After spending $45 and a half day drive on a quart of brand name chalk paint, I was determined to find the BEST Homemade Chalk Paint Recipes for a cost efficient alternative.
If you’re interested in mixing your own chalk paint to save yourself time and money, read on because I discovered a bunch of interesting stuff I wasn’t made aware of on other blogs.
I tried four (4) of the most popular Homemade Chalk Paint Recipes and the results surprised me and left me with a hands-down fave! In sharing my experience, I hope it helps you decide which DIY recipe is right for you.
So let’s start my countdown…. 😉
Baking Soda Recipe
2/3 cup Paint
1/3 cup Baking Soda
Mix really well
My least favourite is the baking soda recipe.
When applying this Homemade Chalk Paint, (HMCP) it had a very gritty texture despite a thorough mixing. I could actually see the tiny granulars in the paint as I was applying each coat.
I was worried it wouldn’t sand down properly, but it turned out just fine…. whew! Here’s what it looks like after the final sanding/distressing.
Although Baking Soda Chalk Paint is listed last on my countdown, it’s perfect if you’re trying to achieve an old weathered, distressed “country” looking piece of furniture.
Deana at Alchemy Fine Living has a great video showcasing a dresser painted with the Baking Soda Chalk Paint Recipe.
Baking Soda Chalk Paint Cost – $1.69 for a box of baking soda which can be used for another 5 single chalk paint recipes + cost of latex paint
Time Involved – No time was spent on the purchase because I always have baking soda in my kitchen. 2-3 minutes to mix it thoroughly into the paint.
Application – Grainy look and feel even when mixed thoroughly.
Adhesion & Coverage – Great! No priming or sanding required and great coverage. Good coverage after 2 coats but I applied 3.
Odour – No odour other than the latex paint it’s mixed with.
Clean Up – Cleans up like regular latex. Not as easy as 100% green brand name chalk paint.
Distressing – Requires sanding. Not as effortless as brand name chalk paint (ie distressing with dampened cloth).
Finish – The finished look is chalky but not quite as smooth as brand name chalk paint.
Non-Sanded Grout Recipe
1 cup Paint
2 Tbsp Unsanded Grout
Water to mix Grout
Number 3 on my list is the Unsanded Grout Recipe.
I mixed the grout with the water, then once smooth, added it to the paint. It looked and applied like a brand name chalk paint. It dried fast (within 1/2 hour), and the finish was just as “chalky” as the store bought.
It had a bit of a weird odour…ok…really weird. But because it was applying so beautifully, I wasn’t bothered by it too much.
Fabulous! … so why is it listed No.3 on my list?
This DIY Homemade Grout version started to thicken up while I was applying my first coat…. it turned more like thick icing than paint.
I had to keep mixing it while I was painting and eventually had to add more water because it was too thick. The next day it had really congealed and more water was needed. Take a look… it just kept turning into a thick mess!
Here is the before and after. The table on the left is painted with Baking Soda HMCP and the table on the right is painted with Unsanded Grout HMCP. Can you see a difference?
Unsanded Grout Chalk Paint Cost – $17.99 for a large 10lb bag which will last a zillion single recipes + cost of latex paint
Time Involved – Easy to find Non-Sanded Grout on-line or at any Lowe’s, Home Depot, Rona, Canadian Tire or any on-line home reno store. Note – Grout comes in different colours. You want to buy white unsanded grout. Why? If you add a coloured grout to your paint, it may alter your paint’s hue. 3-5 minutes to measure and mix it thoroughly into the water and paint.
Application – Fabulous… until it started thickening up. Then time was spent mixing it and adding additional water to obtain the right consistency.
Adhesion & Coverage – Great! No priming or prep required and it had full coverage after 3 coats. The more water I added, the thinner the coverage.
Odour – It had a weird smell. I’d love to explain it to you but I don’t know what to compare it to?
Distressing – Requires sanding. Not as effortless as with a brand name chalk paint (ie rubbing with dampened cloth).
Clean Up – Cleans up like regular latex (brand name chalk paint cleans up much easier)
Finish – The finished look is exactly like a brand name chalk paint. Smooth, chalky and lovely.
Plaster of Paris Recipe
3 parts Paint
1 part Plaster of Paris
Water to mix
My number 2 pick is the Plaster of Paris recipe.
