk paint, then a good latex primer would work well. Good luck! Make sure you post the "after" pics! PS: My favorite "creamy white neutral" is Old White by Annie Sloan.
  • Donna Arsenault Donna Arsenault on Dec 31, 2014
    I have played with a few different paints for other pieces, but am fairly new to painting furniture. Looking for thoughts from all of you that do this frequently. I have just moved into a restored 1944 craftsman style home, and am looking to blend the furniture with the style of home. I have it in my head to try a pallet wall in this room on the headboard wall. This furniture is all wood, but very old and tired looking. Every time I complain about it..hubby tells me to go buy what I like. And then I can't bear to pay thousands for crappy quality,pressed wood stuff. This has been around for so long and through so many moves,it obviously was made well.
  • Marjo Marjo on Jan 01, 2015
    Have you looked at Annie Sloan? on Pinterest or with google? Many ideas!!! Have Fun!!!
  • Lulu Dubin Lulu Dubin on Jan 01, 2015
    I'm sure @Nancy @ ArtsyChicksRule will know how to answer this one :)
  • Aboutiqueabove Aboutiqueabove on Jan 01, 2015
    @Donna Arsenault the purplepaintdlady has a ton of tutorials on youtube. If you go to anniesloanunfolded, you should be able to find a stockiest who can ship to you. When leaving a surface unpainted I love using General Finishes Java Gel.
  • Nancy @ ArtsyChicksRule Nancy @ ArtsyChicksRule on Jan 02, 2015
    @Donna Arsenault You can use home made chalk paint. I know many who do with good results but I can't speak about any of those, or the recipes, since I use Annie Sloan brand. I would suggest that. Or you could try GF Milk Paint (in a can, I've enjoyed using that lately too) For the Annie Sloan, you should be able to find a stockist either near you or have it shipped to you. The first few years I used ASCP, I had it shipped to me. I now have a stockist close by. For the fronts, you can use the PolyShades (like I used in the picture you attached above) or GF (I also love the Java Gel that was mentioned already). (and no! don't buy new, paint and refinish, you will love it!) Good luck!
  • Colleen Colleen on Jan 02, 2015
    I'm glad you asked this question and posted your photos! I have a similar bedroom set and had the same idea in mind for it. Great plan for the mirror! Please post 'after' photos and an update on how it went :-)
  • Laurie Cann Laurie Cann on Jan 03, 2015
    I have used CeCe Caldwell chalk paint and American Paint Company chalk paint and I liked them both. I want to try making my own. I would try it on something small before painting an entire bedroom set to make sure it worked well. I would love to see how this turns out as I have a similar set I want to paint. Good luck!
  • Donna Arsenault Donna Arsenault on Oct 28, 2015
    i am not quite done with this room yet. I am looking for a cushion for the bench. I am also waiting for the inspiration for a fabulous headboard. Ideally, I would like swing arm lamps instead of table top ones. This room also needs a nice rug, I refuse to pay what I think are outrageous prices. I am sure the right one will show itself to me soon.
  • Pauliegirl1 Pauliegirl1 on Feb 01, 2017

    I have used a LOT of different chalk paints!!! Annie Sloan is a very good one...but it is expensive, my opinion! I have used Farmhouse, Amy Howard, Shabby Paints, Junk Gypsy, CeCe Caldwell, and many many more! There are sooo many kinds out there, and I like to TRY them all. IN MY OPINION....I like Fusion Paint the best. It is VERY reasonable, covers well, easy to use, smooth, nice finish!!! I am not saying the others are not good, they are in there own way....its just the paint I like to use. Annie Sloan is also a good choice, but for me, its expensive, but it does go a long way. Farmhouse has some really nice colors....It ALL depends on what works for you!! Good Luck!! Be sure to post your finished room!!