Last week we finished our DIY chalk paint project and it came out great! We got in a beautiful vintage hutch that we thought needed a little bit of life added to it. We chose to try out the ever popular chalk paint and found that we could save a lot of money by making it ourselves with plaster of paris!
To make the chalk paint you will need:
- Plastic container with lid
- Paint stick
- Measuring cups
- Plaster of Paris
- Any color paint in a flat/matte finish with primer added
Start by adding a half cup of plaster of paris to the plastic container. Add a half cup of warm/hot water and stir it until it is completely incorporated. Pour in one cup of the paint and stir again very well. The consistency you are looking for is a slightly watered down paint. You can add more water or plaster depending on if it is too thick/thin. If adding more plaster be sure to mix it with water in a separate container first and then pour it into the paint.
This is what the first coat looked like. The beauty of this paint is that there is NO need for any sanding or prep work! We painted right over the glossy stain. It covers beautifully and dries really fast so by the time you are done with the first coat on the whole piece you can go back to where you started and apply the second coat.
Here's Meg painting away! We cleared a spot right in the front of the shop, the customers got a kick out of seeing the project in action!
The finished hutch! We think it came out great! The paint we chose was a light gray for the exterior and a coral for the inside of the cabinet and drawer. The contrast and unexpected pop of color is really fun! It took about three coats to cover the dark wood, and only used one quart of paint. We still had some left over for touch ups too! After the paint dried for a day or two we added a coating of wax to seal it. The chalk paint has no finish at all so it is not easily washable so adding a few coats of finishing wax is best.
.jpg)
