I was trying to describe chalk paint to a few friends the other day and I figured if they had never heard of it, maybe you haven’t either.  But if you’re a blog reading, Pinterest addict, chances are you already know all about chalk paint, so maybe this post isn’t for you.  But you can always check out my Pinterest board for some chalk paint inspiration.

What is Chalk Paint?

Chalk paint is awesome, that’s what it is!  Oh you want more details, okay.  Chalk paint is not the same as chalkboard paint, the kind you write on with chalk, although you CAN use chalk to draw on it if you don’t seal or wax your piece after you paint it.  Chalk paint sticks easily to a wide variety of surfaces, so you don’t need to sand or prime your surface first.  Crazy, I know!  Chalk paint can be used on wood, metal, plastic, pretty much anything you can think of.  Like a your refrigerator (see pic below from Vintage Charm Restored).  You can use a brush, roller or sprayer to apply it and if left alone the results are a beautiful matte velvety finish.  Chalk paint is also easy to distress, crackle or give a ‘chippy’ look.   It is very easy to use and very forgiving.  If you want it smoother, add water.  You want it thicker, leave the lid off for a while.  You want to use it as a wash to bring out the wood grain in a piece of furniture, add even more water and wipe off the excess with a rag.  Use bristle brushes for an aged textured look or flat brushes for a smooth look.

Painted refrigerator by Vintage Charm Restored

Wax can then be added to protect the surface and/or give the piece a textured look.   Most of the pictures you see of furniture painted with chalk paint have an aged or worn look to them, but it doesn’t have to be this way.  The darker color is the wax, which acts to protect the paint and to give more dimension to the color.  If you want a more modern look, you can seal your piece with polycryclic or clear wax.  Use a wax brush for the best results and fastest application.   There is a nice tutorial by American Paint Company here.

Major retailers

1) Annie Sloan Chalk Paint (ASCP) seems to be the most ubiquitous, and according to the website, Annie Sloan invented and named chalk paint over 20 years ago.  Bloggers swear by it, but it’s kinda hard to come by.  Here is a list of shops in the US that carry it.  Only 4 shops in New Jersey.  Boo.

Here are a few of the many ways you can transform things with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.

South Shore Decorating Blog

Painted piano by Doodles & Stitches

Update kitchen cabinets by Girl in Air

Washer and Dryer painted by Embellish and Restore

2) Cece Caldwell is the other major retailer of chalk paint, with a claim to have the more environmentally friendly product, it is made in the USA of entirely of natural ingredients and packaged in recycled plastic containers.  You know who uses Cece Caldwell products?  Debi from Debi’s Design Diary.  If you’ve never seen her YouTube videos, you’ve been missing out.  She’s hysterical and does some awesome projects.  Here’s one with Cece Caldwell paints.

3) American Paint Company is the newest contender, offering a full line of clay/chalk/mineral based paint as well as waxes, finishes and cleaners.

Chalk Paint Powder

My personal favorite product is Webster’s Chalk Paint Powder because it’s much cheaper than buying the pre-made stuff and my color choices are ENDLESS because I can use any paint I want.   I shared my paddle drying racks last week, which used Webster’s and I have a few more projects I still need to post.   You can add their powder to any latex paint (any brand, size or sheen).  I love it because you don’t have to commit to a large amount of each color.  I was able to whip up the 4 colors needed for the paddle project for next to nothing.  (I already had a few paint sample containers laying around.)  This is definitely a good budget friendly option!Here’s the Webster’s video.

Make your own chalk paint

You might be thinking, “If chalk paint is just regular paint with an adaptive, why not make my own?”  Well you’re not alone.  There are tons of recipes on the web and lots of bloggers will tell you all about their experiences.

• Emily Fazio of MerryPad shares a tutorial using Plaster of Paris
• Salvaged Inspirations compares 4 different recipes for DIY Chalk paint
• Jamielyn Nye of I Heart Nap Time also uses Plaster of Paris and her tutorial shows you how she painted her piece

So… that should be plenty to get you started.  Sorry it’s not easier to run out to the store and buy chalk paint.  I had a friend text me this weekend to ask where she could get some in a hurry.  Unless you happen to live near a retailer, you’re out of luck.  I told her she should make her own!  DIY baby!!

Smart Girl