Learn how to make chalk paint with the BEST recipe. Our readers have spoken—there is no better DIY chalk paint recipe on the internet!
Why Make Your Own Chalk Paint?
There are a million posts out there about chalk paint. Some love it, and some see no point paying extra money when there is good old latex paint. Having tried almost all the different brands of chalk paint and latex paint, I understand why chalk paint lovers swear by it. But I ended up loving my DIY chalk paint more than any “brand-name” chalk paint.
Here’s why this is the best chalk paint recipe out there and why you should learn how to make chalk paint for yourself:
- It’s almost as cheap as latex paint.
- Adhesion is the best you’ll see.
- It is more durable than most store-bought brands.
- You can make it in any color you like.
- You control the thickness of the paint.
- It can be easily modified for paint sprayers.
What Makes This Chalk Paint Different?
Before coming up with my own recipe, I searched and tried all four DIY chalk paint recipes out there. Although I was satisfied with the recipe that used Calcium Carbonate, I took my recipe one step further and added a secret ingredient to make it even better. Once that secret ingredient was in the mix, I came to see that my DIY chalk paint recipe was the best of the bunch!
As an engineer in the construction industry, I’ve always had a natural curiosity about construction materials in terms of what they do, how they work, what additives can be mixed together and so on. I knew talc was used in many areas of construction and in our daily life, including in paints. I also knew that talc not only improves the adhesion of paint, but it also works as a matting and anti-cracking agent.
With this in mind, I decided to add talc to my DIY chalk paint recipe.
For more info on what talc is and where it is used, please visit Industrial Minerals Association North America.
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The Best DIY Chalk Paint Recipe
- 1 cup of latex paint in the color of your choice
- 4 tablespoons of Calcium Carbonate
- 1 tablespoon of Talc
- Water (as much as you deem necessary to thin the chalk paint to your desired thickness).
How to Make Chalk Paint
I don’t premix anything like many others do. Instead, I use an old cheap blender to mix my chalk paint. First, I pour the latex paint into the mixing cup.
Then I add 4 tablespoons of calcium carbonate. If you don’t know which calcium carbonate to use or where to get it from, you’ll find all that information at the bottom of this post.
Next, I add one tablespoon of talc. I use pure talc with no scent and no additives.
Then I add a little a bit of the water. As I mentioned above, use as much water as you need to achieve your desired thickness. If you will be using a blender like I do, I would suggest that you start with no water at first. Once you’ve mixed it for 2-3 minutes, take a look at your chalk paint and see if the thickness is what you’re looking for. If you want it more fluid, then add 1-2 tablespoons of water at a time and carry on like this until you reach the thickness you desire.
Once all these ingredients are in the mixing cup, I blend it for 3 minutes. But if you’re going to hand-mix the paint, then I would suggest that you mix the calcium carbonate and the talc first. Then add a bit of water into that mix and stir really good, so you don’t end up having lumps. Then add the latex paint and keep stirring until you feel all are mixed well.
Additional Information About My Chalk Paint Recipe
Latex Paint: I know many bloggers suggest flat finish paint in their recipes, but I like eggshell finish. Since I use talc in my DIY chalk paint recipe, I don’t need to start with flat paint, as the talc will matte down the small amount of gloss in eggshell.
Calcium Carbonate: I bought and used all 3 products below thinking they might be different since their prices were different. But truth be told, they all provided the same result and basically worked exactly the same. So you can go for any of them depending on how much you will need or how much you want to spend.
- Calcium Carbonate Powder, 20 pound pack
- Calcium Carbonate Powder, 1 pound pack
- Calcium Carbonate Powder, 1 pound pack
Talc: I believe any scent-free talc powder should do, as scent-free ones have no oils or additives in them. But if you are like me and can’t decide which one to get, here is the link to what I use.
Silver Cup Premium Talc Powder, 13 Ounce Shaker Bottle
If you can’t find the Silver Cup talc powder, then I suggest using tire talc, as that also has no oils or additives, so it will work great with my chalk paint recipe.
Rema Tire Talc: 16.0oz Canister
That’s it for the best DIY chalk paint recipe on the internet, but if you have any questions, please feel free to ask in the comments section! I’ll do my best to respond as soon as I can.
UPDATE: Modified Chalk Paint Recipe for Spraying
I modified my DIY chalk paint recipe for use with my Wagner Paint Sprayer (by simply increasing the water content):
- 1 cup of latex paint in the color of your choice
- 4 tablespoons of Calcium Carbonate
- 1 tablespoons of Talc
- 1/2 cup of Water
How to Make Chalk Paint for Spraying
Again, put all the ingredients into a blender and mix it for 3 minutes. Your DIY chalk paint for paint sprayers is ready for use! If you have the same Wagner Paint Sprayer, then you’ll want to give this recipe a try, as it will surely pass the velocity test. But please note, it may not pass other paint sprayers’ velocity tests. Therefore, if you have a different brand paint sprayer, I recommend that you do the velocity test before using it.
Handan, xo
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Vicky Chaney-Little says
Absolutely brilliant. Been looking for a better chalk paint recipe. Thank you kindly!
Handan says
Thank you, Vicky!
Nettie says
I have everything I need on hand, so I’m going to try this weekend as I’ve some shelves I want to paint. Thanks for posting!
Handan says
Thank you, Nettie!
Jan says
Have you ever used this paint on ceramic plates? If so, did you use a primer to help it not flake off?
Handan says
Hello Jan,
Frankly, I didn’t try it with ceramic plates. But I did use it with glass and it sticks better than any branded Chalky Paint. However, glaze on ceramic plates would make the surface even smoother than glass surface. So I can’t really tell until I try it myself.
That said, what I can recommend for the time being is applying Mod Podge on the ceramic surface first. Because that is basically a glue and it sticks to any surface perfect. If you apply Mod Podge with a craft sponge you will minimize the streaks, so better than applying the Mod Podge with brush. After letting the Mod Podge cure for a day or two paint your plate. In my opinion this method would work way better than any prime.
As soon as I try it with ceramics, I will issue an update to let you know if it worked without prime or Mod Podge or not.
Good luck with your project!
