To make our chalk paint we use
Calcium Carbonate Powder (Food Grade), water and latex paint in flat or eggshell. Simply dissolve 5 Tablespoons of Calcium Carbonate in a small amount of warm water to create a smooth consistency. Mix it really good so there are no lumps of calcium carbonate left and then pour that into 1 cup of latex paint. I honestly never measure exact amounts - eyeballing works great for this.
When we first started painting furniture, we made our chalk paint with
Plaster of Paris powder. We used the same recipe, just replaced the Calcium Carbonate Powder with Plaster of Paris. I loved the recipe, it worked great, except it didn't store very well. So, if you're looking for another alternative and don't plan to store any extra paint, Plaster of Paris is a great option!
Since we spray the chalk paint on most of our pieces, we also need to thin it for our
paint sprayer. You can find all of those details
here! But if you choose to not spray on your paint, you're good to go with your brush and fresh batch of chalk paint!
That's all there is to it! Enjoy!
P.S. Chalk paint is great for most pieces of furniture. Keep in mind though, if your furniture has a super shiny or slick finish, it is best to prime before using chalk paint, as the chalk paint cannot adhere properly to those finishes.
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