I made a smooth paste with the plaster of paris and water before mixing it into the paint. When mixed well, it was silky smooth and applied just as nicely as brand name chalk paint.
The second day it did thicken a little and appeared a little grainy, but after a thorough mixing it was fine.
The left over paint was stored in a glass pickle jar and used again 2 weeks later.
Plaster of Paris Chalk Paint Cost – $6.oo for a large box which will last for a looong time + cost of latex paint
Time Involved – Easy to find Plaster of Paris on-line or at any Lowes, Home Depot, Rona, Canadian Tire or craft store. 3-5 minutes to measure and mix it thoroughly into the water and paint.
Application – Fabulous! The consistency was great and it applied like brand name chalk paint.
Adhesion & Coverage – Great! No priming or prep required. Applied 3 coats for compete coverage.
Odour – None other than the latex paint used.
Distressing – Requires sanding. Not as effortless as with a brand name chalk paint (ie rubbing with dampened cloth).
Clean Up – Cleans up like regular latex (brand name chalk paint clean up is much easier)
Finish – The finished look is exactly like a brand name chalk paint. Smooth, chalky and lovely.
I used the Plaster of Paris Chalk Paint Recipe to re-purpose an old sewing table into a little girl’s desk. What do you think?
Calcium Carbonate
2 parts paint
1 part Calcium Carbonate
My hands down #1 choice was the Calcium Carbonate Recipe…which makes good sense since Calcium Carbonate is chalk!
It mixed into the paint easily, had the perfect consistency, coverage was fantastic, dried within 30 minutes, AND left me with a perfect chalky finish. I stored the left over paint in a yogurt container and it kept the same consistency for days. (I did stir it vigorously each time before use.)
The only downfall to my #1 choice was I had a difficult time finding it! Not many stores sell it in powder form and the pill form won’t work even if you grind them up.
My local pharmacy ordered it in for me and I picked it up 4 days later. Since then, I’ve found a good grade Calcium Carbonate On-line and will be ordering from the comfort of my home. 🙂
As I mentioned above, the Plaster of Paris recipe was used to re-purpose the sewing table into a desk, but I used the Calcium Carbonate Chalk Paint to paint the matching chair. Can you tell the difference?
Calcium Carbonate Chalk Paint Cost – $11.99 for a 500g container which I’m almost finished. I’ve painted 1 chair, a large desk (NOT the one shown above) and 2 large chalk board frames. I have enough left over for another small/medium project. Out of all four(4) recipes, Calcium Carbonate is the least economical. However, comparing it to brand name chalk paints, the cost difference is still pennies on the dollar in this recipes favour! + cost of latex paint
Time Involved – Took me 2 weeks to track this stuff down! I searched Shoppers Drug Mart, Health Food Stores, Organic Stores and finally asked at my local pharmacy. Next time, I’ll be ordering it on-line! 3-5 minutes to measure and mix it thoroughly into the paint.
Application – Fabulous…exactly like brand name chalk paints.
Adhesion & Coverage – Great! No priming or prep required and the coverage was fantastic. It dried faster than the Plaster of Paris (within 20 minutes) because no water was added.
Odour – None, other than the latex paint used.
Distressing – Requires sanding. Not as effortless as with a brand name chalk paint (ie rubbing with dampened cloth).
Clean Up – Cleans up like regular latex (brand name chalk paint clean up is much easier)
Finish – The finished look is exactly like a brand name chalk paint. Smooth, chalky and beautiful!
So the Best Homemade Chalk Paint Recipe… Calcium Carbonate!
Although these HMCP recipes are not 100% green, the coverage and finish are VERY comparable to brand name chalk paints. In researching all my options, I also learned Wall Texture, Limestone and Whitening Powder can be used to make chalk paint.
I wish I knew who to give credit to for the above recipes. Whoever originally came up with them… thank-you… absolutely BRILLIANT!!!!
Still undecided which DIY recipe you’re going to try? You can read more HMCP Tips here.
If you have a HMCP experience you’d like to share or have any questions, feel free to leave a comment and I’ll get right back to you!
Enjoy your day & happy painting.