Handan
Jan says
I don’t know if I originally asked the above question or if it was another Jan. I did make some ceramic plates one Christmas, but ended up realizing I needed chalkboard paint, not chalk paint. So I never used this recipe for sure. But now, here I am again, and I fully intend to try the recipe to paint some end tables I’ve become obsessed with lately. You know, the hex shape ones with storage beneath that you see at yard sales for like $5 or $10? Love you guys stuff when i stumble across it. Im not a regular crafter so i dont read all your posts. But I have enjoyed using several of your tutorials. Y’all always have great ideas carried out with much skill and talent.
claire says
what do you use to colour plz
Brenda says
How do you add color ?
Handan says
Hello Brenda,
You can use any color latex paint you like. So if you chose black latex paint your chalk paint will also be black.
Handan says
Hello Claire,
You can use any color latex paint you want. I used white latex paint in my tutorial, because I paint most of my projects to white. But the recipe is for turning any color latex paint into chalk paint.
Lysha says
Hello! Just wondering if you have another source for talc? I can’t seem to find this brand anywhere in talc but can only find cornstarch blends and the link doesn’t appear to work anymore. Does it need to be pure talc?
Handan says
Hi Lysha, scented talc has oils in it which is not really good for rubber, latex, or plastic, because oils draw the elastic agents out and slowly breaks down the plasticity. That’s why I was suggesting pure talc. If the brand I used and recommended is no longer available you can also try this tire talc as it also has no perfume or oils in it: https://amzn.to/2pUjpsY.
I hope this info helps! 🙂
Sharon Garvert says
You are a God send⭐️ Talc question: Could you use just a little more because I believe I bought ALL my sample paints in SATIN😪 I wasn’t thinking when the lady suggested it and now that’s what I’ve got….about 15 samples😮
Handan says
Hello Sharon, satin paint also should be fine. I would first make the chalk paint with satin paint without adding any extra talc and do a test drive by painting a small area or a piece of board. Since it dries quickly you wouldn’t have to wait to long to see the result. If it is not as matte as you hoped it would be, only then I would add something like a quarter to half a spoon more talc to the mixture.
I hope this info helps! 🙂
Dian says
Hi! I’m looking for a wash type paint l can use to cover bead board paneling. Do you think this would work? Will I need to sand first? Thank You
Handan says
Hello Dian,
If you meant color washing (like white washing) by “wash type paint” then yes, this would work wonderfully. As for the second question, no you don’t need to pre-sand with my homemade chalk paint.
On a last note, I am currently working on a wooden planter which I white-washed with my chalk paint. That post will be published in a week and it will have all the details of how I white washed the wood and gave it a “drift wood” appearance just with homemade chalk paint. If you can wait a week and visit that post, it will be easier for you to decide whether you would want to try it or not 🙂
ooohlaa says
Hi I searched around your website for whitewash post but could not find. Can you please send me the link for this? I love your wonderful work and presentation!
Handan says
Hello, below is the link for whitewash tutorial: https://www.thenavagepatch.com/toolbox-to-planter/
Barbara Lowell says
love your work and teachings … thanx so much for your talent in explaining, and your generosity in answering questions.
Handan says
Thank you so much for your kind words, Barbara! I am so glad that I could help 🙂
Engela says
Do i need to seal with wax and if so what wax can i us?
Judy Gaaskjolen says
Id like to paint a metal table which seems to have a porcelain finish. Some of the edges are chipped and rusted. How would i go about repairing this before painting.? Would something like bondo work? I know id have to sand the rust and do a primer. You mentioned using mod podge as a primer on ceramic. Would that work for porcelain also? How long does your chalk paint mixture last in a sealed jar?
Handan says
Hello Judy, I will try to answer all your questions =)
First, let’s start with the metal table which is rusted and chipped on the edges. For that, I would first get rid of the rust with a rust converter. Here is one with excellent reviews on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1Nx9Lwf
Once you get rid of the rust then you need to prime those rusted areas with an oil based primer [water and metal are not a good combo, hence I personally always go for oil based primers or protective coats with metal]. Here is a little trick for this part: You can use rustoleum’s spray paints to prime anything. Most spray paints are oil based paints, and rustoleum’s paint is a good protector for rust. Besides, they include the primer in it. So if you choose a color as close as the finishing color you have in your mind and just spray paint it that should do a decent job in terms of protection from future rust.
Next is repairing the chips. I would recommend using this: http://amzn.to/1Niyg5u. Everyone who used it seem to swear by it, hence my recommendation would be on this rather than wood filler. Also I am not sure how wood filler would stick to the metal for an outdoor item. That said if the chips are small and in the middle of a flat surface rather than being at the edges/corners than wood filler might be quick fix for it [As it is hard to picture I am trying think of all the possibilities here ;)] .
I am little puzzled with the “porcelain finish” you have. Is it the paint/coating of the metal are we talking about? Or does your table have a porcelain top part (flat table surface) with a metal base? In any case, since this is an outdoor furniture I wouldn’t go with using mod podge as a primer, as it wouldn’t be strong enough. I would rather go with a proper oil based primer (again spray paint is a good alternative to this).
As for the last question: In a sealed jar it lasts at least a good 6 months. I can’t say how further it would last because I usually finish all my paint batches within 7 months. But I know this much: the paint mixture never ever goes thicker. The chalk and talc in it may settle a little by the end of 6 months but a good shake or mixing it in the blender/mixer for a minute or so fixes that issue.
I hope I could help you with your questions.
Have a great day!
Michelle says
Thank you so much for the recipe. I was wondering how to make it myself. As I prefer to make things rather than buy them. Just one quick question. Does the scent in talc cause the paint to behave badly? Or do you simply prefer unscented just so your paint doesn’t smell like baby powder? There are paint companies that offer scented paint so it made me wonder….
Handan says
Hello Michelle,
I am not sure if scented talc would cause anything weird, as I’ve only ever used unscented. You could certainly try it, but when using raw materials to make a product like chalk paint, I’d rather use the purest for of all the ingredients. Good luck with your chalk paint, and I’m glad you found my recipe useful! 🙂
Handan, x
Chrid says
Hi from the UK! And thanks for sharing your brilliant ideas. I have some questions if you would kindly answer for me ?
What is modge podge? I haven’t seen it in craft shops here. Also, you use latex paint. What do you mean by this? Here in the UK we have different basic ‘finishes’. I love Mat which as it suggests is a non-shiny paint and a silk finish which has a sheen and is more resilient. I think this may be similar to latex paint perhaps? Looking forward to your reply.
