When it comes to decorating furniture, chalkboard paint is a brilliant material to use. If you’ve never used this type of paint before, we’re going to take you through everything to know.
Decorating the home is a wonderful process – getting all of your wood deck cleaner and tools together, laying down ideas and selecting paint. It can be a lot of fun! Here in this article, we’ll let you in on everything you need to know about chalkboard paint colors, information, and application. Let’s find out more!
The correct brush
One of the most important things about painting with your best chalkboard paint is that you choose the correct brush. Invest a little in a good one that has strong bristles because you won’t want them falling out and drying permanently on your furniture. Make sure you also maintain your brush, keeping it clean so that it will last many years.
Cleaning furniture
Before you begin painting, you’ll want to take all of the removable elements out of your furniture, such as shelves or drawers. Any stickers should also be removed. Rub your hand gently over the surface and feel if any parts need sanding, but you don’t need to sand when you’re using magnetic chalkboard paint. You can add the painter’s tape to any sections that need it. Lastly, get cleaning and rub it with a soapy water solution even if it looks clean superficially.
Paint application
Stir your paint with a stick before starting. Get your paintbrush and dip the brush in clean water before you set off, patting it dry too. If you’ve got chalkboard spray paint, you can skip these steps.
Pour half a cup of paint into a container, add a teaspoon of water and stir well once again. The great thing about this paint is that you can’t go wrong with your stroke action, but paint with the grain of the wood just in case. Your first coat may appear streaky, but after a few coats, you’ll notice that this will go. After completing a coat of chalkboard paint, make sure you wet the bristles of your brush and wrap it up in a ziplock bag to prevent the bristles drying out.
Always apply more coats
You’ll find that your first coat will dry out within around an hour. After you’ve given it plenty of time to dry, get doing with a slightly thicker second coat. If you think that it needs a third coat, don’t be afraid to put one on just in case – it will not harm the furniture. Before moving, make sure the whole thing dries for at least 24 hours. When you’ve finished, wash brushes by carefully massaging the bristles in warm soapy water.
Distressing adds character
Do you want to go for a distressed look? A lot of people find this fashionable. We would recommend using 220 grit sandpaper for this or a sanding block. Rub it all over the areas that would usually wear over time and use a lint-free cloth at the end to remove any dust. Your rustic look is complete!
Waxing is key
Just one final thing before you can say voila, apply some wax. It will seal up your paint and provide a necessary protective layer. Select a clear wax and use a wax brush to apply – simply dip into your clear wax and rub into the paint in a circular motion. You’ll see just how it enhances the appeal of your furniture.
When you’re done, give it all a rub with a clean cloth to remove any excess. Always rub in the direction of the wood grain. You can add some darker wax as a second coat after applying your clear wax, but it is not necessary – only if you like this aesthetic.
You’ve applied chalkboard paint
There you go, you’ve learned just how to use this brilliant medium for your furniture. We hope that you’ve got plenty of chalkboard paint ideas and can now put them to use around your home. You’ll be amazed at the power of this paint for transforming ordinary furniture into masterpieces.
Do you know how to make chalkboard paint? Got any tips on application? Tell us in the comments section below.
Know About Decorating Furniture
Author’s bio:
Kay Burton has always been interested in arts and crafts. He studied Fine Art at the University of Washington, where he also took creative writing classes. Since then, he has been writing on a freelance basis and also works on graphic novels. He’s hoping to release his cyberpunk graphic novel this year.
