The Best White Chalk Paint for Furniture

For many DIYers, painting furniture can be a daunting task. But it doesn’t have to be! With this list of the best white chalk paint for furniture and these tips for chalk painting furniture white, you can tackle your project like a pro.

Painting furniture with white chalk paint is an easy and affordable way to transform any piece into a timeless classic that will last for years. But before you start, it’s important to know what paint to use, and what to expect so you get the best results.

white chalk paint containers stacked on top of each other

White chalk paint is one of the most versatile paints available today. It can be used to transform furniture with a matte, distressed finish, or you can use it to create a modern, clean finish. Wondering what is chalk paint exactly and why it’s popular? Check out our post to learn more!

Click here to subscribe

There are many brands and types of white chalk paint on the market, so it can be overwhelming trying to choose just one. To help make your decision easier, let’s take a look at four of the most popular white chalk paints on the market today.

We’ll compare their features and share our reviews so you can look into each of them and pick the one that best suits your needs and budget. Keep reading as well for tips and tricks on using white chalk paint on your furniture!

The Best White Chalk Paint for Furniture

I’ll give it to you straight though… Any of these 4 options will get the job done just fine. When it comes down to it, they are all pretty similar. And if you aren’t picky about the exact shade of white, and you follow these tips for painting furniture white, you’ll end up with some gorgeous white painted furniture.

white chalk painted dresser with stained wood top

See this creamy white dresser makeover in this post about how to spray paint a dresser with chalk paint.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I also may earn from other qualifying purchases with other companies or get free product to review and use. All opinions are my own.

Rust-Oleum Chalked Paint in Linen White

Rust-Oleum makes a great chalk paint. Linen white is a soft, creamy color and has a low odor. This paint dries quickly as all chalk paint does. It also provides excellent coverage and adhesion on surfaces such as wood, metal, glass, ceramic, and more.

And you can easily find Rustoleum Chalked Paint at Walmart, Amazon, and Ace Hardware.

Country Chic Paint Simplicity

Country Chic Paint’s Simplicity is a bright white that offers superior coverage. This paint is specially formulated to provide excellent adhesion to almost any surface without needing a primer or sanding first (more about that below in the FAQ section.)

It also dries quickly with minimal chipping and peeling over time for beautiful results that will last for years to come. Its low VOC, water-based formula also allows you to use it indoors without worrying about toxic fumes or odors in your home.

Country Chic Paint is mostly available only online though. You can find them on Etsy or Amazon. Do check out my honest and detailed Country Chic Paint review here for our experience and thoughts on this brand.

Behr Chalk Paint White

Behr Chalk Paint White is another great option when it comes to painting furniture. I wouldn’t say it has the best coverage, but it comes in endless shades of colors. You can color match it to any color at Home Depot!! I love that option!

This paint also dries quickly—in just one hour. Just like the other paints, it’s also easy to clean up after use with just soap and water because of its waterbased, low VOC formula. But, it’s only available at Home Depot.

We also have a Behr Chalk Paint review for you where we used it for the first time on a buffet makeover. And here’s a Behr chalk painted dresser makeover for you to check out too!

Waverly Chalk Paint White

Waverly’s Chalk Paint in white has an ultra-matte finish that will adhere to almost any surface. It’s the most budget-friendly option out of all 4 choices! It also dries quickly with minimal brush strokes so you won’t have to worry about spending hours painting your furniture piece by piece.

Plus just like the other paints in this list, its low VOC formula guarantees no harsh fumes when using it indoors. It can also be easily cleaned up with warm water and soap. Unfortunately, Waverly Chalk Paint is only available online at Walmart.

Here’s everything you need to know about Waverly chalk paint and how to use Waverly chalk paint and wax. Want more ideas for what chalk paint to buy?? Here are the top chalk paint brands!

Now that you know what white chalk paint to use, there are some really important things you need to know when you actually start painting. For the best results, you are going to want to do more than just slap that paint on your furniture.

Do you have to sand before using chalk paint?

If you don’t care if your paint easily scratches when your kids touch it or throw things at it, then go ahead and skip the sanding.

If you do not sand your furniture before using chalk paint I can almost guarantee that your paint will ding and scratch easily, even after it cures after 30 days.

You can give it some added protection and topcoat it with waterbased polyurethane to help the paint stick and be more durable. But it still won’t stick as good as it could.

Check out what happens when you don’t sand or prime before painting furniture with chalk paint, and use a wax topcoat on the chalk paint with this how to chalk paint furniture post.