Handan says
Hello Chris,
Of course… I would be delighted if I can help 🙂
Mod Podge is simple craft glue which has varnishing qualities in it. Something like Decopatch glue varnish they sell in the UK. Both brands (Mod Podge and Decopatch) are sold on Amazon.co.uk, so if you search with the brand names on Amazon.co.uk you can also read the reviews on both of these products.
Latex paint is a general term to cover all paints that use synthetic polymers such as acrylic, styrene acrylic, vinyl acrylic (PVA) etc. as binders. If I am remembering right in the UK they use “emulsion” as the general term instead of latex. So what we have in the US as latex paint should be emulsion paint in the UK.
As for finishes: Here in the US we have flat, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss and high gloss for finishes, and I use any sheen from flat to satin to make my homemade chalk paint. In the UK and Europe I know they have matt, eggshell, silk, satin, soft sheen and high sheen finishes (listed from least to most). So if you use anything from matt to satin to make homemade chalk paint you should have the same results that I get.
I hope this was helpful!
Handan, x
Chris says
Hi handan, thank you for your reply which answers my questions very well. I now understamd. Latex is as you say equals emulsion in the UK! So simple! ?. Simply anything but gloss I guess.
Ah modge podge! Such a charming name! Yes your reply is very helpful! Thank you so much. Ideally I would love to up cycle an item of furniture but because this is so popular now it is a little bit difficult to find the perfect piece. In the UK older furniture can generally be found in ‘charity’ shops.
Once again, thank you Had an. When/if I start a project using modge podge and homemade chalk paint I shall email you. ?
Chris x
Handan says
Please do so. My e-mail is handan@thenavagepatch.com. I would love to see your finished projects!
Domenica @ Easy Sewing for Beginners says
Thanks for sharing over at the DIY Crush Craft Party. This looks like a great recipe for chalk paint! We’ve added this to our Pinterest board. Don’t forget to stop by next Thursday to add your tutorials to our next DIY Crush Craft Party!
Handan says
Thank you so much, Domenica! I definitely will 🙂
Deborah says
Can you use regular baby powder for the talc? Ty for such a detailed tutorial…. totally impressed with your projects too!
Handan says
Thank you, Deborah! I am so glad you enjoyed the tutorial:-)
As far as I know some of the regular baby powders contain cornstarch instead of talc, so that may not give the same effect (improved adhesion and working as anti-cracking agent) as pure talc does. Hence I never tried any of the baby powders, but you can certainly give it a try 🙂
Deborah says
Could I use plaster of Paris instead of talc?
Handan says
I wouldn’t recommend using Plaster of Paris, because it tends to thicken quickly which then leads to lumping up even during painting. If you don’t want to use talc, then I would suggest using more calcium carbonate instead of substituting talc with Plaster of Paris. That way you’d have a better result than what you would with Plaster of Paris.
Val says
Handan, thank you very much for the post and for trying all these recipes. I am going to follow your advice and make chalk paint myself. Would you tell me, please, how much is a cup (in millilitres, or cubic centimetres, or some other units). I am in UK, and “your” cup might be something different here 🙂
Handan says
Oh good that you asked! Yes the measurements here are a bit different than what we use in Europe. 1 cup equals to 236 milliliters, so it is equivalent to normal size drinking glass. Also, just in case you would be wondering what latex paint is, it is what we call emulsion paint in Europe.
I hope all this helps 🙂
Val says
Thanks! 🙂
Jeri says
when making your chalk paint to use on outdoor pots, do you make the chalk paint with exterior paint? I was wondering about a pot that got rained on.
Handan says
Hello Jeri, no I don’t use exterior paint for outdoor pots. Instead, I use a good outdoor protecting coat over the chalk paint, otherwise chalk paint (regardless of what kind of paint you make it with) will start peeling off after a few harsh winter.
Rosa says
Casaco de proteção? Lindo o seu trabalho obrigada
Então, na receita não cai gesso certo?
Carbonato de cálcio o quê é?
Greg says
Ola, Rosa – nenhum gesso é usado. aqui está um artigo da wikipedia sobre carbonato de cálcio: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbonato_de_c%C3%A1lcio
Cherie says
So excited to find this page while looking for a good quality chalk paint recipe. Could Mod Podge be added directly to the paint to improve adhesion? Very interested in your thoughts on this idea.
Handan says
Hi Cherie, I’ve heard people trying this with acrylic paint or latex paint, but I’ve never come across anyone trying it with chalk paint. I haven’t tried it myself, as the paint I make with this recipe has good adhesion. I can’t say how it would turn out, but if you experiment, please let me know. Good luck!
Christina says
I’ve been reading A LOT about all the different Chalk Paint recipes out there. This is the 1st one that I’ve seen that uses both Calcium Carbonate AND Talc. From all my reading, I’ve concluded this is probably the best homemade formula being this is what Annie Sloan uses in her paint (according to the Annie Sloan Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), http://www.materialsafetydatasheets.info/annie-sloan.html). I think I’ll try your formulation for my first time trying to make my own!
Handan says
Oh wow – I didn’t know that! Because her paint is essentially a European brand, I didn’t even think having MSDS would be a regulation for her paint. That is awesome to see my good old recipe is really so close to hers! 😀
Ida Luz Torres says
Just came across your blog and your chalk recipe while browsing Hometalk Flower Pot Make over. I will be trying your process soon. My family and I are on the mission of replanting and beautifying our home with greenary and with beautiful colored flowers and paint after being stripped of them by both hurricanes Irma and Maria here in Puerto Rico. Chalking painting our pots and giving it the antique or aged look will look great outdoors. Thank you for sharing.
Greg says
Hi Ida – thank you so much for writing. Handan and I can’t imagine what life has been like for you and your family since last September. I hope that the greenery is all that you lost. I know many lost much more. If you’d like, you can email pictures of your rebuilding and re-beautifying to me at greg@thenavagepatch.com. Handan and I would love to see your progress, and if you’d like, we could share your story on our Facebook page. God bless you and your family, Ida.
Tish says
I’ve used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, which I like (except for the price). However, I have always used their wax product over the paint, as it gives it more depth and a better overall look (and maybe durability?). Would you recommend using homemade Chalk Paint and then their wax? Or do you have a recommendation or the wax finish?