Denise
Heather says
So with these mixtures is it ok to use a paint sprayer? I am able to use purchased chalk paint through my Home rite sprayer. I used the plaster of pairs mixture and it was terrible. Tons of chunks even though I mixed the batch up with a hand mixer. Then I strained it …still what a terrible mess. I used a satin finish latex paint. Is that the issue? Of course I also had to thin the mixture for the sprayer but nevertheless I will now be sanding and fixing the drawers.
Denise says
Hi Heather! I’ve sprayed DIY Chalk/Mineral Paint through my sprayer and it worked beautifully. I mostly use a flat or eggshell paint rather than satin and I’m unsure about the Home Rite Sprayer because I’ve never used one.
Maria S. says
Hi! Thanks for your recipies, i would like to try your No 1.
I’m a beginner and my question may sound silly, but please tell me if I can use ordinary chalk (the one we use to write on the boards) if I break it into pieces and finally into dust.
Thanks again.
Denise says
I’m unsure Maria but I believe some chalks can have a small quantity of wax in them whereas a pure Calcium Carbonate is 100% pure ingredient. Another concern would be grinding it down super fine. It may be a lot of work to get it to a fine powder.
Jayne says
Calcium carbonate is added to horse feed. Find it in pet stores?
Lynn says
Hi and thanks for all the wonderful posts. I am in Scotland and I had real difficulty with my first attempt at using chalk paint – it dried so fast that it was leaving little granules on the surface as I painted. Eventually I tried thinning some with water and that helped. Was I doing something wrong?? Was going to try again using a home made recipe and was interested in your repeated comment that the home made variety needs sanding at the end rather than just wiping with a damp cloth….. Could you explain a bit about that? I had to sand my piece at the end to get rid of the little granules anyway. I was really excited about the project and it was much harder than I thought it was going to be to get a nice finish.
Denise says
Hi Lynn! You did nothing wrong. Brand name chalk paint dries very quickly and adding a little water will extend the work time. Whether I use diy or brand name chalk paint, I ALWAYS sand to give a professional smooth finish. when I refer to the damp cloth for brand name or sanding for diy, this refers to the distressing technique. You can distress brand name chalk paint with a damp cloth whereas this technique doesn’t work with diy versions. Hope this helps. 🙂
Lynn says
Thank you so much – that’s very helpful indeed?
Elaine says
it is a powdered pigment
Denise says
Elaine, a powdered pigment can be used to tint a white water based paint (and then add in your chalking ingredient) OR just purchase a premixed water based paint in a color of your choosing.
Belle says
I remember the time when my mom asked us to help paint the fences and I observed that the paint was made in front of us. It must be this calcium carbonate chalk paint recipe since the outcome just looked the same as your chair. Loving it!
Libby O'Rourke says
Thanks for the tips- I bought my Calcium Carbonate at the Health Hut where I get a lot of my vitamins. I only pd $9.99 for 12oz. bottle! You can pull them up on the internet under The Health Hut- I was wondering though, should I mix this with water, or little of the paint to get it started- I only have a half pint of ea color I’m working with, and don’t want to overdo it- Maybe a Tbs. in with it? I’m new at this mixing stuff, but the paint it’s self is so expensive!
Denise says
Hi Libby. A half pint is approx 1cup so because the recipe asks for 2parts paint to 1part CC, you would add aprox 1/2 cup of Calcium Carbonate to your half pint of paint. I don’t add water with the NOW Brand Calcium Carbonate because there’s no need – it’s a super fine powder and blends in beautifully to provide a silky smooth chalky paint. However, if you’re using any other brand, possibly mixing the CC with a small amount of water prior to adding it to the paint may be beneficial.
Heather Massey says
What kind of paint do you use in the mix?
Leslie says
Hi Denise, in a pinch have you ever tried using calcium carbonite garden lime? or ground down white chalkboard chalk. I figure in a pinch or for small projects both would work.
Denise says
I have not tried garden lime Leslie. I’d love to hear how it works if you give it a go!
Donna says
I have heard that with chalk paint you don’t even need to sand melamine. Just wondering if anyone has regretted not sanding the melamine first.
Maria says
Hi ladies my question is if you need to sand thw furniture before paoting woth chalky paint? THANKS
Denise says
No – However if you’re working with a high gloss or shiny surface, a light sanding is beneficial Maria.
Laura warren says
Thanks for all the recipes I will try one soon! Once it is all painted do I still buy the chalk paint wax to put on it?
