Chalk Paint & It’s Uses – Beginners Guide!

 

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​This paint has become popular in recent years, especially in upcycling and distressing projects. It is used for rendering the vintage look on surfaces with shabby and rustic styles. Although its popularity is more based on producing distressed and brush stroke effects, it’s equally suited for making smooth, opaque and sleek modern paint finishes. The best part about using this paint is that it can be used on versatile surfaces with no requirement of prepping the surface in terms of priming or sanding. It can be used on already painted surfaces like lacquers and high gloss finish without any prepping.

The chalk paint is beginner friendly in nature with its ease of use. It is thick, with less dripping and easy to clean. It cleans up with water as easy as latex paint. It renders brushstrokes with a beginner-friendly finish. The paint can be easily sanded and used for producing a distressed look. For sealing the paint, soft wax or chalk lacquer can be used.

​What Can Chalk Paints Be Used For?

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​It can be literally used for anything, yes! Chalk paint can be used on any kind of surface without prepping, like fabrics, walls, floors, metal surfaces, plastic surfaces, brick masonry, glass and even marble. It’s widely used for furniture items like kitchen cabinets, chest of drawers, tables, chairs, dressers, sofas, curtains and drapes. It adheres to surfaces easily, even to already painted surfaces. You can literally transform the look of your house with this paint. It is suitable for both indoor and outdoor uses.

​How Do You Use Chalk Paints?

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​Before using chalk paints, the paint pot should be shaken well and turned upside down before use as it is thick in consistency and tends to accumulate. After opening the paint bottle, stir it well. If the paint comes out too thick, try using a bit of water for dilution and stir again. Use a good quality brush for painting like those from the Chalk Paint® Brushes range which would last longer. If you want to go for less expensive options, choose a brush with synthetic bristles. 

This paint was developed to tackle commonly faced problems while using other kinds of paints like prepping the surface, limited surface application options, not-so-easy application with dripping issues, etc.

Chalk paint requires no prepping of surface and can be applied to a variety of surfaces. However, before applying the paint, the surface should be clean and dry. A single coat of paint is enough in most cases but more coats can be used for an opaque and smooth finish. If you need super smooth results, then you may consider sanding the surface once and then remove any dust gathered in the process.

An hour drying period is the least required time between consecutive coats of paint. It dries quickly and can be followed with the application of soft wax for the finish. Buff the paint with a cotton cloth. For a durable finish, you can choose to use chalk paint lacquer. Soft wax is the most commonly preferred choice for sealing the paint.

​What Kind of Finishes Can You Achieve Using Chalk Paints?

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The beauty of chalk paints is that perfection lies in imperfection. This is why it is best suited for beginners with no prior experience. The uneven brush strokes, bristle marks, cross-hatching, feathering, stippling and dry brush techniques are perfect for producing distressed surfaces. It works beautifully on vintage items and fabrics.

The paint can also be used for producing smooth finishes and opaqueness. It’s better to use diluted paint for opaque finishes with light brush strokes. You can also use a wet brush tip for painting in this case. Instead of painting with a straight-held brush, hold it at an angle to minimize pressure. The feathering technique is quite appropriate to produce smooth and opaque finishes.

Chalk paint is an amazing way to explore creativity for beginners. A lot of ideas are available on the internet for DIY projects using chalk paints. It’s easy to use and the versatility when it comes to adapting to different surfaces makes it a really interesting medium to try out. Before going for big projects like furniture, it is better to try smaller items when trying for the first time as a beginner. At Homesmiths explore the collection of chalk paints and paint brushes before you get started with your project. 

Source: ​https://www.homesmiths.ae/blog/post/chalk-paint-and-its-uses-%E2%80%93-beginners-guide


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