Handan says
Hi Tish, I used to use Annie Sloan Clear Wax with everything I painted with my homemade chalk paint up until we refinished our bathroom. For our bathroom vanity I was in search of something more durable, and I tried Fiddes & Sons Clear Wax for the first time on that vanity. Although only a year is passed that vanity still looks awesome and like the day I painted it. So I couldn’t recommend Fiddes & Sons clear wax (https://amzn.to/2KVXjvy) any higher. It’s just like Annie Sloan clear wax: soft and easy to apply. It has a slight scent to it, therefore you might want to apply it outdoors or in a ventilated area. But other than that, I absolutely love and prefer Fiddes & Sons over Annie Sloan’s wax.
Val says
This made me laugh – the world is a small place. I am in the UK, and Fiddes are 5 minutes drive from where I live 🙂 Found them when I was going to restore an old oak table for my daughter and son-in-law, who had just bought their first house and didn’t have any furniture. The guy in the Fiddes shop (one of the family, they still own the business) was extremely knowledgeable and helpful, gave me a lot of useful advice and the project went really well. I can highly recommend them and definitely will shop there again.
Handan says
Oh my – world is indeed a small place! 🙂
Marsha says
I am painting a bare wood,with knot holes, table. It has never been waxed or finished in any way. Do I need to seal the wood before I paint it with the chalk paint? After the paint is dry, I want to put protective coat on it. Is that OK?
Handan says
Hi Marsha,
With the knotty wood I would apply Zinsser Shellac Base Primer (https://amzn.to/2u1W3kf) to the knotty areas, because knotty areas will bleed through the paint regardless of what paint you use. The same goes for mahogany wood. If you are painting over mahogany, then you need to use shellac-based primer (https://amzn.to/2u1W3kf) to prevent any kind of bleeding.
As for the protective coat, I used wax for our indoor pieces and matte water-based poly for our outdoor pieces (such as flower pots) on the items I painted, and all seem to do fine over the years we’ve been using them.
Marsha says
Thank you so much. I have refinished all kinds of old furniture ( removing stains, paints etc.) but never worked with bare wood before. Thank you for the great recipe for the paint.
Suzanne says
Hello from Australia. Since you put your first post out I started using your recipe and have painted everything (furniture) in my house with your recipe. Absolutely love it. I have also used from baby talc to very expensive talc and there is no difference in how the paint works out in the end (and the perfume lasts for a very short time). Just a question – do you sand each layer or only the final layer of paint? I am abut to start another batch of furniture and can’t for the life of me remember – the dementia kicking in. Another tip with keeping the made up paint great forever is using glad wrap (don’t know what it is called over there – sans wrap?) I use two layers and push in into the container to just above the paint level so there is very little air left and the paint seems to last indefinitely.
Just LOVE your blog.
Suzanne
Handan says
Hi Suzanne! I’m so glad you’re using my recipe, and it’s great to know that it works with any talc (from baby talc to expensive). As for your question, I only sand after the final coat. When I’m brush painting, I usually put 3 thin coats instead of 2 normal coats or 1 thick coat, as that helps having almost no brush marks. Then giving the final coat a nice sanding does the trick for a smooth surface.
Fiona says
Hi Im in Australia and what is our equivalent to you Latex paint. I have been dying to mke thhis but not sure wether i can just use the paint in sample pots
Thankyou cant wait to get painting
Fiona
Claudine says
Not only do I love the recipe, but I want to thank you both for your detailed and helpful answers to questions people post in the comments. 🙂
On a different note, I was always told that the secret ingredient was love…
lol
Handan says
Lol – that’s true! Without love, nothing gets done here! 🙂
Ivory says
Outstanding! I also love the color you selected, beautiful. I have a question, do you have a recipe for fabric diy paint?
Handan says
Hmmmm…. no I don’t, but I’ve used it and it’s expensive, so that’s something I’ll be looking into. 🙂
Lisa says
Just used the link for the calcium carbonate powder from your page and it took me to someone’s Amazon page. Not sure if it’s your? I added 3 bags so please check out your Amazon cart. Thank you so much for the recipe! Going o give it try as I am going broke painting everything I own with the purchased paint!
Fiona says
Hi im in Australia and was wondering what we use as we dont have “latex” paint as such or its called something else plz
Cant wait to start painting
Fiona
Handan says
Hi Fiona, in the UK they use “emulsion” as the general term instead of latex, so that could be the same for Australia too. But if not, then I’d suggest using any interior acrylic paint with this recipe.
I hope this was helpful!
Handan
Donna says
Hi I’m from Ohio and I just found you post and I was just thinking about adding talc powder to my chalk paint and I found your post. I order both from Amazon and I can’t wait to try it. I order BB Fosch to make chalk. It is very soft and fluffy and it made me think it might have talc powder in it also. I was going to try making my own and then I ran across your post. I’m glad I did. I am surely going to try it. Thank you for sharing it’s going to save me trying to figure out how much of each to use. Thank you again
Handan says
Thank you so much, Donna! I’m so glad you found my recipe, as I’m sure you’ll love it! 🙂
Lynette says
Hi. Someone has probably already asked but how long does this paint recipe keep? Do I need to store in the fridge? Thanks
Handan says
Hi Lynette, I don’t keep this paint in the fridge. I keep mine in a lidded jar at normal room temperature and it stays about a year without drying out. Before every use I shake or stir it just like I would with any other paint. 🙂
Job says
Hi and thanks for your recipe. Wondering about the durability of this paint? Is it long lasting? Will it come off at some point? How moist-resistant is it or does it stain easily? Any thoughts on this?
I’m thinking about painting some wooden walls with this…
Thanks again!
Handan says
Thank you so much, Job! I’ve been using my homemade chalk paint for over 3 years now and painted quite a lot of furniture with it. We have a kid and 2 hyperactive dogs, and all the furniture I painted with this is in the high traffic areas. So far nothing came off.
As for stain resistance, mine or any other chalk paint out there (be it a brand or homemade) won’t be stain resistant, because chalk paint is a porous paint type. Meaning that, unless you use a protective coat such as water based polyureathane or furniture wax, it will want to suck in any oil, any dirt or any fluid into itself. But if you use a protective coat, then that protective coat will do it’s job and protect the paint.
I hope this info helps! Good luck on your project!
