Today I bring to you an easy chalk paint DIY.
I am a huge fan of shabby chic. I am also a huge fan of WHITE, if you haven’t noticed.
Since we moved into our house from a 1 bedroom apartment last fall, we figured out we really don’t have much in the way of furniture to fill the house and walls.
So, we have been trying to chip away at it, buying a little bit at a time.
I always swoon over old country/shabby chic/rustic furniture. I’ve looked at a million Anthropology, Restoration Hardware, and Pottery Barn catalogues, but MAN those things cost a pretty penny.
So I’ve started thrifting. First we got a new dinning room table. Then we went on a hunt for chairs which I found on Craigslist along with a gorgeous hutch.
But NOTHING was white.
So there was 2 options, buy already painted white furniture OR paint it yourself.
I’ve scoured Craigslist for hours and I’ve found a piece here and there BUT AGAIN everything started to add up.
So one day while popping into a local boutique, I got talking to one of the owners who quickly cheered me on to try their chalk paint. So I bought a can of paint, I came home. And a few days later pretty much everything in our house transformed to WHITE.
Chalk paint is SO easy to work with. It sticks to virtually anything, no sanding required. And it dries SO quick. You just have to seal it with a top coat and WHAM BAM THANK YOU MAAM.
Here is my first project:
It takes me about 4 coats + top coat to get the cover I want but it also depends on the colour of furniture and type of wood you are painting.
Here are a few tips if you decide to get your hands dirty:
- Have BOTH small roller and a brush, I always end up using both.
- I found having an angle brush made things a lot easier.
- Make your first coat really light.
- Make sure to brush off all excess paint on the last coat.
- If you have railings or really curvy design features, save yourself the trouble, get a can of KILZ primer and spray on the first coat and then just apply one layer of paint to finish. (I figured that one out way too late)
- If your paint runs a little or there is goop, don’t worry you can sand it off once it dries
- Taking off all the doors and handles will REALLY make things easier
FYI chalk paint is going to cost you a pretty penny BUT it sure is cheeper than buying already painted or new furniture.
If you are really on a budget you can make your own chalk paint too, but I have not tried that yet so I can’t attest to that.
I got my chalk paint at the CUTEST vintage store here in Maple Ridge called Town and Country Vintage Home (if you are in the area make sure you check them out). So I’m sure a vintage store in your area will have it.
Please don’t hesitate to ask questions I would love to hear from you.
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Kat!!!! Where have you been all my life!!? I wish I had read this years ago. I had one bad little experience with chalk paint and then I ‘wrote’ it off forever as my DIY disaster. But now after reading your post I see ALL of the things I did totally wrong. I’m now eyeing up my dining room table and piano bench……I feel a DIY chalk paint intervention is about to happen! xxoo thank you. My furniture thanks you too! They just don’t know it yet. Lol
Thanks for sharing about our store & paint. We are so glad you loved it & everything looks fab.. Way to go ?? xo
Naomi
Town & Country vintage Home.
It was like this post was meant to be! I just bought a dining room table and chairs today from a thrift store and I’d love to chalk paint them. I’m local and called Town and Country Vintage Home today about their chalk paint 🙂 I’m curious how far the paint went for your projects. Will 1 can do a table base and 4 chairs? I have no experience with chalk paint so I have no idea!
Kaylynne,
Glad this post got you at such a good time. Id say 2 cans would be good. I found that spraying the legs and the railings on the chair with KILZ made things SO MUCH easier (you can find KILZ at home depot or the local building store)
Hi! What a coincidence! I’ve just bought some French blue chalkpaint, but I haven’t started painting yet. What a great difference it makes, everything looks brighter in white compared to brown, I love the projects in your post! Best regards from Spain,
Marta
I am remodeling my house and you just gave me an idea for an old rocking chair! I love it and I can do it myself!
Hi, How does the kitchen table hold up with daily use, after being painted? Does anything srape off? Is it ok to eat off of? You know, when you have little people etc. kitchen tables get a ton of abuse. But I’d love to give this a try…
Jackie!! It’s held out great! No chips no scratches at all and as you said my kids ABUSE it all day every day!! I’d say the only thing is that it did stain a bit (coffee tea and some food will do that to white) so I am planning to slap a real quick coat in the summer to freshen it up! Other than that it’s held out amazing !!
Hi, just wondering what you used as a topcoat for your kitchen table? I am painting my table with white chalk paint but need it to hold up to the abuse of 3 kids!
Thanks!
Lora
I’ve got 2 toddlers and mine is holding up beautifully (it’s been a year) yes I did use a top coat !!
Looks awesome I’m wanting to finish my table too.. what did you use as a top coat??
I did 🙂
I am also curious as to what top coat u used 🙂 I am doing a table as well and debating to do the top as worried about what to use . Can u email me even ? rusticexpressionsbytracy@gmail.com
Your furniture looks great! What did you use for a top coat?
Thank you ! Actually I used a special seal that they sold at the store along with the chalk paint !! Hope you can find some 🙂
Hi there! Did you sand any surfaces before using the spray primer or did you just spray it on as is? I am working on a piece that has a glossy finish, so I am wondering how to go about starting my project. Thank you!
I would give it a light sand and then spray 🙂
Hi! Thank you for this! Great tips, especially about the can of primer! One thing I was wondering is what kind of finish you use. Wax? Lacquer? I’m assuming since this is the dining table you have to use something that you can wipe clean and use cleaning product on.
Any advice would help! Thank you!
All your pieces look amazing. Did you sand the edges to get the worn look?
Do you get yellow bleed through?