Bookshelf Revamp With DIY Chalk Style Paint

7 Materials
$40
3 Hours
Easy

I, like a lot of people, LOVE a good chalk paint. I use and love several different brands but they can be on the expensive side. I had a fairly large wooden bookshelf just waiting to be made over so I decided to make some DIY chalk paint with some less expensive latex paint I had on hand.

Here's what the shelf looked like before - boring and outdated. To prep it I lightly sanded and cleaned the entire piece.

Next, I mixed up my paint. In the past I have also used plaster of Paris to make chalk paint but I have found that when using calcium carbonate I'm able to store the paint for a longer period of time without it becoming lumpy. For a quart of paint I usually add 8 tablespoons of calcium carbonate and 4-6 tablespoons of water. I mix that separately before adding to my paint. Since I was planning to spray the paint I needed to add an additional cup of water. When thinning your paint always start with small amounts and add until you have your desired consistency.

I use a HVLP sprayer and it's very important, especially when using DIY chalk paint, to use a cone paint filter when loading your paint. This ensures that any chunks of dried paint or calcium carbonate do not make it into the gun and clog it up while you're spraying.

It's also very important to wear a mask when you're spraying. I laid the shelf on its back for the first several coats. When spraying inside the shelves I lower the air output on my gun and that helps it go on smoothly without a lot of overspray coming right back out into your face! icon

After 4 quick coats I added some pretty flowers with my stamps! (See my other post for more details on that!) Once the flowers were dry I lightly distressed the shelf with a sanding sponge and then I sprayed the entire shelf with two coats of clear matte polyurethane for a durable finish.

Such a great transformation! If you love painted furniture please check out my instagram for lots more!

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