Becky says
Hi, if I want my project painted with your recipe to have an eggshell finish, would I leave out the talc? Thanks!!!
Handan says
Hi Becky, you can’t have an eggshell finish with this recipe, however, you can use wax as a protective coat on the paint, and once you buff the wax, you’ll get somewhere between an eggshell and satin sheen.
Jean Fugate Besalke says
Hi and thank you so much for the recipe!
I will need to order some of these things to make this with. What I have found out about chalk paint is that you can’t poly over it! I am a sign designer and would love to use the chalk paint but, I have to (well don’t have to but, prefer to) poly over my signs. I do use a water base poly too. Spraying or oil base is not an option with me. Can you tell me if I would be able to poly over this chalk paint? Thank you so very much!! Jean
Handan says
Hi Jean, yes definitely! I used water based polyurethane in many small projects where wax wasn’t a good idea, such as flower pots, a refinished toolbox, a small sled makeover (Christmas project) etc. You can find all those projects here at The Navage Patch if you’d like to check them out.
I’m not sure if you have preferred brand for poly, but since you’re making signs you might be looking for a dead flat finish. Though I didn’t use it myself, this dead flat finish is what all chalk paint users love and swear by: https://amzn.to/2Le3Il3.
I hope this info helps!
Heidy Hupf says
Hi there! I am just wondering what the talc does vs just the paint, calcium carbonate and water. I’m just starting out with chalk paint and I’ve tried plaster Paris and now I am going to try calcium carbonate and then I found this post where you are also adding talc.
Handan says
Hi Heidy, as I explained in the post, it helps with adhesion, achieving a flat sheen and works as anti-cracking agent. So you can use even eggshell or satin paint and yet get a matte chalk paint with better adhesion. I hope this info helps and good luck with your project! 🙂
AngJJ says
i apologize if i missed it in your post or in the comments, i looked through..but what color paint are you using. It’s so pretty.
Handan says
Hi Ang, that is the Behr color of the year 2018 named In The Moment (T18-15). I agree – it is a very pretty color! 🙂
Julie says
I am so excited to try this! Have you ever used acrylic paint? I have so much of acrylic I was just curious if it would work.
Thanks so much
Julie
Handan says
Hi Julie, sorry for the late response. I haven’t tried acrylic paint, but as far as I know it should work even better than the latex paint (especially when it comes to durability.) I hope this answer helps! 🙂
Lindsey Simmons says
I have a question, Can you use this paint on screen door and front door?
Handan says
Hi Lindsey, I used my homemade chalk paint for some outdoor pots and I protected them with flat-matte protective coat. They’re still doing fine considering I did them a few years ago. That said, I wouldn’t use my homemade chalk paint for my front door, because after a couple of years it would start to wear off since it would be constantly subject to outdoor conditions. If you want a good reliable paint for door, you can try either Modern Masters Front Door paint, or Benjamin Moore or a similar brand’s outdoor paint.
Anu Saggi says
Amazing information on Chalk Paint, bless you!!!!
In INDIA, its called emulsion too
And i am going to try putting talc
As per your Recepie.
Thankyou
Handan says
Thank you so much, Anu! I’m so glad you found the information useful! 🙂
Susan says
Where is a good place to buy Calcium Carbonate? I have never heard of it. I would love to try your recipe. Appreciate all your helpful information.
Handan says
Hi Susan, I gave all the links in the post. Please look for orange colored text in the post and click on them as they will take you the products that I used and tried. 🙂
Virginia Jones says
I just found calcium carbonate for $1.92 for a pound on labelpeelers.com.
Handan says
Thank you so much, Virginia! That’s great information for all of us who is using this recipe! 🙂
Gina says
Just finished making my first batch of chalk paint according to your recipe. What should the consistency be? I think I may have added a bit too much water, oops; how can I remedy this batch so the paint is thicker? I actually doubled your recipe, which I’m glad I did because I am doing two pressed back oak chairs and they soaked up so much paint, I only have about one cup left for the second coat and I’m hoping I can do a small table to match as well.
Handan says
Hi Gina, I would leave the container (the one that you’re keeping the paint in) open for a while until the paint thickens. Basically the more the water evaporates the thicker it will become.
Deborah says
Just came across your site — Thank you so much for sharing your ideas, tips and the recipes Going to try the chalk paint and mod page over next couple of days
I like the idea of making the paint in blender. But, do you think mixer would do the job?
Thanks again💜🌹
Handan says
Thank you so much, Deborah! Sure – a mixer would do even better than a blender! 🙂
Carla says
I recently went to Home Depo and asked if they carry Calcium Carbonate and they handed me a box of baking powder. Have you used over the counter baking powder for this recipes?
Greg says
Hi Carla, okay first off, are you sure it wasn’t baking soda and not baking powder? I’ll answer for both, just in case. Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate. Baking powder is sodium bicarbonate with a powdered acid added. Neither are chemically the same as calcium carbonate. There are recipes out there for chalk paint made from sodium bicarbonate, but we haven’t tried any, so we can’t speak to how good they are. A Google search for “baking soda chalk paint” can point you to a different recipe.
If you want to try our recipe, here’s the link to the calcium carbonate we use, in case you’d like to buy some: https://amzn.to/2Bb6CFN
Good luck with your chalk paint, whichever route you take!
Eleni says
Hello and thx for the recipe! I read at the comments that 1 cup is 236 ml, right? Can you please tell me in grams how much is it and for the tbs of carbonate and talc? Im from europe too and id like to follow the recipe exactly! Thx!;
Greg says
Eleni, I am so sorry for this late reply. We missed your comment back in November! Yes, 1 cup is 236 ml. One tablespoon of calcium carbonate is approximately 11 grams and one tablespoon of talc weighs approximately 9 grams. Good luck!
Lettie-anna Venter says
Hi can you help .Can i us this resipe on floors
Handan says
Hi Lettie-Anna, I wouldn’t recommend using this recipe or any store bought chalk paint on floors. I would go for a paint that is specially designed for floors instead.
one pound liquid says
Absolutely brilliant. Been looking for a better chalk paint recipe. Thank you For Share It!
Handan says
You’re very welcome! Thank you for your lovely comment! 🙂
Taryn Lopez-Juarbe says
Hi Handan!
