How Toget a smooth finish with chalk paint

1. Sand the entire surface with a medium grit paper or wet/dry sanding sponge going in the same direction as the wood grain.

---

2. Wipe away all the dust and sanding particals then clean the surface.
   Cleaning: use a sponge or lint-free microfiber cloth dipped in a bowl or bucket of warm water with a mild dish soap mixed in.

---

3. Dilute the paint in a separate container, glass bowl or tin by adding water. Start at a 10% water ratio then increase adding water if needed.

---

4. Apply the paint lightly going in the same direction as the wood grain pattern. The first paint coat never looks great (this is normal) and you will likely need to apply a minimum of 2-3 additional coats.
   Recommended Painting Techniques
   + Feathering - With very light pressure and your brush angled up (not straight up and down), lightly brush over the paint smoothing out any heavy strokes.
   + Keep the bristles damp by misting (spritz) the tips of your brush using an inexpensive water spray bottle before dipping them in the paint. This will help them be more pliable and gentle as they lay down the paint while also minimizing brush strokes.

   SMOOTHING IMPERFECTIONS: Priming first helps to cover up imperfections on the surface, such as knots or cracks, and provides an even base for the paint to adhere to, leading to a smoother and more even final finish. Review our article: Priming Before Chalk Painting

   

---

5. Between each paint coat use a fine grit (220+) sanding paper or sponge and lightly sand over the surface.
   

   IMPORTANT: Always sand in the direction as the wood grain. After each sanding it's important to wipe off all the dust particles using a lint-free cloth.

---

6. Apply a top coat using a lint-free cloth or brush.
   Wax: Dark or Clear
   Lightly work the wax over the painted surface making sure to remove any excess wax. Once the wax has dried buff lightly with a clean lint-free cloth. Repeat this step between wax coats.
   

   PRO HACK: Use a brown lunch bag folded in half and lightly go over the surface. The brown bag works as a super-super fine sanding grit (800+) that will help buff out any excess wax without damaging the top coat.

   
   Polyurethane or Polycrylic
   Apply in the same direction as the grain. Once dried use a fine grit (220+) sanding paper or sponge and lightly sand over the surface. Repeat step between applications.

Check out our article: How to Prevent Chalk Paint from Chipping and PeelingExplore effective tips to prevent chalk paint from chipping and peeling, ensuring your projects stand the test of time.

More: Articles + Guides

How to: Smooth Chalk Paint Finish If you love the look of chalk painted furniture, but want a smoother, more modern finish with minimal brush strokes.

Chalk Painting 101: For Beginners Chalk painting tips for beginners that will help you better understanding the process of painting furniture.

How to: Chalk Paint Recipe For those who appreciate the vintage, soft, matte look and feel of chalk paint, but don’t love the price.

How to: Make Your Own Soft Wax Make your own custom DIY clear wax for less than 80% of the price of well known brands, using non-toxic ingredients.

How to: Care For Your Brushes Your natural bristle brushes are an investment and you want to learn how to properly care for them.

Prep, Clean & Maintain Your Brushes This exclusive ebook guide is available to customers who have purchased one of our brushes. Includes bonus Tips & Tricks.

Distress Furniture With Chalk Paint In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through the process of distressing furniture with chalk paint, from start to finish.

Priming Before Chalk Painting Understanding the pros and cons of priming before chalk painting furniture and understanding bleed-through solutions.

Clean Chalk Paint Brushes How to properly clean chalk paint brushes after each use to maintain their quality and prolong their lifespan.

Benefits: Boar Hair Chalk Paint Brush Why natural boar hair brushes are ideal for spreading chalk paint over furniture surfaces, rather than synthetic bristles.

How To: Chalk Paint Furniture Transform your furniture into beautiful vintage-inspired pieces with this step-by-step guide on how to chalk paint furniture.

How To: Find Free Furniture Learn how to find free or cheap furniture to paint and transform into a beautiful piece with this step-by-step guide.

How To: Blending With Chalk Paint Achieving a seamless and professional furniture finish with chalk paint using one of these three blending techniques.

How To: White Wash With Chalk Paint Whitewashing with chalk paint is a great way to create a fresh, rustic look that will make your furniture piece stand out.

How To: Dry Brush With Chalk Paint Learn how to add depth, texture, and dimension to your piece using the dry brush technique, in conjunction with chalk paint.

How To: Master Feathering Chalk Paint Understanding how to feather chalk paint is an essential skill for anyone starting out in furniture restoration.

How To: Cross Hatch Technique A chalk painting technique where brush strokes are applied in a crisscross pattern to create faux linen look.

How To: Prevent Chipping + Peeling Explore effective tips to prevent chalk paint from chipping and peeling, ensuring your projects stand the test of time.

How To: Prevent Bristle Shedding A comprehensive 5-step guide to breaking in your new chalk paint brush to prevent unnecessary bristle loss and shedding.

TOP 10: Items for Chalk Painting Understanding the top 10 must-have supplies for chalk painting, ensuring your projects turn out beautifully every time.

A-Z Guide: Prep Furniture Like a Pro Unlock the secrets with expert tips for prepping furniture and achieving professional chalk painting results.

Wax Before or After Distressing This article covers the common conundrum of whether to apply wax before or after distressing.

How To: Use A Paint Can Opener Using a paint can opener correctly may seem straightforward, but it can have a significant impact on your painting experienc

How To: Preserve Leftover Paint How you can store and preserve leftover paint properly and keep it fresh for your next creative endeavor.

DIY: Build MCM Record Player Stand Step-by-step DIY guide to building a Mid Century Modern (MCM) record player and vinyl storage table.

Top 10 Chalk Paint Colors Discover the top 10 chalk paint colors for 2025 that will elevate your DIY furniture painting projects.

Understanding Color Theory Understanding color theory for chalk painting furniture and achieving color harmony on all of your painting projects.

The Significance of Color When you choose paint colors thoughtfully, you’re not just picking a shade—you're setting the mood and telling a story.

Applying The 60-30-10 Rule The 60-30-10 Rule: Achieving Color Balance in Chalk Painting Furniture.

LOAD MORE

SHOW LESS