DIY Chalk Painting Furniture Tips
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Have you ever tried chalk painting furniture? It can be a time saving method…or not. The main benefit of using it is that sanding and priming the item isn’t required. I have used it for several pieces of furniture and recently transformed an old dresser that was given to me.
My new old dresser...
I loved the mid-century modern look of this old dresser that was very popular in the fifties and sixties. It had a previous repair with a piece of plywood on the bottom and one corner had a broken piece.
Beginning Tips for Chalk Painting...
What supplies do you need? Obviously you need the paint. I used Rustoleum Chalk paint in the Pebble colour which is similar to Country Gray. You should also use a polyurethane sealer top coat to protect it. You can buy a special brush for the chalk paint or you can use a regular paint brush.
- Wipe off any dust, dirt, (or cobwebs) before beginning.
- When painting go with the grain of the wood in long even strokes. Or short strokes if you want more texture. You will see brush strokes more in colours than white.
- Chalk painting is very forgiving if you screw it up – you can’t really screw it up.
- If you want a smooth, sleek finish, chalk paint probably isn’t the best choice. (Use a cabinet and trim paint instead and prep as needed.)
Do you need to use primer?
Generally speaking…no, However, I found that when using chalk paint on pine furniture, the knots will eventually seep through.
How many coats of Chalk Paint?
Perfection is not the desired outcome. If you want a more rustic, farmhouse look you can lightly sand the edges where there would be wear. I didn’t do that for this though.
Finally... Top coat to protect chalk paint...
I used two coats of polyurethane to give a protective finish and it also made the colour darker. It dries fairly quickly so you need to work fast in long even strokes. If you decide not to put a sealer coat on, it will stain or chip more easily. I made this mistake with a desk I painted before.
Final Thoughts... Does it save time or money?
With my projects, I have to say no. Even though I didn’t have to sand or prime it, I had to do more coats to get the desired finish. (Three coats of chalk paint and two of polyurethane.) And chalk paint isn’t inexpensive. I know…everything is expensive these days. The main benefits are a more unique finish and not having sawdust everywhere from sanding.
You can watch the video below...
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