I’d like to know how much paint I’d have to make for a 6-drawer dresser, chest and two night tables, a dining set with 6 chairs and 3 tall bookcases. I’ll be using Behr Ultra paint. We lost our home and all our belongings to Hurricane Maria here in Puerto Rico and we’ve been very lucky and grateful to have a friend who gave us her mother’s old furniture. It’s French Provincial, in great shape but needs painting. We finally finished rebuilding but now it’s time to paint furniture. I’m subscribed to your newsletter and was checking out a post and came across your chalk paint recipe. I’ve never used chalk paint so fingers crossed!
Thanks for your advice!
*Love your posts and your adventure stories!
Handan says
Hi Taryn, I’m so sorry to hear that. I hope the furniture you received gives you a great start on rebuilding your home. For all that furniture, you’ll need more than a quart but less than a gallon of paint. I would go with the gallon, as it’s the same price as two quarts, and you’ll have leftover paint to do more projects. I would suggest you to prepare 2 cups worth of chalk paint at a time, so mixing it would be easy. Also having the remaining paint as latex paint will make it last longer.
Good luck with painting and have a great weekend!
Greg says
Hi Taryn, I remember you! You found us last spring and commented 🙂 I can’t imagine what you’ve been going through for the past almost year and a half trying to rebuild after that storm, but I hope the chalk paint helps to make beautiful furniture for your new home.
Jan says
I am repainting a wicker table and chairs. It has oil based psint on it. I have used TSP and scuff sanded. Do you think your recipe will stick to old oil paint? Thank you
Handan says
Hi Jan – yes, my homemade chalk paint should stick with no problem! Just make sure you also use a protective layer (wax or poly) once finished painting and give it at least a week or two curing time before you really start using the table and the chairs. I usually give a month curing time when it’s for a high traffic / high use furniture and that’s regardless off the paint I use.
Denise says
Could I use floetro to thin chalk paint and to help
eliminate brush storkes?
Handan says
Hi Denise, to thin my recipe or any other chalk paint out there a better choice would be adding water. With water based paint adding water works as good as floetro if not better and it’s cheaper. 😉
Denise says
Do you have to seal indoor furniture with anything?
Handan says
When using chalk paint yes I would seal any furniture with wax, because chalk paint is porous (whether you buy store bought or make your own with this recipe they are all the same.) In other words it will soak in anything – water, hand grease, dirt you name it. But wax stops that all and gives the chalk painted furniture a decent protection. 🙂
Gosa says
Hi, I am bit concerned about the talc powder. Is it safe? I heard it can contain asbestos and can be cancerous. I love the look of chalk paint and would love to try it just want to be sure about its safety. Thanks a lot for your reply and your inspiring ideas
Handan says
Hi Gosa, I heard that claim about Johnson & Johnson talc powder too. But I also heard that they showed their lab results proving that their talc was safe. Whom to believe? Although the talc I’m using is a different brand, and despite the fact that this brand’s Material Safety Data Sheet says that it’s certified to contain NO asbestos, still… I don’t have a lab to test whether it’s safe or not. And I can’t test if the one you’ll be using is safe or not.
The only thing I know is that whether you use this recipe or store bought chalk paint, they still have talc in them (check above comments as one of the readers gave the link to store bought chalk paint safety data sheet, and apparently the data sheet shows 20-25% talc in the ingredients.) So regardless of which chalk paint you use, the moment you sand it, you’ll be inhaling whatever particles it releases to the air.
Short from long, if you’re concerned that they would release asbestos contaminated talc powder for sale or for public consumption, then don’t use this recipe. And since most brand chalk paints seem to have talc in them, just make sure to ask for the Material Safety Data Sheet before buying the brand chalk paint and see if that paint has talc in it.
I hope this information helps. 🙂
Margie says
Can this recipe be used to make chalk paste for stenciling? Would to make my own to achieve costum colors. And chalk paste is so expensive. Thank you in advance for your help!
Handan says
Hi Margie, with my recipe you’ll get chalk paint. But I believe the chalk paste you are talking about is like chalk couture paste. If so, I searched online and found two good recipes for you (one is erasable, one is not):
DIY erasable liquid chalk for stenciling
DIY chalk paste recipe
I hope this helps!
Carolyn says
Hi- Have you used chalk paint on kitchen cabinets? I was planning on using it but I’m seeing some posts of people painting over their chalk paint cabinets. Thank you for any input.
Handan says
Hi Carolyn,
I painted our guest bathroom cabinet with my homemade chalk paint and it still is holding up strong. That said, it’s a not a high traffic area, and those cabinets are not subject to grease. As kitchen cabinets would be subject to high traffic and grease, I wouldn’t trust anything else but proper cabinet paint. In other words, if I were to paint our kitchen cabinets, I would use something like Benjamin Moore Advance Paint.
I hope this info helps! 🙂
KLynn says
Hi-Do you strain your homemade chalkpaint before pouring in the Wagner Sprayer? Thanks so much!
Handan says
Hi Klynn, as I always used a blender I never needed to strain it, because blender helps getting rid of all the possible lumps, so eliminates the need for straining. But if you are hand-mixing it, then I would suggest using a cone paint strainer such as this one: https://amzn.to/2OfR3S8
I hope this info helps! 🙂
Marie says
Your post came across recommended on my Pinterest board, and I have spent about the LAST 40 minutes reading the actual post AND all the comments! I love reading comments, I find you can gain so much info & tips there as well! I try to keep my email subscribers list to those I know I will read, I actually deleted one email because it got SO OVERWHELMING – true story! But after reading not just your AMAZING post on this great Chalk Paint recipe but also the comments and the reply’s, even a few years after it was written I knew this was a blog I wanted to read and WOULD! I am going to your white washed post next, and will making your chalk paint recipe this week!!
I became a chalk paint fan about a year ago and SWEAR by it, and I am just getting into refinishing furniture this year. So I am really excited to have found your page! I have Chronic illnesses (Lupus & Fibromyalgia) and though I do not let that keep me down I am still not able to work full time. So money is tight, and buying chalk paint especially when doing big projects can get expensive! I have read a TON about making your own, but as far is holding up I haven’t seen the long term results on some of the others and yours is the FIRST recipe with both Calicum biocarbonate & Talc! I am absolutely willing to invest if I know the product will work, by reading all the comments and your experiences looks like we have a winner! Again really looking forward to reading your other posts and trying this recipe!
