Chalk Painting BasicsBeginner’s 101 Guide To Painting Furniture

The great thing about chalk paint is that it’s very easy to use and can be applied to wood, metal, plastic, fabric, ceramic, or glass and requires almost no prep work and no priming. If you're new to chalk painting we recommend that your first project not be something you truly care about. You’ll want to play around at first and figure out these products while getting your techniques down before tackling a bigger and more personal project. An end or side table, dresser or better yet something you get for free that you found on the side of the road or picked up cheap at a thrift store. Watch Tutorial

If you have difficulty finding beauty in the imperfections then chalk painting is not for you. You cannot be a perfectionist and use chalk paint, because perfection is not what you should be aiming towards. Chalk painting is about creating and capturing those natural and vintage textures that transform a dull and ordinary piece of furniture into a personal treasure. It’s about having fun, being creative and willing to experiment.

With any natural bristle brush you will have some brush strokes, especially when using a heavier paint like chalk paint. It inherently gives you that old World vintage charm, look and feel. Many of those things are based on the textures that you create with paint using a natural bristle brush. It gives you the ability to create amazing and unique pieces using various painting techniques (Cross-Hatch, Feather, Stipple, Dry Brushing, Wash). Watch Tutorial

If you’re looking for a smoother finish then we recommend thinning the paint by adding water to the paint or wetting the tip of your brush with water before you dip it into the paint. Watch Tutorial

Keeping the tips of your bristles moist will help them be more pliable and gentle as they lay down the paint. We also recommend feathering. Feathering is a painting technique that is going to help smooth out most of the paint strokes. With very light pressure and your brush angled up (not straight up and down), lightly brush over the paint smoothing out those heavy strokes.  Watch Tutorial

For the first coat we recommend adding a little water to thin out the paint. Don’t try to make it look perfect otherwise the paint will be too thick, slow to dry, and potentially cause unwanted peeling and/or cracking later down the road. Apply a thin coat of paint over the surface area and don’t be alarmed if it looks a bit patchy. The first coat never looks good and that is perfectly normal. Let it dry for roughly 45 minutes to 2 hours and then begin applying your 2nd coat. Most projects will require at least 3 coats but this is dependent on the look and feel you want and overall surface coverage.

Since I can’t see what your painting I honestly have no idea. In most cases a single quart of paint has a coverage of roughly 140 sq/ft. Since you will likely being adding more than one coat of paint you’ll have to do some math on your part. Chalk paint spreads out quite smoothly and a little goes a long ways so a quart should be enough for a few medium to small projects. Watch Tutorial

Also known as a sealant, it’s used to seal and protect your painted furniture piece. It’s not a required step but recommended if you want to protect the finish longer. It’s especially recommended if it will be used in a high use area of your home. Watch Detailed Overview

Wax:
Available in multiple colors ranging from clear to dark. Wax works exceptionally well with chalked paints because the paint is so porous and will absorb a lot of the top coat. Wax enhances and deepens the color and gives the piece a nice matte sheen. Waxes can be applied using a wax brush or a lint free cloth. We recommend applying a thin coat. After the wax has dried you can apply additional coats for better protection. Wax is very durable and water resistant. It’s generally the first choice as a top coat sealant. Watch Tutorial

Polyurethane & Polycrylic
Both work well as top coats and are available with a matte, semi-gloss, gloss, or satin finish. We strongly recommend using a water-based over an oil-based. Oil-based top coats tend to cast a yellowing tint more noticeable on lighter colors. Polyurethane are available in both a water- or oil-based versions while Polycrylic are solely water-based and the preferred between the two types. They can be applied with either a bristle or foam brush, roller, or spray. We recommend applying a thin layer and let dry. Additional layering is recommended for added protections. Ideal for use in areas that may get wet or have lots of spills (i.e. kitchens). Watch Tutorial

Chalk paint will generally dry within a couple of hours but we recommend waiting 24 hour before putting in to gentle use. It will take roughly 30 days to cure in its entirety. Since every brand has a slightly different curring period, we recommend getting the information directly from the manufacturer.