How to Use Spray Chalk Paint

Spray chalk paint is one of the easiest and most user-friendly options—especially if you’re new to painting furniture. Here’s everything you need to know about how to use spray chalk paint, including choosing the right brand and color, preparing your surface, and applying the paint.

Get more chalk painting tips and secrets that you need to know here!

different brands and bottles of spray chalk paint

Chalk paint is a type of paint that can be used on a variety of surfaces, such as wood, metal, glass, and more. And best of all, it’s very easy to use!

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If you’re familiar with regular chalk paint… get ready because chalk spray paint is a little different. But it’s a good difference. It’s better! Read on to find out why.

Supplies Used for Spraying Chalk Paint

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How to Use Spray Chalk Paint

Here’s everything you need to know. From choosing the right brand of spray paint, to getting the best results and what you can expect.

The Best Spray Chalk Paint

One of the first things you’ll need to do is to choose the right brand and color. Spray chalk paint comes in a variety of colors and brands.

And while it’s tempting to just buy the cheapest option, it’s important to make sure you’re getting a product that’s going to work well for your project.

The most popular brands are Magnolia Home Spray Chalk Paint, Behr Spray Chalk Paint, Krylon Chalky Finish Spray Paint, and Rustoleum Chalked Spray Paint.

different chalk paint spray cans on top of a laminate desk with taped sections

I’ll give a quick rundown of the pros and cons of each chalk spray paint here, but I go into a lot more detail in my post about the best spray chalk paint for furniture.

You can also learn more about the Rustoleum Chalk Spray Paint here.

Ease of Use

When it comes to ease of use, all four brands are pretty similar. They all come in easy-to-use aerosols with directions that are clear and easy to follow.

Coverage

In terms of application, we found that the Magnolia Home, Behr, and Krylon had the best coverage. They all dried to a smooth, finish that you would expect with spray paint.

painted wood drawers labeled with chalk spray paint brands used

Drying Time and Finish

In terms of dry time, they all dried very similarly. As for the final feel, we found that Magnolia Home, Behr, and Rustoleum had the smoothest finish and Krylon had more of a chalky finish.

Color Selection

All four brands offer a limited selection of colors. Rustoleum and Krylon have 12-14 color selections, while Behr and Magnolia only have 6 each.

That’s a huge factor when choosing the brand you want to go with if you don’t want just black or white.

Preparing Furniture for Painting

Once you’ve chosen the right brand and color, the next step is to prepare your surface. This is important because it will ensure that your paint adheres properly and doesn’t chip or flake off later.

For best results, clean the furniture with a degreasing cleaner, then scuff sand the surface with 220 grit sandpaper to help the paint stick.

Check out how to clean furniture before painting to learn more.

scuff sanding surface of laminated desk with 220 grit sandpaper

Sanding is also a great way to smooth out a rough surface. Learn the importance of sanding before painting furniture here and all about how to prepare furniture for painting here.

Priming Before Painting

Then, for best results, prime the surface with a bonding primer.

priming surface of laminated desk with bonding primer

Honestly, when I tested all of these spray chalk paints, the results were great with and without priming.

But if you want to be sure the chalk paint sticks really well, then I would recommend priming before painting. Learn more about the best primers for painting furniture in this post.

Spraying Chalk Paint

Now it’s time for the fun part: spraying the chalk paint! It’s important to apply it in light, even coats until you achieve your desired coverage.

spraying desk with chalk paint spray

It’s better to apply multiple thin coats than one thick coat—otherwise, you risk drips and runs.

You’ll also want to make sure that you recoat within 1 hour or after 24-48 hours (depending on the specific instructions for your brand of paint.)

Once you’ve applied your final coat of paint, let it dry completely (at least 48 hours) before using your painted surface.

Topcoating Spray Chalk Paint

You can topcoat your chalk spray paint with a clear coat if you want to protect the finish further or make the paint shinier. Learn more about the best topcoats for painting furniture here.

However, you don’t always need to do this as the chalk spray paint is quite durable on its own, and it’s not as chalky as regular chalk paint.

scratch test of spray chalk paint on wood

(These spray paints are oil based instead of water-based like regular chalk paint.)

Check the directions on your topcoat spray can for specific directions on how to topcoat.

Pros:

The biggest benefit of spray chalk paint is that it eliminates the need for a brush. This can give your project a much smoother and more professional-looking finish.

It is more durable than regular chalk paint, so it’s a good choice if you’re looking for something that will withstand heavy use. Another advantage is that it’s easy to use—simply point and shoot!

Cons:

However, one downside to spray chalk paint is that it’s oil based, so it can be quite smelly to use. You’ll need to use it outdoors because of this.

Another potential drawback is that it can be messy if you don’t prevent overspray when painting furniture.

And finally, it tends to be more expensive than regular chalk paint, so it’s not the best choice for large projects. Read this post to learn more about the truth of using chalk paint for furniture.

With these simple tips, you’ll be able to use spray paint your furniture with chalk paint like a pro!

Check out spray painted furniture ideas here.

Just remember to choose the right product, prep your surface properly, and apply thin coats of paint until you achieve your desired coverage.

And don’t forget to let your piece dry completely before using it again.

With just a little bit of effort, you’ll be able to transform any piece of furniture into something unique and beautiful!

How to Use Spray Chalk Paint

different brands of spray chalk paint

Spray chalk paint is a great way to give furniture a new look without the hassle or expense of refinishing. Here's how to use spray chalk paint.

Materials

Instructions

  1. Start by choosing a brand and color of spray chalk paint and make sure it's suitable for the material you want to paint.
  2. Clean the surface well with a degreasing cleaner to remove oils, grease and grime. Sand if you want to be sure the paint will stick the best it can, then clean off the dust.
  3. For best results, prime the surface with a bonding primer.
  4. Spray your chalk spray paint in light, even coats until you have achieved your desired coverage. Recoat within 1 hour or after 24-48 hours (check your paint for specifics.)
  5. Let paint dry completely before handling or using. Most brands of spray chalk paint will dry to the touch in 20 minutes, but you should wait at least an hour before handling.
  6. You can choose to topcoat your chalk spray paint with a clear coat if you want to protect the finish further or make the paint shinier. However, you don't always need to do this as the chalk spray paint is quite durable on its own.
  7. Enjoy your beautifully painted surface, and be sure to use it with care so that you can enjoy it for many years to come!

Recommended Products

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