Handan says
Marie, thank you so much for your lovely comment! I’m sure you’re love this recipe as much as I do. 🙂
Tanya says
Hi, are you able to wet distress with this recipe? Also if I am wondering how easily the colors blend if I want a finish with different shades. Thank you.
Handan says
Hi Tanya, yes you can do wet distress with this recipe. I’ve a couple wet distressed pieces and you can check them out to see how they look:
Flower pots in this post: https://www.thenavagepatch.com/refinishing-old-flower-pots/
The frame in this post: https://www.thenavagepatch.com/haunted-mirror-diy-chalkboard/
I never tried blending different colors till now, but I’m sure it would be as easy as or as hard as doing it with store bought chalk paint.
Debbi Pharoah Vaisey says
I went to the store today to buy chalk paint as I have (hoarded) many side tables and such and need to do something with them or my husband might chuck them 🙂 When I saw the price I about fell over, then I went to pinterest and found you. Thank you so much for sharing your recipe ! I ordered the other ingredients on amazon from your site, Now all I have to do is some scrubbing and wait for my ingredients to arrive, Thank you so much, I can’t wait to try it.
Debbi
Kathy says
Hello there,
So excited about this 😃👏👏😃. I am repainting my parents furniture (oak turned orange) from when they were 1st married and I have a couple of questions for you…
1). Can I paint the furniture indoors? (Nowhere else to do it)
2). If so, after protecting my floors from paint spills and I got the chalk paint on something, what can I use to clean it up?
3). How would you clean the blades of the blender efficiently to avoid build up in the photos used above?
Thank you so much for your reply.!
Handan says
Hi Kathy,
1.) Yes you should be able to paint indoors assuming that you’re using latex paint to make your chalk paint as these days all latex paints are all low VOC.
2.) That’s a good question. If that something is fabric I’m not sure how to clean it, if it’s hard surface like wood, metal etc, you should be able to clean it with a wet rag until the paint properly sets. Here is a trick if you didn’t know: wet your rag with warm to hot water as it will do a better job lifting the paint up / cleaning the paint.
3.) I dip the blades in hot water every time right after I make my chalk paint and that cleans the most of the paint off of them. Then for whatever is left on the blades I just use a little bit of dish detergent and brush the blades.
I hope this info helps! 🙂
Barbara Lowell says
Hi … I receive your email updates and I want to thank you for how faithfully you keep up with comments and questions, and share your expertise. I still haven’t done my project because I want to do a mixture of pour paint over chalk paint and I’m not certain that is a good combo yet. I love the professional way you help us. Thank you for inspiration and efforts to share!
Handan says
Thank you so much, Barbara! Your lovely comment is indeed much appreciated! I heard a lot about pour paint but haven’t tried it yet. If I try it before you, I’ll make sure to write about it 🙂
Sharon says
Hi. I’m excited to try this recipe! I don’t have much experience with chalk paint but also cringe at the price. This sounds great! I’m painting a vintage wood bench. It will be outside on a covered porch. My question is about whether or not I need to seal it with anything. Will the paint come off on people’s clothes when they sit on it if I don’t? Thanks for sharing your recipe!
Handan says
Hi Sharon, even for indoor furniture I would seal it. It’ll extend the life of both the furniture and the paint. As for paint bleeding on clothes, I really can’t say, as I’ve never used it without sealing it. But you can easily test it with an old piece of cloth: after painting your bench, wait for a day for the paint to dry properly and start curing. Then rub an old damp piece of cloth on the paint and see if it bleeds. If it does, then there is a chance it could bleed, especially if the bench gets wet somehow. I would suggest sealing it with wax at the very least.
I hope this info helps! 🙂
Holly says
Hi there. Love the post and see that the comments are still going strong. I’ve read through them all and did not see a question as to whether we could use Tung Oil as a sealer instead of wax. I prefer this because it is food safe and I have been redoing kitchen and dining furniture and it has a great seal. Am not sure how it will hold up on chalk paint.
Handan says
Hi Holly, I never tried it myself so I can say for sure, but I did hear that Tung Oil works quite well over chalk paint. A few things to keep in mind if you want to give it a try: the oil would darken the color of the painted piece quite a bit – definitely more so than the wax. I would do some tests on a scrap piece before applying it to the main painted furniture in case you wouldn’t like the results. And if you do decide to finally apply it to the painted piece, I would do it at least 3 coats to give it a nice and strong finish.
I hope this info helps! 🙂
Michelle says
Hi, this may be a dumb question, but is the latex paint to use the “flat” sheen? I am thinking so to keep it the flat chalk look. Thanks!
Handan says
Hi Michelle, there are no dumb questions as with each question we all learn a little bit more 🙂 You can use flat, eggshell or even satin sheen latex paint, because the amount of talc and the calcium carbonate we use in this recipe will flatten that sheen down and give you that perfect chalk look!
Nadeer says
Great! Thanks for sharing – do you think we can use acrylic paint for good adhesion and hardness?
Handan says
Hello Nadeer, I haven’t my recipe with acrylic paint, as I think it would be slightly more expensive than the latex paint, but otherwise I believe it should also work with acrylic paint.
Paulette says
I used your recipe to refinish my bathroom cabinets (vanity, over-the-john and medicine) about 4 months ago. They were light oak and had years of buildup of furniture polish and dust trapped in hairspray in the crevices. Lol. I cleaned them thoroughly and did a light sanding for insurance. I finished with 3 coats of paste wax and They are holding up BEAUTIFULLY with daily use! This formula flowed perfectly and looks like a factory finish—everyone who sees them thinks that the cabinets are brand new. I did all 3 with a single batch of paint. Thank you for this formula!
Handan says
Thank you so much for your great feedback, Paulette! I’m so happy your cabinets turned out great, and we’d love to see a picture if you’d like to send one to greg@thenavagepatch.com. 🙂
THATCarol says
I am so glad I found this article today and not next week. I had been thinking about getting rid of my bullet because I have a ninja that mixes my concoctions in the kitchen wayyyyy better. But I never thought of keeping it for my crazy crafting experiments. Total game changer!!! I’ve stayed away from diy paints because all I could think was ugh how messy. This has my attention.
Love your site and love your playful banter. Keep up the great work!! And Thanks
Handan says
Oh good that you’re planning to keep your bullet! I love mine and I always use it to make my own DIY chalk paint. It’s the fastest and the easiest way to mix paints!