So, for best results, after you clean your furniture, rub some 220 grit sandpaper all over the surface of your furniture. Get into the nooks and crannies. But especially rub it over any surfaces that get a lot of traffic, like the top and the drawers. This is called scuff sanding. Scuff sanding is essential, especially when chalk painting laminate furniture.

You can read more about the importance of sanding before painting furniture here and learn more about how to sand before painting.

Still don’t want to sand before painting furniture? There are actually paints out there that CAN stick to furniture without sanding. Check out the best paints for furniture without sanding here!

Click here to subscribe

How do you chalk paint furniture white?

White paint is one of the hardest colors to paint furniture, but the result is worth it! There’s nothing better than a fresh white painted piece of furniture!! Here is what you need to do to chalk paint your furniture white:

  1. Remove the hardware like knobs and drawer pulls.
  2. Clean with a degreasing cleaner. Learn how to clean furniture before painting here.
  3. Scuff sand the surface of your furniture.
  4. Prime! Yes, prime. If you don’t prime your furniture with a stain blocking primer, there will most likely be stains in your paint. They might not show up until you topcoat the paint either. So, here’s how to stop stains from coming through paint before you even start to paint. Plus, if you use a white primer, you won’t have to paint as many coats of chalk paint. Here are the best primers for painting furniture and the best primers to stop tannin bleed you can use.
  5. Paint your furniture! You can use a paint brush, roller, or even a paint sprayer. Here are your options for the best paint brushes, the best paint rollers, and the best paint sprayers for painting furniture. Expect to paint at least 3 coats of paint… but for full coverage, you might need 5 coats. That’s normal. It’s light paint, so coverage isn’t the best.
  6. When your paint is fully dry, topcoat it with a waterbased polyurethane. Sure you can use wax, but it’s not as durable. Learn about the best topcoats for painting furniture here.
  7. Let the topcoat dry, and then put your hardware back on. Voila!
white painted 9 drawer dresser with black hardware

Now you have an amazing white painted piece of furniture that you can be proud of! Learn more about how to chalk paint furniture white here if you plan on a makeover using white chalk paint. And check out this white chalk painted dresser makeover in this post about how to paint a dresser white.

Check out these chalk paint colors for furniture to find other popular colors for chalk painting furniture!

How does chalk paint hold up on furniture?

Chalk paint holds up quite well on furniture, but it does depend on the type of paint and topcoat you use. The Waverly chalk paint that we talked about in this post is designed to be very durable and hold up on furniture for a long time.

If you topcoat your furniture with a waterbased polyurethane, it will make your paint even more durable and resistant to scratches and nicks. If you choose to use wax as a topcoat, it will not be as durable or resistant to dirt and grease as polyurethane would be. However, wax can still provide some protection when applied properly.

Just keep in mind that regular cleaning and maintenance will be required with wax. Learn more about the pros and cons of wax for chalk paint here. Read through this detailed guide on how to apply Waverly wax over chalk paint if you plan to use Waverly wax.

With the right steps, chalk paint can be a great way to update your furniture and make it look like new again, and you can be sure that your chalk painted furniture will hold up for a long time. Read through this post to also learn about the truth about using chalk paint for furniture.

From cleaning and sanding before painting, to priming with a stain blocking primer and top coating with waterbased polyurethane or wax – these are all important factors in creating an attractive piece of furniture that stands the test of time.

How long does chalk paint take to dry?

You will need to apply multiple coats of chalk paint for the best coverage, and each coat will need time to dry before you can apply the next one. The drying time for chalk paint can vary depending on the brand you use, as well as factors such as humidity and temperature in your environment.

Rust-Oleum Chalked Paint in Linen White dries to the touch in just 30 minutes. This means you can apply multiple coats within a short period of time, making your painting process more efficient. Country Chic Paint in Simplicity also has a quick drying time of 30 minutes and is self leveling for a smooth finish.

On the flip side, Behr Chalk Paint White and Waverly Chalk Paint White take a bit longer to dry, with drying times of 1-2 hours. You’ll need to wait a little longer between coats, but honestly, that’s not too bad!

It’s important to note that although the paint may feel dry to the touch after these recommended times, it is still curing and will take at least 24 hours to cure. So be gentle with your newly painted furniture and avoid any heavy use until it has fully cured!

So if you’re thinking to paint with white chalk paint, go for it! Choose one of these top white chalk paints and get started on your furniture makeover. Remember to follow the proper steps of cleaning, sanding, priming, painting, and top coating for a beautiful and durable finish.

More Chalk Painting Furniture Resources

Click here to subscribe

Follow us on YouTube to get more tips for painting furniture. Or share your project with us on our Facebook Group and be part of our community. See you there!

white chalk paint for furniture

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *