Chalk paint can transform even the most old and worn out pieces into beautiful works of art. In this blog post, we’ll show you how to chalk paint furniture white for a stunning finish that will make your guests take notice.

We’ll also share with you some of our favorite chalk paint furniture ideas and tips for a successful makeover. So, let’s get started on creating this fresh new look!

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See more AFTER photos below these printable instructions!

How to Chalk Paint Furniture White

We'll show you how to chalk paint furniture white for smooth and even results, plus tips to help you create the best white painted pieces.

Materials

Tools

Instructions

Remove all hardware then clean furniture with Krud Kutter to remove oils, dirt, and grime.
Repair any chipped veneer or damage.
Lightly scuff sand with 220 grit sandpaper to help the paint stick then clean up any dust particles left behind by sanding with a shop vacuum and tack cloth.
Prime with a stain-blocking primer like BIN shellac primer to block bleedthrough stains.
Paint furniture with white chalk paint. Homemade chalk paint is one of the cheapest chalk paint. You can use a paint sprayer, brush, or roller. Let the coat dry for around 30 minutes to an hour between coats of paint.
Topcoat white chalk paint with Varathane waterbased polyurethane and let it dry for 24 hours.
Replace with new hardware.

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Above is what our piece looked like before the makeover. It looked dull and could use some love! And we thought, why not give it a fresh bright coat? It’s simple yet stylish, and it works with any home decor style.

However, white is one of the hardest colors to use and master. You’ll need to cover up any old dark finishes or surfaces and make sure the coats go on smooth and even. But don’t let that stop you from going for it!

In this guide on how to chalk paint furniture white, we’ll share the simple things you need to do for everything to go smoothly so you’ll end up with a beautiful chalk painted piece. When you’re ready, keep on reading!

Supplies Used for Chalk Painting Furniture White

Electric Screwdriver
Krud Kutter and an old rag
Shop Vacuum
Tack Cloth
SurfPrep Sander (Use code RAY10 to get 10% off your order)
220 Grit Sandpaper
BIN Shellac Based Primer
Paintable Caulk
Behr Latex Paint
Calcium Carbonate Powder
Paint Sprayer
Waterbased Polyurethane
Oak Wood Stain

Prepare Furniture for White Paint

The first step is to remove all hardware from the piece. This includes any knobs, handles, hinges, pulls, or other pieces that may be attached to it. This will help make your finish look so much nicer. Place them all in a bag or a container to keep from losing them while you do the rest of the work.

Once all hardware has been removed, it is important to clean your piece thoroughly using Krud Kutter or another degreasing cleaner specifically designed to remove oils, dirt, and grime from wood surfaces. This will help your new coating adhere properly and result in a smoother finish. Learn more about how to clean furniture before painting here.

If your piece has a lot of chipped veneer or damage like this one has, this is the time to repair them. Learn how to fix chipped wood furniture here.

chipped veneer at the bottom of the wood piece

Before applying any primer or paint, lightly scuff sand the surface using 220 grit sandpaper. This will also help with the proper adhesion of both products. Learn more about the importance of sanding before painting furniture here.

Once the sanding is complete, use a shop vacuum and tack cloth (or a microfiber rag) to clean up any dust particles left behind.

The next step is to apply a stain blocking primer like BIN shellac. It’s one of the best primers for painting furniture because it’s one of the helpful ways how to stop stains from coming through paint. It also provides extra protection against moisture and wear for your finished product. You can check out these best primers to stop tannin bleed to prevent any bleeding issues.

You can apply your new paint over it after about an hour, but for best results, allow it to dry overnight before applying any chalk paint or topcoat. If you let it dry for a longer time, it will block bleed through stains better.

However, if you skipped priming and ended up with these unwanted stains, here’s our guide on how to fix paint bleed through to help you tackle this issue.

How to Chalk Paint Furniture White

Once your primer has had enough time to dry, you can begin applying the white paint! I used Behr latex paint for my homemade chalk paint recipe… making it stick better to the piece.

We used the color “Heavy Cream” from Behr (I think) for this makeover. Check out the best white chalk paint for furniture here if you don’t want to make your own.

Wondering what is chalk paint exactly and why it’s popular? Check out the post to learn more! Learn what is the difference between chalk paint and regular paint in this post.

