I have been chalk painting furniture for many years now and have tried a few different brands. My favourite is Annie Sloan but it is quite expensive and I have to drive a fairly long distance to find a store that stocks it. As a result, I have tried my hand at making a few different DIY chalk paint recipes and today I am sharing my favourite one!
I’ve been really happy with the results of this recipe. It has a nice consistency, is easy to apply and adheres really well. Perfect.
DIY Chalk Paint Recipe
Ingredients per 1 Cup of Paint
1/4 cup Calcium Carbonate (aka powdered chalk)
1/4 cup Plaster of Paris (available at home improvement stores)
1/4 cup warm water
1 cup latex paint (flat or eggshell finish is best)
You don’t want to use a semi-gloss or gloss finish paint because chalk paint is meant to have a matte finish.
I found Calcium Carbonate at a local health food store but it is also available on Amazon through this link.
Directions
- Mix Calcium Carbonate and Plaster of Paris together.
- Add water and stir until smooth.
- Add mixture to paint and stir well.
So easy!
For larger amounts, simply use these ratios:
1 part Calcium Carbonate
1 part Plaster of Paris
1 part warm water
4 parts paint
The powdered chalk is what gives the paint it’s chalky look/finish and the Plaster of Paris is what gives it the “stick” that chalk paint is famous for.
Some DIY’ers prefer to only use Calcium Carbonate because it yields a smoother paint and stores longer so feel free to omit the Plaster of Paris (and double the amount of Calcium Carbonate) as it still works quite well. I just prefer having the extra boost for adhesion that Plaster of Paris gives.
DIY Chalk Paint Recipe Benefits
Benefit #1 – Lower Cost
Although more affordable chalk paint options have hit the market since chalk painting became popular a few years ago, it is still more pricey than “regular” paint. By using paint you already have on hand you can make your own chalk paint for a fraction of the cost!
Benefit #2 – More Colour Options
Because I loooove to paint, I already have a great selection of paint colours at my fingertips. I’m a bit embarrassed by how many sample pots of paints I have. Looking for the perfect blue or gray? Call me. 🙂
So, if you already have a colour you love, with just a few additional ingredients you can turn it into chalk paint.
For example, I have some Benjamin Moore Wythe Blue on my paint shelf so I used it to create my own chalk paint to paint this cabinet that was previously stained in a very orange oak colour.
I am very comfortable using a DIY recipe of chalk paint for furniture that isn’t going to see a lot of wear and tear, like the cabinet above. However, I do recommend using a brand name chalk paint for something that needs to stand up to kids and family use such as kitchen table chairs. For example, I purchased 6 second hand wood chairs a few years ago ($20 each!) and I used Annie Sloan chalk paint rather than going the DIY route because I felt it was worth the extra money. If you would like a brand that is less expensive and easier to find than Annie Sloan, try Rust-Oleum Chalked Paint.
DIY Chalk Paint Tips
- If you find that the consistency of the paint is too thick, you can add small amounts of water if you prefer to work with a thinner paint.
- In most cases, you don’t need to prep the surface beyond a good clean (I like to use vinegar and water or Windex). However, for gloss surfaces I usually give it a quick sand to help the paint stick better.
- I have found that the Calcium Carbonate and Plaster of Paris have only slightly lightened the colour of the paint but you may wish to keep this in mind.
- Measuring cups and craft sticks from a dollar store are simple supplies you can use to measure and mix your chalk paint.
Storage
The main drawback of this DIY chalk paint recipe is its longevity and storage. Unlike store bought chalk paints, your leftovers will dry up rather quickly due to the Plaster of Paris. Because I only make it in small amounts when I need it, I haven’t found this to be a problem and if I need a quick touch up I can quickly make up a bit more.
Alternatively, you can forgo the Plaster of Paris as I mentioned above and store it for at least a few weeks in a glass jar.
Beginner Chalk Paint Project Ideas
If you’d like to try out a simple chalk paint project to give it a try and get a feel for how the paint applies, a great place to start is with a chair, stool or small end table that could use a re-fresh. It is really amazing what you can find for sale online or at thrift stores and how incredible the transformation can be with a bit of chalk paint!
Happy furniture makeover-ing! 🙂
Related Links
7 Tips on How to Choose Paint Colours For Your Home
How to Paint the Inside of Your Front Door – and Why You Will Love It!
11 Inspiring Home Decor Trends for 2021
This is great. I want to paint some old end tables, so am going to try this for sure.
Great! Let me know how it turns out! 🙂