DIY Chalk Paint Recipe

When I first started painting furniture I didn’t know that you could make your own chalk paint.  I purchased a popular brand of chalk paint, soft wax, and a couple of brushes.  Because of this, my garage sale find turned out to be a very pricey project.

Since then, I have painted well over 100 pieces of furniture and have played with multiple brands of paints and my own recipes.

If I am painting a small project, I usually go ahead and purchase a small jar of this paint.  It is affordable, offers lots of colors, and has always performed nicely!   If you have a Hobby Lobby nearby, you can purchase it there with a coupon.  If not, it is available online here and is actually a little cheaper than the shelf price at HL.

Here are a couple of things I have painted with this brand of paint.

The table on the left and the shutters are painted with Vintage and have a stained glaze finish.  The middle table is Everlasting with a little Relic mixed in.

DIY Chalk Paint

If I am painting a large piece of furniture, I always make my own paint.  I think it is silly to spend $35+ bucks on a quart of paint.  I also like being able to pick from the countless color options.

When painting large items, I ALWAYS use a sprayer.  It saves so much time and you get a really even finish.

This is the sprayer that I have used for going on 5 years.  It is affordable and is really easy to operate!

When using a sprayer, you definitely want to make your own paint due to the volume of paint you will use.

This is the paint I have settled on for my favorite recipe.  I tried several, and this provides the best finish in my opinion.

Behr paint is available at Home Depot.  Make sure to get the Matte finish.  You will get the deep base or white base depending on the color you pick.  (This post is NOT endorsed by Behr or Home Depot…just my FAV!)

NOW TO THE RECIPE…

Recipe for Painting with a BRUSH

• 2 Tablespoons Plaster of Paris
• 2 Tablespoons Calcium Carbonate
• 2 Tablespoons Water
• 2 Cups Paint

Recipe for Painting with a SPRAYER

• 1/4 cup Plaster of Paris
• 1/4 cup Calcium Carbonate
• 1/2 cup Water
• 4 cups Paint

Directions:

1. Measure the Plaster of Paris and Calcium Carbonate into a container with a lid.  I usually purchase some plastic bowls from the dollar store.
2. Add the Water and stir with a disposable spoon until it is smooth.
3. Add half of the paint and stir.  Mix in the rest of the paint and stir until smooth.

Tips:

• Only mix up enough chalk paint for the project you are working on.
• If you are using a sprayer and it is sputtering or not coming out evenly, simply add a little more water.
• Keep the lid on the container when you are not using the paint.  It dries quickly.
• I haven’t been able to find Calcium Carbonate in any stores.  I always order it here.

You will be able to use the Plaster of Paris and the Calcium Carbonate for several projects.

Happy Painting!!

For more information on using a sprayer to chalk paint, check out this post on How to Paint Furniture – The Easy Way.