Painting Furniture with Chalk Paint

Chalk paint can be applied to nearly any piece of wooden furniture, including previously finished or even scratched and damaged pieces. Chalk paint leaves brush strokes and small imperfections in the surface of the paint, which means that scratches, dents, and holes beneath the surface of the paint are less noticeable. When choosing a piece of wooden furniture, remember that chalk paint resembles an antique or distress finish. Old and vintage pieces are the perfect candidates for painting with chalk paint.

Before getting started with your project, gather the right materials.

Place the furniture on the tarp in a well-ventilated place. Use a screwdriver or other tools to remove hardware (hinges, knobs, etc.) from the furniture. Finally, clean the furniture with the microfiber cloth. Chalk paint will adhere to wood finish, so there’s no need to remove the old finish. However, removing dust, grit, and cobwebs from the furniture is a good idea.

To apply the paint, simply shake the paint in the can, then dip the paintbrush into the paint and begin to apply. Chalk paint dries quickly. If you’re planning to distress the furniture, you’ll need at least two coats in two separate colors, with a thicker coat underneath and a thinner coat on top. The paint is dry when it no longer feels tacky.

To achieve an antiqued effect, wait until the paint has fully dried. Next, dip the wax brush into the clear wax and apply to the furniture surface. Use a circular motion with the brush to apply the wax. When the furniture has been fully coated, use the rag to remove the excess wax.

Next, dip the brush into the dark wax. Apply the dark wax to a section of the furniture using circular motions with the brush. Finally, dip another rag into the clear wax, then use that same rag to wipe the dark wax off of the furniture. The dark wax will darken the paint and will fill the cracks in the furniture. Keep going like this until the piece has been fully covered in wax.

To distress a piece of furniture, wait until the two coats of paint are both dry, and then use the sandpaper to lightly sand the top coat of paint. Sand the furniture only to the point that the undercoat is visible, not all the way down to the wood.

At Ace Paint and Unfinished Furniture, we sell a variety of products that can help people complete their home improvement projects, including chalk paint, brushes, tarps and more. To pick up your supplies, stop in at one of our convenient locations today.