By the way – thank you for your lovely comment, Carol! We hope to see you around more! 🙂
Mary Egan says
Hi,
I am new to the world of chalk painting, and have found all your advice very helpful.
I am planning on painting a main bathroom oak vanity. I plan on taking off the doors and giving it a good cleaning. There are also some raised leaf designs that I am hoping to remove.
Is there a certain brush you would recommend? and it looks like you would suggest that I complete the vanity with a coat of wax, correct? I don’t have an old blender, and am just planning on hand mixing the paint for my first project. If it works out well, I may invest in one in the future.
Handan says
Hi Mary, I use mostly Zibra brushes when I paint, but if the item has so many details then I use small artist brushes. Yes – I recommend using wax (a coat or two depending on the piece and how heavily it will be used) with chalk paint. I hope this info helps! 🙂
BECKI says
JUST FOUND YOUR RECIPE FOR CHALK PAINT. WILL TRY IT SOON. I HAVE A COUPLE OF INEXPENSIVE NIGHT STANDS THAT ARE NOT REAL “WOOD”. WILL THE CHALK PAINT WORK ON THEM? THANK YOU!
Handan says
Hello Becki, as I don’t know what’s the surface material of your nightstands I can’t say for sure, but if the nightstands are really smooth laminate chalk paint alone may not work and if that’s the case you might need Zinsser 123 as a primer.
I can suggest painting a small area and see if the paint sticks. If it does then you should be good to paint the rest. 🙂
Lara says
Can you advise on the quantities required to produce 1l batches of chalk paint (to paint office walls) for a maker project?
Greg says
Hi Lara, our recipe calls for 1 cup (8 fluid ounces) of paint. one liter is a little more than 4 cups, so if you multiply the quantities by 4, you should be fine.
Kristina says
Hello!
Thank you so much for this recipe! I tried it with PU-acrylic paint for furniture and it doesn’t distress that easy as it does with famous brand. I am confused on what is called “latex paint”. Can I simply take i
Interior water based emulsion (Sadolin Bindo 7, example), which I normally would use for wall painting? Does ir counts as latex paint?
P.s. Thank you for your website! It is awesome!
Greg says
Hello Kristina, I am sorry for this late reply! Yes, Bindo 7 is latex paint, and that is what you want to use with our chalk paint recipe. Good luck with your future furniture projects! 🙂
Kristina says
Thank you so much!! I am trying it right now! Exciting!
Beverley says
I live in a city of 114,000. I went to Home Depot etc, drug stores and can’t find the calcium carbonate in powder form. Should I go ahead with plaster of Paris. Thanks…..beverley
Handan says
Hi Beverley, I tried Plaster of Paris recipes before and as I wasn’t happy enough with them, I came up with this recipe. As for finding Calcium Carbonate, Amazon is a great place to look for it and I gave links to 3 different Amazon calcium carbonate providers in my post in case you want to try the ones I use in my recipe.
I hope this info helps! 🙂
Melissa says
Can you recommend another brand of talc? The Silver Cup brand you recommend is proving hard to find (several distributors have said it is discontinued). Seems every other talc I find is scented. I’m so excited to get started but so frustrated with this talc issue! Lol! Thanks for any help you can offer!!!!
Handan says
Hi Melissa,
I found a couple more unscented talc on Amazon which I think should work perfectly with my chalk paint recipe. The first one listed below is much cheaper than the second one. Just click on the names below to be taken to those products on Amazon:
Rema Tire Talc 500gram Shaker Can (16-Ounce)
Pure Natural Talcum Powder Ideal for Rubber and Latex Garments Unscented Talc
I hope this helps! 🙂
Handan says
Melissa, I’m back with good news! I went through the Amazon listings once again and finally found the Silver Cup from another seller – YAY! Here is the link to it: https://amzn.to/2IXRezR
Haven New says
Can this paint be stored for periods of time without hardening or drying up?
Thanks!
Handan says
Hi Haven, I saw your comment also on Pinterest and I answered it there. But in case you won’t see it, here it is once again:
Yes, I keep mine in mason jars and it lasts easily anywhere from 6 months to a year. But then depending on the place you keep them, the water starts evaporating, hence it starts drying out. So if you keep it in an air tight container it could last even longer.
I hope this info helps! 🙂
Mitsy says
Hi, can you tell me what different you noticed in the end result of the product from using the talc with Calcium Carbonate as opposed to that without it. Have mixed my own with the calcium and don’t find it as resilient as Rustoleum Chalk Paint. The Rustoleum doesn’t seem to chip as easily as my home made chalk paint made with Sico paint as the base. Have contemplated that the Sico paint, which I used once on a project and do not like much, could be the cause of my problems. Have you ever also had any chipping issues with home made chalk paint?
Thanks for the help and for the posts.
Handan says
Hi Mitsy, homemade chalk paint with talc sticks much better and also takes the wax much better than the one without, which could be the reason why you had chipping issues. The finish with the one with talc is much smoother and it lasts much longer in an air tight container than the one without. So these are the differences I noticed right away, hence I stuck with my recipe. You’re correct about the paint base as it’s also important, but I never used Sico paint, so I can’t talk about the quality of it. What I use generally is Behr paint which is surely not the best of best, but rather considered a normal affordable paint.
I honestly never had chipping issues with my recipe. But with the one without talc, I once did have a crack right in one middle of the side table I painted back in the day. I’m still contemplating whether it was due to not waxing it soon enough, or painting in a very dry environment or because the paint base was rather old. I guess I’ll never know…
Also if you decide to use talc in your homemade chalk paint try to use talc with no additives. Talc with additives or scent would have oils in it, which would in time take away the elasticity of the paint.
I hope this information helps 🙂
Kendra says
I’m looking to do a wardrobe with about 6 different colors using a blending technique (similar to the Turquoise Iris). Have you done any blending with this recipe? Can you reactivate the paint using water?
Janet says
Hi there. I was just curious how do you make coloured chalk paint? Everytime i google it just shows me how to make the actual paint🤔
Liza says
Hi. I was wondering if u can make the paint and store it in air tight container? I want to make homemade chalk paint to refinish some pieces of furniture with some girls n it will prolly take us a few weeks to complete our projects as we only have 1hr once a week to do them