How to paint furniture with chalk paint

1. Shop window painted with chalk-based colors and decorated with the stencil technique.

The advantages of chalk paint

In addition to those mentioned above, it should be noted that it offers options not only for painting furniture, but also for walls, tiles and exteriors. It also works for painting brick, stone or plaster. You just need to choose the right type of chalk paint for each type of surface (especially important if what you will be painting are walls or something that will remain outside). It’s also eco-friendly, easy to clean, and nearly odorless, unlike other acrylic options. It also has excellent covering power.

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It should be noted that although chalk paint does not require a primer, depending on the material it is applied to, it will be necessary. Therefore, if the furniture is made of melamine, it is lacquered or the furniture is made of different types of wood. In general, each brand has a primer product for their paint.

What do you need to paint a piece of furniture with chalk paint

To find out step by step how to paint a piece of furniture with chalk-based paint, we asked for advice from DIY professionals, who gave us all the keys to do it and obtain a spectacular piece of furniture. To do this, the first thing you need are the right tools. Therefore, in addition to furniture, you will need:

– Chalk paint in two colors, one darker than the other (especially if you want a distressed finish)

– Manual sanding or fine and coarse sandpaper

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– Camouflage band

– cured carp

– Clean brush for cleaning wooden corners

– Brush with round tip

Garden furniture made from pallets

– Aluminum cleaner

– Role

How to paint with chalk paint: prepare the furniture

So the first thing to do, in all wood restoration work, is to prepare the surface. Start by cleaning the furniture with a slightly damp cloth and let the surface dry well. At Leroy Merlin they also recommend “removing all dust, as well as the remains of other poorly adhering paints or varnishes”. Whenever possible, remove all hardware. If this is not possible, protect them with body builder’s tape. Same if he has a bottle.

If the wood is new and untreated, “it should be sanded first to leave a smooth surface,” the brand advises. If it is an old piece of furniture, do the same to remove the remaining paint. Wipe the surface with a clean cloth. Use the clean brush to remove bits of sawdust from the corners. You can also help yourself with the vacuum cleaner.

Prepare and apply chalk paint

After preparing the furniture, wipe it with a damp cloth to remove any remaining residue and wait for it to dry. Next, prepare the paint. Open the pan and mix well to make the dough uniform. Remember that it is not necessary to add water.

Using a fine-haired brush, begin applying paint to the darker colored chalk. From the French brand, restart “start slowly, combing the brush and following the direction of the wood grain.” Another tip: always unload the brush and extend each stroke as much as possible.

A trick: place a rubber band around the paint container -from top to bottom-, it will help you perform the previous step without staining all the edges of the container.

How to apply chalk-based paint

Start by painting the corners and edges with the round tip brush, also called the cutting brush. So, for flat and smooth surfaces you can use the roller. Use a short-bristled wool one and follow the direction of the wood grain, like a brush.

Then wait for it to dry, which will depend on each manufacturer. Usually the second layer can be applied after 4 hours. And although it’s already dry to the touch by the hour, it’s not dry enough to apply the second layer. For a result of ten it is always better to wait.

How to get an old effect using chalk-based paint

To achieve that aged effect that you like so much and that gives any piece of furniture an elegant look, apply a paint that contrasts with the first layer. In this proposal from Leroy Merlin, the top layer is an aged white on a cauldron color. After letting the dark paint dry, repeat the same process with the lighter one. Start from the corners with the brush and continue on the smooth surfaces with the short-haired wool roller.

Then let the paint dry for the time indicated by the manufacturer. Then, using fine water-based sandpaper or aluminum wool, gently sand the areas that would wear out with regular use of the furniture: corners, edges, sides, etc. This way, you will make both paintings look different.

Tip: If your paint cans aren’t finished, seal them tightly to use the chalk paint on other projects.