It usually takes about 3-4 coats to get full coverage, but the layers of white primer beforehand count towards this and help with better coverage.

I like to use a sprayer to apply it, but you can use a brush or roller. Here are my lists of the best paint sprayers for furniture, the best paint brushes for painting furniture, and the best rollers for painting furniture. Allow it to dry between coats. It dries quickly… in about 30 minutes to an hour.

Topcoat White Chalk Paint

To protect your newly finished piece from scratches or other damage due to everyday wear and tear, it’s important to apply a couple of layers of protection.

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I like to use waterbased polyurethane because it doesn’t yellow and does a great job protecting my finish. Let the topcoat dry for 24 hours before moving to the next step. Learn more about topcoats for painting furniture here.

Replace the Hardware

Finally, replace the hardware that you removed previously once everything has had ample time drying time. For the next 30 days, be extra careful with your freshly updated piece to allow time for it to cure.

For this white buffet, my client wanted to leave some of the oak showing. So, we sanded down the drawers and stained them again (I believe with oak wood stain.) And then, we replaced all of the hardware with the ones she purchased.

If you’re curious about pricing, check out how to price flipped furniture and my furniture painting price list for tips!

For similar makeovers, here are painted buffet ideas and white painted furniture ideas. These chalk painted furniture and chalk paint nightstand ideas also show you this paint in action. For antique pieces, here are chalk painted antique furniture ideas.

More Tips on How to Chalk Paint Furniture White

Here are some more tips to help you create the best crisp and clean pieces.

Priming to Block Bleedthrough

Before applying the new color, it is important to prime your piece first. This will help block stains that may bleed through and ruin the finished product. A good stain blocking primer will also help you get better coverage, meaning you won’t have to apply as many coats of color after you apply it.

Be sure to use a stain blocking product specifically designed for this purpose. My favorite to use for white chalk paint is BIN shellac.

Caulking Cracks and Seams

Putting caulk in cracks and seams will help create a smooth, seamless look on your piece.

Usually, you can’t see these cracks and seams until you have a coat of white primer or paint on the surface. Then, all of a sudden, you can see a bunch of black lines.

Make sure to use paintable caulk and wipe off the excess with a damp rag before leaving it to dry. Usually, after 30 minutes, you can paint over the caulk, so it doesn’t have to hold you up for long.

Sanding Between Coats

Sanding between coats of paint and primer will help create a smooth finish on the final product. I like to use 220 grit sandpaper for this, but you can use 320 or 400 grit sandpaper.

The paint on the edges will easily sand off, so be aware that if you sand after your last coat, you can easily create a distressed look. Here are 6 of the best distressing furniture techniques you can do!

If you don’t want a distressed look, just don’t sand too close to the edges of your piece. You can also use 400 grit sandpaper to sand even lighter to avoid distressing. Be sure to remove the dust after!

Spraying Topcoat in Light Coats

When applying polyurethane topcoat, it is best to spray it on in light coats instead of brushing it on in order to prevent putting too much on at once, which can cause your waterbased polyurethane to look yellow.

Applying multiple thin coats is always better than a thick one that can potentially be uneven or streaky when dry.

Using an All-In-One Paint Instead

If you want to save yourself time and money, consider using an all-in-one product that already includes a topcoat, so you don’t have to apply one separately afterward.

Check out our list of the best all-in-one paints for furniture in this post! One of the best options is Heirloom Traditions Paint and here’s my Heirloom Traditions All In One Paint review to learn more about it. Here are the best white paint for furniture for more options.

This will make the process go faster while providing extra protection against wear and tear. Check out this painting furniture white makeover for one example of not needing a topcoat.

Read through this post to learn more about the truth of using chalk paint for furniture. Here are more best paints for furniture you can use.

Chalk painting furniture white doesn’t have to be difficult! With these simple steps, you can create beautiful results quickly and easily!

Sale

Dap Paintable Caulk

Sale

Calcium Carbonate Powder

Minwax Wood Stain

More Chalk Painted Makeovers

Blue Chalk Paint Coffee Table
Grey Chalk Paint Dresser
Painting Furniture with Latex Paint
Chalk Painting Furniture with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint
How to Chalk Paint Laminate Furniture

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How to Chalk Paint Furniture White