Make chalk paint yourself
Instructions and tips
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Chalk paint scores with its matt and powdery surface and therefore goes particularly well with shabby chic. You can find out here how you can make chalk paint yourself.
What is chalk paint?
A trend has been spreading for a while now on DIY platforms, blogs and Instagram: painting furniture or decorations with chalk. Originally, chalk paint is a water-based paint that is provided with natural pigments. It covers very well and impresses with its powdery, velvety appearance. Since it does not penetrate the pores of wood, it can simply be sanded down – and is therefore ideally suited for a shabby chic interior. However, chalk paints are not that cheap in specialist stores. If you have normal colors at home, you can easily use them and use them to make chalk colors in your favorite color. We’ll tell you how to do it!
Make chalk paint yourself: instructions
To be able to make chalk paint yourself, you need an existing base color:
For example, tinting or acrylic paints are suitable for this.
There are now numerous instructions on how to mix Chalk paints with plaster of paris, whipped chalk or baking soda. The use of whiting chalk is touted primarily for wooden objects, as it creates a finer surface. Plaster of paris or baking soda should be more suitable for decorative objects.
Note: Whipped chalk is raw chalk in its prepared form. It is also known under the name calcium carbonate. The natural product is available in health food stores, pharmacies or on the Internet and is very cheap to buy.
Make chalk paint yourself: Simple recipe:
- Tinting paint or acrylic paint (tip: for a shabby chic look, use white paint with a dab of colored acrylic paint)
- Plaster of paris or whipped chalk
- water
- Clean, old mason jar
- Whisk
- Brush or wooden stick to stir
The mixing ratio of paint to whipped chalk (alternatively plaster of paris or baking soda) is 2: 1, that means 1 part whiting chalk (or plaster of paris) for every two parts of paint. In addition, a little water has to be added. Some instructions even speak of an additional part of water, in which case the ratio of color: whipping chalk: water = 2: 1: 1. Depending on how spreadable your base color is, you should adjust the amount of water. Do a few test strokes to test brushability.
Tip: The ratio can be measured well with an old mug or an old mason jar. For example, put two beakers of tinting paint, one beaker of whiting and one beaker of water in an old bowl mix everything together well! If the paint has become a little too thick or too thin, add a little more water or whiting chalk. An old whisk can be used to avoid lumps.
Danger: Chalk paint you have mixed yourself does not last long and dries out after about 2 weeks, even when closed. Therefore it is more suitable for smaller objects. This way you can better estimate how much you need and there is no color left that may then dry out.
Homemade chalk paint: application and tips
- Chalk paint is ideal for designing furniture or decorative objects in a shabby look. The matte, powdery surface of the chalk paint gives the objects a stylish vintage charm.
- Use an old bowl or a vase, for example, and give it a new look: To do this, you must first remove dust, grease and dirt from the object before painting it with the chalk paint. Smooth surfaces should be lightly sanded beforehand and wiped off with a slightly damp cloth. However, the surface must be dry before you apply the chalk paint.
- You get an optimal application of paint if you first apply a thin layer, let it dry and then paint over a second layer.
- A brush, sponge or roller is suitable for painting. Let everything dry well overnight.
- Items that are used often should be sealed. You apply a sealant after a day of drying time. Furniture wax can be used as a simple seal for wood. To prepare items for outside, apply a clear (semi-gloss) acrylic varnish.
Make chalk paint yourself: impressions from Pinterest
Chalk colors and the shabby chic
The style is made up of the words ‘Shabby’ (English for ‘shabby’) and ‘Chic’ (English for ‘chic, stylish’). Shabby chic means that objects show signs of use and thus convey the typical nostalgic charm and still develop their stylish effect. The furniture or utensils appear in a charismatic used look: They are not perfect, have a few scratches, but tell a story. Originally, they are flea market finds or heirlooms from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. They are classically elegant and often catch the eye with individual decorations. In addition, the choice of colors is very subtle: soft creamy white, beige, light gray or pastel tones, for example.
Of course, furniture or decorative elements can be bought new in shabby chic … here the furniture is specially made to convey the typical shabby look. Buying a new one, however, is a costly thing and is actually not in keeping with the style! On the other hand, it is particularly sustainable and authentic to purchase used decorative objects and design them yourself in the style. The latter is not only fun, it also saves a lot of money and you can edit your piece individually according to your wishes. Chalk paint is particularly suitable for this: it creates the typical matt look that lets the old surface structure shimmer through here and there and so particularly stylish, but still a bit ‘shabby’. Try it out and paint, for example, an old wooden stool or a shelf with chalk paint – the result will convince you!
Looking for more DIY guides? Here you can find out how you can make modeling clay yourself, how a photo can be transferred to wood and how you can recycle leftovers. Here you will also find nice suggestions on how you can create highlights for the window with chalk pens.
If you would like to exchange ideas with others about DIY projects, take a look at ours Community.
Sources used: filizity.com, shabby-it-yourself.de, pinterest.com