To say chalk paint is a popular choice for DIY furniture painting is a huge understatement. When we first started out refinishing furniture we also jumped on the bandwagon. No prep! Easy to use! Sticks to every surface! We were sold. Unfortunately, several projects later, we’ve found chalk paint over promised and under delivered. So before you decide to try it out, here are our 5 reasons not to use chalk paint:
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1 – Chalk paint is not less work
Chalk paint has great adhesion. This is why so many brands claim the only prep needed is a good cleaning. However, to get a smooth, even finish, wood furniture should always be lightly sanded and primed before painting. Yes, even with chalk paint. We sand and prime not only to help paint stick, but to smooth out any imperfections in the wood and cover any stains from the wood itself. If you skip these steps you could end up disappointed in the finished look, like we did.
Even if you proceed without sanding and priming your furniture before you paint, chalk painting is still not less work. We’ve always needed 3-4 coats to get an even color finish with chalk paint. Plus you need a good finishing coat or chalk paint will simply wipe off against the slightest resistance.
2 – It is difficult to achieve a smooth finish
Chalk paint is thick and dries very quickly as you apply it. Although this might seem like a good thing, it makes brush strokes and other application lines more likely. You can correct this somewhat if you put a bit of water on the brush before applying the chalk paint. However, we’ve always found that makes it cover less well and requires more coats to hide the shadowy look. We always feel like we’re battling smoothness against good, consistent coverage when we’re chalk painting.
You can eliminate brush strokes by sanding lightly between coats of chalk paint with a very fine grit. We use this fine grit sponge for light sanding between coats. But again, this extra step to get a buttery smooth finish means more time and effort to get a nice finish using chalk paint.
3 – Chalk paint is more expensive
You’ll notice right away at the home improvement store that chalk paint costs more than latex paint, in the range of about 30-40%. This might be okay if a can of chalk paint stretched further than latex or you really did not need a primer but in our experience, it does not and you do. We once used almost an entire quart of white chalk paint on a dresser just to achieve a consistent white all over. For comparison, we usually use less than half that amount of latex paint on a primed dresser of equal size or even less less with mineral paint.
There are also special brushes that should be used with chalk paint to minimize the appearance of brush strokes in your finished coat. These brushes range from $10-$30 each.
4 – Chalk paint lengthens the overall time of your project
While chalk paint starts to dry quickly, it takes longer to fully dry. Chalk paint therefore requires much longer between coats. Most brands say to wait 24 hours. Any time we tried to rush between coats the results were not pretty – the coat underneath would actually start to rub off in places. So if you have 3-4 coats, plus a protective top coat, you can see how a chalk paint project can stretch on for most of a week. We find the timelines for furniture painted with latex or mineral paint to be much shorter.
5 – Durability is an issue
It’s true that it is super easy to create a distressed or shabby chic look with chalk paint. It rubs off easily with a cloth. But it’s also because of this that durability can be an issue. It’s essential to apply a good protective top coat. We haven’t had much success with the polycrylic top coats on chalk paint as we’ve found it changed the color and left blotchy spots. Wax is a much better alternative but it can be tricky to apply evenly and will change the look of the piece. We recommend this brand as it’s particularly easy to work with.
These are some of the reasons we do not usually use chalk paint. However, having said all that, the super matte chalk paint finish still has a nice dreamy quality to it that for certain projects may still be worth the extra cost and effort. You can read about our technique for getting a near perfect finish – no matter what paint you use – here. What do you think? Chalk paint – love it, hate it? Or like us – both!
I’ve been painting furniture & everything paintable for at least 40 plus years… yes, chalk paint is nice, but actually not the right choice in many situations. I totally agree… every generation has the “new” trendy idea in DIY paint/decorating, then the next generation is stripping it off. Being a “senior” DIY interior designer, it’s been fun to see all these trends over the years… really, there’s “nothing new under the sun”. 🙂
Thanks for your response Jen! It’s fun to think about what our kids will think of the pieces we create when they’re grown.
Hi
I have had my Kitchen cabinets chaulk painted, what mistake. How do you start to repaint them, with latex paint? Any tips?
Hi Trish, I’m sorry to hear it didn’t go well. You can sand them down, use a really good primer and use latex or mineral paint instead. Fusion’s Tough Coat on top should give you exceptional durability. Let us know how it goes!
So what do you use instead of chalk paint?
Hi Kelly, sorry for the late response! We use latex and mineral paint for most furniture painting projects. Thanks for asking!
Wow! So glad I read your blog as I was about to do a table and wasn’t sure whether
to use chalk paint and did not know which brand to use Rust-Oleum or Annie Sloan’s.
I have stripped the top of my Tassie Oak table as I wanted the lovely oak to show through and put 2 coats of varnish . The heavy base which still has the old paint on
I was going to give it that slight antique weathered whitewashed look that is all the style today.
Now I am more confused as to what to do. I live in Australia so your brands may be different to ours. Sue
I am so glad I came across your article, as I was adamant about painting some pieces in chalk paint. Just last week, I was reconsidering it. Now that I read your article, I’ve made up my mind to use latex paint and will use chalk paint for small, cutesy projects! Thanks again!
Thanks Patricia!
Can you paint a veneer dresser with latex paint? Everything I read says to use chalk paint.
Hi Karen, great question! Yes, you can absolutely use latex paint on furniture that has a veneer finish. Like all furniture painting, it’s worth doing the proper prep work first: clean, scuff sand and prime. Good luck! We usually use a top coat with latex paint as well unless the piece is unlikely to have much contact.
I think it depends on what brand you use. I used Valspar’s brand on my dining room table and chairs and it’s held up amazing. Chalk paint I feel is to be used on rustic pieces. Not pretty and perfect pieces. If you want the smooth and pretty look then latex or mineral is the way to go.
Hi – I am planning to repaint a couple of dressers so they go together better. I was planning to go with a neutral color, something between tan and brown. I like the idea of chalk paint with darker wax because I don’t want a single-color, even finish – I want there to be some interest, like you see in wood. I don’t exactly need it to look distressed, per se…. I just want some variation. Not blotchiness, just variation. I like the idea of working with latex paint, because I’m familiar with it, but what would you recommend to provide that variation in the finish? Thanks in advance.
Hi Lisa, my apologies that I didn’t see this comment before! Applying stain over paint can give a really neat look with a variable finish. I’m also a fan of using glazes to highlight details on a piece. I hope your project went well!
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Thanks Barbi! Sometimes I don’t get notifications when comments are made for some reason! You can always get a faster response from me over on IG.