Chalk Paint® Tips for Beginners

by Andrea

3 Materials

$50

4 Hours

Easy

Do you have a piece of furniture that you picked up at a garage sale or from Facebook Marketplace that is in dire need of an update? You might think that furniture painting requires a lot of skill and prep.

The truth is, painting furniture is something that anyone can do.

Here are my best tips for using Chalk Paint that I learned when painting my first piece.

Before Dresser

My dresser was green and I loved the shape of it, but the color just doesn't work in my house any more.

Step 1: Buy chalk paint and wax. I used Annie Sloan chalk paint because they sold it at an antique store that I visit. You can also buy chalk paint at Home Depot and Lowes. If you are painting a dark color be sure to get a dark wax.

Chalk Paint Supplies

Step 2 - Remove all hardware, knobs etc.

Step 3 - Apply the chalk paint to furniture. No sanding is required. You don't have to get a rustic finish with chalk paint if you apply it the same as you would any other paint. The Beauty of chalk paint is that it is so thick it can cover in one coat, using just about any type of brush. Chalk paint has a VERY flat finish. You might think you don't have enough paint, but you do.

Flat first coat next to wax coat

Step 4 - After y0our paint is dry, apply the wax finish. For dark paint, apply the wax very generously. It gives the paint an entirely different, more rich color.

Step 5 - Use a cloth to rub any excess wax off. The wax can take days to fully cure/get hard.

Finished dresser

You don't have to distress the furniture. You can have a smooth finish with chalk paint.

Have you tried using chalk paint? It's so easy I want to do more.

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