How to Mix Milk Paint

If you’re tired of the same old look for your furniture, maybe it’s time to try something new! If you want a unique and vintage inspired finish, then among these types of paint for furniture, milk paint is the way to go. And if you’re going to work with milk paint, then you have to learn how to mix milk paint properly.

Mixing milk paint is easy! Get the best tips, tricks, and methods for how to mix powdered milk paint without any fuss here, so you can paint your old furniture in an old world / farmhouse style!

Milk paint is known for its old world, chippy paint, farmhouse style, shabby chic look. But it’s a little bit different than other paint. It comes in a powdered form. Don’t be scared though! Mixing it into a liquid form of paint is super easy. But there are definitely a few tips and tricks for the best results.

You can get all the tips and tricks for painting furniture with milk paint here! Including how to paint with milk paint, how to distress milk paint, how to seal milk paint, the secret to getting a chippy painted finish every time, and milk paint furniture makeovers!

But in this post, we’ll cover how you can mix your milk paint to get that perfect consistency and color for your project! It’s a skill that you can easily learn and apply to all your future furniture makeovers using powdered milk paint. Let’s jump right in to learn how to mix milk paint like a pro!

Supplies Used to Mix Milk Paint

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The Basics of Mixing Milk Paint

Powdered milk paint has to be mixed with water to turn it into a liquid paint. Simply mix 1 part milk paint powder with 1 part water.

supplies for mixing milk paint for furniture

After it’s mixed up, put the lid on and let it sit for about 15 minutes. This lets the powder dissolve, and it lets the milk paint thicken up a bit.

So, while you wait, remove the hardware off of your dresser, wipe it down, (and scuff sand it if you don’t want any chipping).

What to Mix Milk Paint In

Milk paint usually comes in a bag of some sort. So you need something to mix it in. My favorite containers are plastic Tupperware containers that have a good sealing lid. But, my cheap side loves to use clean sour cream, cottage cheese, or yogurt containers. You can also use old glass jars!

How Much Milk Paint to Mix at a Time

I’ve learned from the pros and tested it out myself. The best amount to mix at a time is a 1/2 of water to a 1/2 cup of powder.

How to Mix Milk Paint Without Getting Clumps

add powdered milk paint to water in plastic container

This is my favorite method of mixing milk paint. Surprisingly, it helps with not getting clumps in the mixed up milk paint!

Add 1/2 cup water to the container.
Add 1/2 cup milk paint powder to the container.
Secure the lid onto the container, and make sure it’s tight!
Shake the container (vigorously) for 1-2 minutes.
Open the lid and mix with a plastic fork to make sure it’s all mixed.
Let sit for 10 – 15 minutes. Quickly mix again before use.

secure the lid of plastic container with milk paint and water

milk paint viscosity after mixed with water

You could use a blender or an immersion blender, but that makes more things to clean up, and I don’t like to mix paint with my kitchen tools.

The Real Milk Paint provides you with a plastic container and a marble to help agitate the milk paint when you shake it.

*Note: Read more about the differences with The Real Milk Paint and other milk paint brands down below!

How to Mix Bonding Agent into Milk Paint

If you want the milk paint to not chip, you can add a bonding agent to help the paint stick to your furniture. The bonding agent gets mixed into the already mixed milk paint after it has sat for 10-15 minutes and is ready to paint. Simply mix 1 part bonding agent to 1 part mixed milk paint. Mix together with a plastic fork or spoon.

Note: Bonding agent is usually only necessary on the first coat of paint if you want your paint to not chip.

How Long Does Milk Paint Last

In the powdered form, and if sealed in an airtight bag, milk paint lasts a long time! But once it’s mixed with water, it only lasts a day or so. If you need to use it the next day, put it in the fridge with a little bit of water on top. Make sure it is in an airtight container as well.

Best Milk Paint for Furniture

I’ve tried multiple brands of milk paint. From Miss Mustard Seed, Sweet Pickins, Old Barn Milk Paint, Shackteau Interiors Milk Paint, and The Real Milk Paint. Check out our list of the best milk paint for furniture to learn more about the basics of milk paint and the top milk paint options on the market.

Please note that General Finishes Milk Paint is not the same as powdered milk paint. It doesn’t come in a powdered form, and it DOES NOT chip or create an old-world finish like powdered milk paint does.

But my go-to brand of milk paint is Shackteau Interiors Milk Paint. She actually uses her milk paint almost every single day and shares her painting adventures on Instagram Stories.

Check out this DIY blue china hutch makeover using this milk paint. You can also see this mixed up milk paint in action in this black milk painted dresser makeover! Black Beach by Shackteau Interiors has amazing coverage!!

But honestly, I haven’t had any problems with any other brand of milk paint. They all seem to act about the same.

The one difference is The Real Milk Paint Company. Their milk paint is different than any of the others. It has a gritter texture once dried, and it doesn’t chip as much as the others do. It also foams up a lot more than the others.

So it all comes down to preference, and what is the easiest for you to buy. Or what color you like best! They all have bonding agents that help the paint stick if you don’t want a chippy painted finish.

Where to Buy Milk Paint

Here is a list of where you can find milk paint online:

If you’re looking for where to buy milk paint locally, you can search your paint of choice followed by “retailers” and you should find a list of local retailers.

Does milk paint need a primer?

For milk paint, bonding agent acts as a primer that helps the paint adhere to surfaces. Each brand of milk paint has its own bonding agent that is specifically designed for their paint. Use this if you want your milk paint to have a smoother, more consistent finish.

But if you really want that chippy finish, especially with milk paint, you may want to use BOSS by Dixie Belle Paint. This primer not only prevents bleedthrough and stains, but it also helps create that perfect chippy look.

So, does milk paint need a primer? It depends on the look you’re going for. If you want a smooth finish with minimal chipping, use bonding agent as a primer. But if you want that classic chippy look, try using BOSS for that. Either way, they will make sure your milk paint job turns out beautifully.

Plastic Container with Lid

Dixie Belle BOSS Paint Primer

Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint

How many coats of milk paint do I need?

So you’re ready to dive into your first milk paint project, and you’re wondering how many coats of milk paint do you need? Well, the answer really depends on the brand of milk paint, the color you’re using, and the look you want to create.

But the general rule of thumb is that you will need 2-3 coats of milk paint for full coverage. You can start with 2 coats and see if you’re happy with the coverage. If you want a more saturated color, you can add a third coat. However, if you’re going for a distressed or chippy look, 2 may be enough as some areas will naturally chip away.

You can check out these milk painted furniture ideas here for your next painting project, and see for yourself how many coats of milk paint you’ll need for different looks.

How to Mix Milk Paint

Mixing milk paint is easy! Get the best tips, tricks, and methods for how to mix powdered milk paint without any fuss, so you can paint your old furniture in an old world / farmhouse style!

Materials

Instructions

Add 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup milk paint powder into the plastic container.
Secure the lid onto the container, and make sure it’s tight!
Shake the container (vigorously) for 1-2 minutes.
Open the lid and mix with a plastic fork to make sure it’s all mixed.
Let the milk paint mixture sit for 10 – 15 minutes. This lets the powder dissolve, and it lets the milk paint thicken up a bit.
If you want the milk paint to not chip, you can add a bonding agent to help the paint stick to your furniture. Simply mix 1 part bonding agent to 1 part mixed milk paint. Mix together with a plastic fork or spoon.

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More Milk Paint Resources

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mixing milk paint and furniture painted with milk paint

Table of Contents

How to Mix Milk Paint

Supplies Used to Mix Milk Paint