Easy Homemade Chalk Paint Recipe
THIS SIMPLE, 3 INGREDIENT HOMEMADE CHALK PAINT RECIPE IS MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE. ITโS EASY TO THROW TOGETHER, THE INGREDIENTS LAST FOREVER, AND THE RESULT IS AMAZING.

Hello! Today I am finally getting around to sharing my homemade chalk paint recipe with you guys!
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One of the things Iโm asked about the most is chalk paint. I love it so much, but it can definitely be pricey depending on which brand you choose.
Personally, I love making my own! Itโs so easy to make, and the ingredients last forever, so you can make it again and again and again!
Another reason why I love the homemade route is because you can turn virtually any color you want into chalk paint, rather than having to choose between the limited pre-made colors.
If you still arenโt sure what chalk paint is and why itโs so popular, here are some reasons why I love the stuff:
WHY I LOVE CHALK PAINT
- Chalk paint doesnโt require any sanding or priming.
- Chalk paint can be distressed easily if you like a shabby chic look.
- Chalk paint allows for many different appearances depending on how you seal it. Dark wax can create an aged look, white wax can soften and lighten a color, etc.
Now, letโs get to the main reason why you clicked on this post – the recipe for homemade chalkpaint!
HOMEMADE CHALK PAINT INGREDIENTS
2 TBS Plaster of Paris
1 TBS Water
1 Cup Latex Paint
SUPPLIES NEEDED FOR HOMEMADE CHALK PAINT
Paint Stick
Clear container
Measuring cups
DIRECTIONS FOR HOMEMADE CHALK PAINT
First, add 2 tablespoons of Plaster of Paris to your clear container. Itโs important to use a clear container so that you can really see if everything was mixed and incorporated well.
Next, add 1 tablespoon of water to the Plaster of Paris and stir until it dissolves.
Finally, add 1 cup of latex paint and mix well.

Thatโs it!! Isnโt homemade chalk paint so easy? One of my favorite chalk painted pieces in our home is the changing table in the nursery.

My Mom found the changing table at a thrift store, but it was black and just too dark for the nursery.

Since the finish was so extremely shiny, I did decide to rough it up a bit with sandpaper just to be sure the paint truly adhered. I donโt normally do that, and chalk paint aficionados would probably shake their heads at me. I personally took the extra step because I knew this changing table would undergo a lot of wear and tear!

I chose โSensible Hueโ by Sherwin Williams (lightened by 50%) and followed this homemade chalk paint recipe. I just love the way it turned out!

In order to seal the changing table, I chose to use Polycrylic in satin and I simply brushed it on. I wanted a smooth, wipeable surface (being a changing table and all) and you canโt always achieve that with wax.ย


I mixed up the hardware to add some whimsy, and I just love how it turned out! What do you guys think?

Do you have any questions about chalk paint? Have you tried making your own? Let me know in the comments below!! ๐

PIN IT FOR LATER

Hi Andrea, thank you so much for the chalk paint recipe. You did an amazing job on the change table. Love it.
Oh Julie thank you so much! That means more to me than you know ๐
I personally couldnโt tell the difference between this and the real deal paint.irhas that muted chalky looking finish to it. Amazing! I just wish Iโd known this before I went and bought a bunch of chalk paint, hahaha! Oh well, itโll get used up eventually. If I may take a minute of your time to put in a request? All you bloggers print your blogs in this either pale gray or pale tan lettering and it is absolutely impossible and a struggle to read. Is there any way you could choose a larger and darker type lettering? It sure would help us stay tuned into your blogs and not click off after straying to read for a couple of minutes. I know I canโt be the only one having problems either. Please pass the word on to other blogger friends because weโre tuning out the ones we canโt read. Thank you for any help on this matter.
Kindest regards,,
Shelia P. P S I canโt even read to see if I spelled everything correctly, so surely u understand this is a huge problem? Thank you!
Hi Shelia, thank you so much for reading and thank you for your input on the text as well! That is so good to know, I’m sure it has something to do with the blog theme I chose. I will definitely look into it and try to fix this!! It might take me some time but I will do my best!
The. Changing table turned out wonderful! Such a change from the original.
I agree with the poster above about the small gray type on many blogs too. I have given up reading many because of this! Spread the word!
MaryAnn thank you! You are so kind ๐ Like I told Shelia, I will do my best to look into this and see if I can fix the issue! I so appreciate you visiting my blog! ๐
Thanks for posting, Andrea! I tried chalk paint for the fisrst time in January. I turned a ho-hum, dated bed into a beautiful bed with a black finish that I absolutely love and works perfectly with my black and white theme. The paint was pricy, but because I was totally unfamiliar with the concept at the time, I purchased what was at hand. Due to the finish on the bed, I used “Swamp Mud” as a primer before applying the paint. I didn’t notice if you used a primer, but would love to know your thoughts on it, and if so, do you make your own? Thanks again for posting – I love seeing your ideas come to fruition! ๐
Hi Andrea,
Your changing table came out amazing! I absolutely love the color, knobs and our decorating styles are similar.
What I donโt understand is when you said the paint was โlightened by 50%โ is that something you did or do you ask the guy at SW to do that? Sorry to sound stupid but Iโm new to this painting stuff and on a zero budget.
Thank you for sharing your secrets, talents,ideas and the results of your labor. I really appreciate it.
Hey Annie!! Yes, you can most definitely ask the paint store to lighten it for you! They will use their computer to change the formula. I have had that done several times! BUT in this case I just lightened it myself, so I used 1/2 cup of my color and a 1/2 of white. Does that make sense? Let me know if you have any other questions, I hope that helps! ๐
It is a God thing that I saw your “Five Favorite Furniture Flips” today! I am going to chalk paint some pieces in my home (thrift store finds) and was just getting my list together ready to purchase some very expensive chalk paint and a little frustrated that I could not find the exact color I wanted. Now, thanks to you, no worries. Such a great post and thank you! I have latex paint that I can have colored to any color I want and bingo….chalk paint!! Cannot thank you enough for all your inspiration. You truly have a beautiful home. Keep these ideas coming. Thanks again! You just saved me a TON of money. ๐
Oh my goodness Connie, that makes me so happy!!! Yes, you really can save so much money by making your own! And now your color options are endless haha!! So happy you stopped by my blog! ๐
The changing table turned out awesome! Isn’t it odd that it had been black, for a nursery, for a baby? Well, you fixed that perfectly. Oh, and I love the wallpaper.
Awww haha well thank you Deanna! You are always so kind. ๐
Iโm so excited to try your chalk paint recipe! I have so many things Iโve been wanting to paint in my home! Thanks for sharing ๐
Aww thank you Anna!! It’s a good recipe for sure ๐ Let me know how you like it! ๐
Dear Andrea,
Thank you for the helpful blog post and your delightful blog!! You are a sweet and encouraging inspiration, Iโm thankful to have found your blog on Pinterest. ๐
Could you share how much paint was required for the changing table?
Also, could you elaborate on the amount of paint you mix up at a time? Do you double this recipe, or is it best to mix it up a cup at a time and paint it on?
Thank you for all you put into this blog, it is such a blessing! May God bless you and your family.
Sincerely,
Margaret
Hello Margaret, I apologize this was a while ago now so these specific details I am not completely sure on. I feel for a dresser I would double the batch of paint that I shared in the recipe, I hope this helps!