If you enjoy DIY painting, you’ve undoubtedly heard the phrase shabby chic chalk paint.
If you’re wondering what chalk paint is, and when you should use it… We’ve got the scoop on that!
What Is Chalk Paint and What Does It Do?
Chalk Paint – a beautiful paint with a matte, chalky finish that is popular among furniture and house décor enthusiasts for giving their belongings a rustic, vintage, or shabby-chic look.
Chalk paint is a wonderful option for those looking to give their home a vintage feel and character. Is your dresser, chairs, or bathroom vanity ready for the chalk-paint treatment? Here’s everything you need to know about it.
What Does Shabby Chic Mean?
Shabby chic is an old, charming decor style often associated with light pastel colours (like duck egg blue, baby pink and cream), paired with patchwork patterns, florals and the infamous shabby chic furniture style. Usually, shabby chic furniture refers to pieces that have been painted twice, in contrasting colours, and sanded down to reveal the dual layered paint effect.
It’s a rustic and comforting style that is popular among older homeowners for the cozy, inviting feeling it creates in your home.
Shabby chic chalk paint is a style of furniture paint with a thick, creamy chalk base that leaves a fantastic matte finish and is perfect for colour-layering.
How Does Chalk Paint Differ From Other Paints?
Chalk paint differs from standard paint in a number of ways. One of the advantages is that it does not need any preparation, as it may be used on most clean, dry surfaces (except for metal or highly glossy laminate) without requiring further preparation. Chalk paint looks great on old pieces with cracks or a lot of features, since the paint goes on smoothly, even over layers of paint. Plus, because of its consistency, chalk paint is less prone to drip than regular paint. Chalk paint is water-based, so you can clean your brushes with soap and water rather than having to use mineral spirits.
Chalk Paint: How to Apply It
Chalk paint is typically used to give furniture a matte finish, however if you like the effect, it may be used to tint an entire wall. A chevron pattern in muted colors can give a bedroom dresser or an old-school dining table a unique edge. The greatest thing is that when you’re painting furniture, you don’t have to worry about removing previous coats of paint.
However, if you want a refined look, lightly sand the piece first and clean it with a wet cloth before applying the chalk paint. If the dresser or chair was originally white, two coats should be sufficient; otherwise, depending on what color it was to begin with, you might be able to get away with a single coat. If not, two applications will suffice.
2018 ·