Denise says
Yes, or any brand of furniture wax will work Laura.
Brenda Scheirer says
I am so excited to try this on my melamine cupboards! Thanks Kristen and to all the ‘posters’ for extra information on sourcing and experimenting! Would love to see some more pics of finished projects
Kristen says
Hi! Thank you so much for posting these recipes. I love using the name brand chalk paint but I’m so sick of paying the hefty price. I noticed that the original blog was from 2013. I was wondering if you’ve had any luck finding the calcium carbonate in big box stores since then? Very pretty pieces by the way. Thank you for your tips,
Kristen
Denise says
Thanks Kristen! My favorite Calcium Carbonate to use is the NOW Brand which I buy online. Tried, true and tested. 🙂
Liz says
Wow what a great read ! Thanks so much for all the useful info. About 6 years ago I painted all my kitchen cabinets and loved them. Now I want to do all base and island cabinets w chalk paint and in black to contrast the dark cream uppers..
You’ve inspired me.
Thanks
Liz
Diana says
I was wondering in I use a DIY chalky paint like on a desk can I use a semi-gloss paint for a sealer. Will this work?
Denise says
Yes, Diana. When top coating with poly/sealer, you can use any sheen you like.
Tina says
What do I use to add color to it? I want to try it but none of them say what to use.
Tina says
Ding Ding….I figured it out…sorry for the silly question. Its what ever color paint you use…lol. Can you use craft paint like I buy at the craft store?
Denise says
Yes you can Tina…so long as it’s water based. 🙂
JM says
Calcium carbonate is the same thing as limestone flour, used as a bone supplement for horses, so I get mine in a farmers shop, cheaper than anywhere and as it is animal food grade you know there’s nothing really nasty going on your furniture!
Shannon says
I have been watching YouTube tutorials on chalk painting, I was wondering if you still use the wax after you use the home made paint?
Thanks Shannon
Denise says
Yes Shannon. 🙂
linsay says
If I am painting bedroom furniture white using the calcium carbonate, what is the eastiest/but most effective sealer to put on ?
Denise says
Wax or poly. Seeing as it’s white, it’s best to use a clear wax or a non-yellowing poly so it doesn’t yellow tint your paint job Linsay.
Chasity says
How many coats did you use with #1?
Denise says
Chasity, the chalking ingredient does not determine how many coats for full coverage but the quality of paint you use will. If you use a half decent paint, 2-3 coats will give a professional finish.
Susan says
I would like to try the chalk paint on canvas for an art piece. Can I mix artists acrylic paint with recipe number 4 and if so would it be the same proportions or would I need to add water. Do you think it would work for a project such as this?
Denise says
If you’re looking for a textured/matte look for your art, yes, this would work nicely Susan. 🙂
Ebeth says
Do any of these or all of these require a top coat?
Denise says
Yes Ebeth. Chalk Paint (brand name or DIY) is very porous and will pick up dirt, oils, stains etc very easily. To protect your project, it’s best to topcoat with a wax or poly.
Andrea says
Hi Denise, is it possible to use liquid calcium carbonate instead of powder?
Denise says
I don’t know Andrea…I’ve never tried.
Kathy van Gogh says
Keep up the great DIY info. Paint made with chalk is the oldest paint going. You’d have to go back to the 1300’s to thank Cennini I think or to the renaissance. This is a wonderful page. I love what you’re doing.
Denise says
Thank you Kathy! 🙂
Donna says
Can you use a high gloss sealer or semi-gloss sealer over a piece of furniture that has been painted with the Home Made Chalk Paint
Denise says
Chalk/Mineral Paint is usually used to create that flat/chalky finish, but yes, you can use a gloss topcoat Donna. 🙂
Donella says
Hi Denise, I really appreciate your research and experimentation on the 4 versions of chalk paint. My question is have you tried using deck sealer to seal the chalk paint? I want to do my bathroom and kitchen cabinets but I hear that the wax seal is very time consuming and it doesn’t give the sheen of a clear sealer.
Thanks
Denise says
I’ve never tried deck sealer but I have used an outdoor poly for my outdoor furniture…turned out great!
Renee Townsend says
Hi Donella, I read someplace that Deckscapes from Sherwin Williams was an excellent sealer over chalk paint. In fact I am planning on using in on my kitchen cabinets when I paint them. Hope this helps!
