Learn how to make chalk paint with today’s tutorial! I’ll even throw in a tip to help give your furniture a distressed look.
How To Make Chalk Paint For A Durable Vintage Look
Learning how to make chalk paint is really simple! Trust me, you’re only a few ingredients away from creating the vintage yet colorful desk you’ve always dreamed about.
Here’s what you’ll need to learn how to make chalk paint:
- Acrylic latex paint
- Plaster of Paris in powder form
- Water
- A wide-mouthed jar with lid
- A plastic fork (or something to mix with)
- A brush
- Measuring cup
- Clear coat (I recommend a matte Polycrylic clear coat)
Tips:
- You can use a paint finish in either a flat, interior eggshell, or a satin. All three options will work fine, but you’ll see better results if you choose a flat finish.
Step 1: Mix Plaster Of Paris With Water
Bear in mind, you’ll be working with a ratio of one part plaster of Paris to three parts of paint. Mix a cup of your plaster of Paris with water to make a paste. Keep mixing until you get a lump-free paste, which looks similar to the consistency of mayonnaise.
Tip: If you don’t have a measuring cup, you can opt to use a simple coffee mug.
Step 2: Mix Plaster or Paris Paste With Paint
Add in 3 cups or 3 ratios of paint, then, mix everything together.
Tip: If you’re making a lot of chalk paint, you can use a stick blender to give yourself a hand with mixing.
Step 3: Begin Painting
Paint your furniture as how you normally would. Just don’t forget to clean the surface first. This will help your chalk paint stick to the furniture.
Tip: If you want to give your furniture a distressed look, simply run a sanding block over it. When sanding furniture, one technique is to use long, light and even strokes along the grain of the wood. Be careful to avoid pressing the sand block hard on the wood. This will cause too much pressure, which eventually causes gouging and scuffing of the sanding block.
Step 4: Save Paint
Taking a break from painting? Be sure to put the lid back on your jar. This will prevent the chalk paint from drying out. By the way, don’t forget to give the paint a couple of stirs before you resume painting.
Step 5: Apply Clear Coat
A matte Polycrylic clear coat is the best option as it dries quickly and doesn’t smell as bad as the others. The only drawback is it can be a bit milky, so it could lighten up dark colored furniture.
Tip: Don't forget to remove the sanding dust before applying the clear coat. To do this, simply wipe down the furniture down with a damp cloth.
And there you have it! Now you've learned how to make chalk paint and how to apply it as well!
Chalk paint is an affordable and not to mention, easy way of getting a touch of vintage into your home. Also, it's actually more durable than latex paint!
Press play to watch the full video tutorial on how to make chalk paint:
What’d I say, right? Learning how to make chalk paint is as easy as pie! Remember, your projects are only as good as the materials you buy. So make sure to do your research on a brand’s pros and cons first, to arrive at optimum results.
Now that you know how to make chalk paint, what furniture makeovers are you going to try? Let us know in the comments below!
In A DIY mood? Check out these cool coffee tables you can make!
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