Learn why I don’t use chalk paint, and the painting techniques I DO use when painting furniture and cabinets for our home.
One of my most popular posts is How To Paint Furniture. It’s a long post, with a lot of steps. Every so often I will get asked by a reader, why I don’t use chalk paint instead of priming and using latex paint.
So, I thought I would address this question, because I do have strong opinions about chalk paint! A lot of you may love it, and that’s OK. These are only my opinions. Do what works for you!
Why I Don’t Use Chalk Paint
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So, what is chalk paint? Chalk paint is actually the trademarked name of the Annie Sloan brand of chalky paint. There are a lot of other brands of chalky paint. It’s mostly used for furniture and other items, not walls. It’s biggest claim is that it is much easier to use than latex or oil paints.
MY LATEST VIDEOSYou may be wondering why wouldn’t I use chalk paint if it’s easier to use than latex or oil paints? I’m not a professional painter, but I have painted a lot of furniture, trim and cabinets over the last few years.
Because I love to research things, I did look into painting our furniture with chalk paint but decided against it. Here are my reasons for why I don’t use chalk paint.
1. The Look – My biggest reason for not using chalk paint is the look. Chalk paint is a matte finish that lends itself well to having a distressed look. I’m just not into distressed furniture.
If the piece is very lightly distressed, meaning that the piece has been lightly sanded to produce the look of wear on the edges where natural wear would happen, I’m OK with that.
In fact, this white trunk sits in our living room, and came with some of the paint slightly sanded. The trunk is not painted with chalk paint, but does have a slightly distressed look on some of the edges where you would normally see wear.
I’m not a fan of the heavily distressed furniture that has become popular over the last few years. I’m sure you’ve seen the pieces of furniture that look like they’ve been chained to the back of a truck and hauled along a gravel road for a few miles. Just not my thing.
2. The Price – Chalk paint can be expensive. A quart of chalk paint can run $34.95/quart. The latex paint that I love to use costs $42.00/gallon, and comes in hundreds of colors.
If you use chalk paint, it is also recommended that use a special wax to help seal the paint, and a special brush. Both of which can be expensive. When I paint with latex paint, I do have to prime the piece first but a gallon of primer goes a long way. Also, I love my inexpensive Wooster paintbrush!
3. The No Sanding Or Priming Claim – One of the big selling features of chalk paint is that you don’t need to sand or prime your piece first before painting, so it saves time. What they don’t tell you is that you will be spending a lot of time after you paint with the waxing. So, I’m not sure how much time you’re actually going to save.
I’ve never waxed a piece of furniture before, but I’ve heard many times that it can be a tricky process to get the results you want.
Also, unless you’re into the heavily distressed look, you will probably want to sand your furniture first anyway. It helps with adhesion of the paint and gives you a much better finished product.
4. The Durability – When I was researching chalk paint a few years ago, I kept reading great things about it. It’s so fast and easy. People loved it. But, I also started reading some stories about the paint coming off easily, even after it should have had time to cure. Waxing is supposed to help with that, but I’ve read horror stories about the wax not curing even months after being applied. Also, the matte finish can absorb stains easily.
I believe the multi-step process of sanding, priming and painting that I use when I paint furniture, cabinets and walls is the most durable, tried and true method. Sometimes you have to bite the bullet and do things the hard way, because they work better!
Again, these are just my opinions about chalk paint. You may love it, but it’s not for me.
Happy painting!
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I agree with everything you’ve said. I’ve used chalky paint on a few small projects to experiment with it but it’s not really for me and my design style. For larger furniture pieces I will only trust latex acrylic/enamel paint. I want the finish to last a long time and I don’t want to have to reseal it (because it would never get resealed by me LOL). Like you, I like subtle distressing where it would naturally occur. I just can’t bring a heavily distressed or chipped piece into my house on purpose, although I do think it can look great in the right space, just not my space 😉
Thanks Toni! Yes, I agree, I want my painted finishes to last a long time.
I totally agree!!!
I have had some experience with Chalk paint and I agree with you. It is fast and easy, but it is not durable. I have experience with the dark colors (black), even when I seal the paint with the wax, if I run my hand over the piece it leaves a white chalky streak. If anything is set on the piece it leaves a mark. My friend painted an old table that was stained dark, and the dark stain bleed through the lighter gray chalk paint. She felt that it should have been primed first to stop the bleeding. I think latex paint would have been better. I agree with you Jann, Chalk Paint is OK for the distressed look on an item you are not going to use very much. In the long run the extra time you spend using latex is worth it!
Hey Jeanette! It’s so frustrating to go to all of the work of painting a piece, and then not be happy with it.
I love chalk paint on some pieces. It does not have to be distressed at all if that is not the look you are going for but if you are into distressing it is easier to accomplish with chalk paint then latex. I have some pieces I have waxed and some that I have used polyurethane on. Polyurethane is preferable for pieces that are going to get a lot of use. The one mistake I made with chalk paint though is doing my kitchen cabinets! Totally regret it!! One year later and they need to be redone. When I get up the nerve and the stamina they will be done right. Sanded and painted with latex. Unless I come into a small windfall and then they will be replaced! LOL
Thanks Janice! You’re right, chalk paint does not have to be distressed. I’m so sorry about your cabinets!
I totally agree with you. I tried chalk paint on a few projects and I do not like the finish and wood furniture. I do a process where I sand with varying coarseness of sandpaper between coats so that I get a very smooth surface. Chalk paint is just so rough. Glad to know I am not the only one, I appreciate you speaking out about it.
Leanna, it’s nice to know I’m not alone! Thanks!
I agree with you as well about not using chalk(y) paint anymore.
I prepped well, primed and painted pieces with store bought and DIY chalky paints, but with very little activity, every piece that I chalk painted chipped easily- unless I put a top coat on it. I have a headboard that I made out of a piece of pier found on the beach that I primed with Zinsser Bullseye 1-2-3 and two coats of BEHR Cottage White latex paint and I didn’t use a top coat. I have moved the piece and I have scraped it hard with my fingernail and the paint will not budge. People talk about latex paint leaving a sticky finish, but my headboard is not sticky at all. There are other paints out there that are self-sealing and made for furniture, but they are way overpriced and the color palate is very limited; whereas, there is an almost endless variety of high quality latex paint and great colors out there and the tools are far less expensive. No more chalky paint or boutique paints for me.
Thanks Jill!
Jann
Tha is for the article!
What brand and type of paint do you use?
Jessica, I like two different paints for painting furniture. Both are very durable. I like Pittsburgh Paint’s Breakthrough paint, and Benjamin Moore’s Advance paint.