Kim says
Can u use chalk paint for kitchen cabinets ?
Denise says
You sure can. 🙂
Patty says
do you have to use paint in a darker shade to get the shade you want?
Denise says
No, pick the color/shade you want and then add the chalky ingredient. It will not change the color.
Cherie says
Thanks for the comparisions, I tried the calcaium carbonate paint but it didn’t cover that well on the 1st coat anyway and it’s really grainy. Is it supposed to be like that?
Denise says
No Cherie, it is not suppose to be grainy. The grit may be coming from the brand of CC or quality of CC used or was not 100% mixed in. As for the coverage, the above chalky ingredients do not change and/or help with coverage but rather with adhesion and a chalky finish. If coverage is poor, this may be due to the paint being used.
Cherie says
Thank you for your reply Denise. I bought CC from Amazon from the Pet departmen – (maybe that’s the problem!)
Cherie says
Thank you Denise, I bought it from Amazon in the Pet department
SH ERY L says
I am painting a bookshelf with the dresser underneath with three drawers. I started painting with late text paint after I sanded the wood. I’m not happy with it it’s not the look I’m looking for. Can I mix plaster of Paris with the remaining paint in proportion and paint over what I have already painted or do I need to re-sand?
Denise says
I wouldn’t bother re-sanding the dresser down however a light sanding to create some ‘tooth’ before applying your DIY chalk paint would be beneficial Sheryl. Sounds like a great project. 🙂
Rach says
Hi there
Thank you for the insight in chalk paints .. I’m in uk and we are not familiar with latex paint … Do you know what the uk equivalent is ? ??
Denise says
Rach, I believe the term for a latex or water based paint in the UK is “emulsion paint”.
Erin says
Hi, same question for Australia, would it be acrylic water based paint?
TIA
Denise says
Yes Erin. 🙂
Sarah says
Can you glaze over this finish?
Denise says
Yes!
Susan C. Black says
I am interested in knowing the difference between CHALK paint (which I assume is used to write on???) and CHALKY paint like the paint all my fellow tole painters etc are using now…. and the idea for the filing cabinets using a mixture of paint and DE …. help, I am on school vacation and really want to give the filing cabinets a try – – so am ready to roll when someone can clear this up for ‘this ol’ lady’ xox
Denise says
Susan, you are correct 🙂 …Chalkboard Paint is specifically to write on. Chalky paint (when left unsealed may also be written on) is popular for it’s matt/chalky appearance and easy application. Often no priming or sanding needed. If you’re filing cabinet has a slick surface, I would suggest giving it a quick sanding before painting. Good luck. 🙂
Lynn says
From what I have gleamed over the years CHALKY PAINT is the brand name of chalk paint made by DecoArt. DecoArt is a manufacturer of craft paints in United States. The original Trademark name for Chalk Paint was already used. I believe there are many different names for chalk paint now on the market.
Melanie says
Found a discounted gallon of eggshell finish Valspar paint + primer, so I mixed it in the proportions suggested with the PoP. I read somewhere else to use warm water, which I did and it mixed smoothly. However, within a few minutes, it cooled and greatly thickened, so a lot of water was added to recover fluidity. Despite the mixing lumps remained. Coverage was fair, definitely needs 2-3 coats. Did you use paint with or without primer in it?
CK says
I have used Valspar paint on lots of pics never had this issue until now
almost like a bread dough
I discovered valspar sales a chalk paint ?
Jennifer Beals says
Wow – I must say – you’re very talented!! Kudos to you! ? I can’t wait to try this! Very creative & artistic.
Jean says
Thanks Denise for posting the recipes. I did the Plaster of Paris with semi-gloss latex paint on my 1975 dark brick fireplace and it worked fantastically. It helped the paint absorb into the porous brick and covered very well on the first coat. I’m very pleased, and so is my husband when he came home to find me in the middle of doing it!! Cheers
LuWana says
Hi Denise,
I, too love your blog. I’ve found a HMCP recipe that I really like, which uses both Plaster of Paris and Calcium Carbonate. It’s 2 Tbsp. of each (POP and CC), along with 2 Tbsp. of water and mix thoroughly, then add 2 c. of flat latex paint. I love that I’m not limited to the colors the Chalk paint companies provide! I also use Johnson Paste Wax (the same kind you would use for your hardwood floor) to wax, for projects where I don’t want a dark wax. It smells a bit when you apply it, but the smell doesn’t last once it dries. It’s less expensive, and works perfectly. My Calcium Carbonate comes from Amazon, but I plan to check out pottery supply companies, as suggested by one of your other readers.
