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.
To help make your decision easier, let’s take a look at four of the most popular white chalk paints on the market today.
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? Click the link to learn more!
There are many brands and types of white chalk paint on the market, so it can be overwhelming trying to choose just one.
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.
See this creamy white dresser makeover in this post about how to spray paint a dresser with chalk paint.
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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.
Check out my honest and detailed Country Chic Paint Review here.
Country Chic Paint is mostly available only online though. You can find them on Etsy or Amazon.
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.
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 ensures 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.
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.
Want more ideas for what chalk paint to buy?? Here are the top chalk paint brands!
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.
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!
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:
- Remove the hardware like knobs and drawer pulls.
- Clean with a degreasing cleaner. Learn how to clean furniture before painting here.
- Scuff sand the surface of your furniture.
- 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, 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.
- Paint your furniture! You can use a paint brush, roller, or even a paint sprayer. Here are 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.
- 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.
- Let the topcoat dry, and then put your hardware back on. Voila!
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.
Check out this white chalk painted dresser makeover in this post about how to paint a dresser white.
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 to learn more.
With the right steps, chalk paint can be a great way to update your furniture and make it look like new again! Chalk paint is a great way to update your furniture and make it look like new again.
With the right steps, you can ensure that your chalk painted furniture will hold up for a long time. Read through this post to learn more 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 water-based polyurethane or wax – these are all important factors in creating an attractive piece of furniture that stands the test of time.
Get more ideas for chalk painting furniture with these other blog posts.
More Chalk Painting Furniture Resources
- Chalk Painted Furniture
- Chalk Spray Paint Review: Rust-Oleum VS Magnolia VS Krylon VS Behr
- Homemade Chalk Paint Recipe
- How To Paint Fabric With Chalk Paint
- Chalk Painting Furniture
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