Thanks for a great blog!
Denise says
Thanks for sharing LuWana! 🙂
Lorraine says
does it matter if I use flat paint or semigloss mixed with the calcium carbonate? I want the chalky finish and I do have some extra semi gloss latex at home already. would rather use it if I can achieve the same results
Denise says
Flat paint works best (gives the chalkiest finish) but I have used semi-gloss Lorraine. If you’re unsure, you could mix a small amount and paint a sample board. 🙂
Sandy says
Wondering what color of paint you used in the pictures. I love the color.
Denise says
Behrs Cottage White at Home Depot Sandy.
joanmullen says
Can you used chalk paint oner melamine, or does it have to be treated first?
Denise says
You can Joan but I would recommend sanding first. Having said this, if you are wanting to paint a large project like cabinets etc. a wiser choice may be a specific “melamine paint” for durability and longevity. Melamine paints are thicker and stickier than other paints. It’s made to really adhere to slick melamine and plastic surfaces.
Brenda says
What finish type do you use to make the milk paint. Would it be flat Paint?
Denise says
Hi Brenda! I’ve actually never made milk paint before so I’m not sure how to go about it. For the chalk paint recipes, a flat water base is perfect. 🙂
Sue says
Can you use other finishes? There are some satin “oops” in a color I want to use for cheap at my home improvement store but didn’t know if that would work for diy chaulk paint using plaster of paris. Thanks.
Denise says
Yes, it works Sue, however it won’t turn out quite as matte/chalky. 50 FAQ DIY Chalk Paint Q&A
Dayna says
I want to try the number 1 recipe. Have you tried it on glass?? going to be making a homemade valentines gift and i think the chalk board paint on a mason jar would be cool and different..
Denise says
Yes I have Dayna and it worked nicely.
Dave says
Hi Denise – good recipes! I am a potter – you can get calcium carbonate in bulk sizes from pottery supply places for good prices.
Helen says
Also at Home brewin supply stores. It’s used to lower the acidity of ales and wines… I also found a 5 lb bag on amazon for 11.99
Pauline says
I’m new to chalk paint, but will definitely be trying your recipes. My question is, do you still seal with wax? If so, what brand do you use?
Denise says
Yes, you can seal these DIY recipes with wax. I’ve used Minwax, CeCe Caldwell’s, Annie Sloan and Trewax…whatever brand you like.
Kristl says
I have all the supplies I need, but I am curious…does the calcium carbonate lighten the paint at all? I’m painting something a medium-dark blue, but have not mixed in the CC yet.
Denise says
No, it will not change/alter the color Kristi. Have fun! 🙂
beckey Neal says
Have you tried painting fabric furniture with any of these recipes? Thanks so much for posting these!
Denise says
I have not Beckey but it’s on my try-it-list and others have had success painting fabric with DIY Chalk Paints!
Connie says
I used the number 3 for fabric and it worked great!
Adi says
Can you use the number 4 recipe for a chalkboard that is to be written on with chalk?
Denise says
Yes Adi. 🙂
Patti says
Hi all. My son rock climbs and uses magnesium carbonate to take the moister off his hands. When I look it up it is the same as calcium carbonate???? You can buy a good size tube for about $12 Canadian at MEC or any rock climbing store. I am come to use it in my next project. Wish me luck
Anita Branch says
Patti, how did the magnesium carbonate work? I have some also and was wondering if it worked with the paint? Please let me know if you can. Thank you! Anita
April says
I came back on here to tell you how much I loved the baking soda recipe for my photo backdrop! I painted a large piece of styrofoam insulation, just one coat, and it was fantastic! Just the kind of imperfect matte finish I was after. I now plan on buying a few more sheets and making some vflats of different colors. So much cheaper than buying backdrops, and I can do them in any color. Thanks!
patti says
Has anyone tried painting walls with the chalk recipe? If so, did you use rollers?