Have you ever started a project only to discover that regular paint isn’t sticking the way you hoped? Whether you’re painting glass, finished wood, rocks, or other slick surfaces, chalk paint can help create better coverage and adhesion. The good news is that you don’t need to buy a special product. In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to make chalk paint with baking soda, which I’m sure you already have at home.
What exactly is chalk paint?
Chalk paint has a slightly gritty texture and creates a matte finish. The gritty texture is what helps it to adhere better to many surfaces, which makes it especially popular for furniture makeovers.
But, what do you do when you don’t have any chalk paint on hand? Well … make some, of course! We’ve got an easy recipe for how to make chalk paint yourself. I really thought this was going to be difficult, but it is super easy. Let’s go!
Grab some paint (if you start with white you will have a nice base that you can add color to at any time), a jar that has a lid, and some baking soda. That’s literally all you need for homemade chalk paint. Oh! Don’t forget something to stir with (I just grabbed a paintbrush and used the handle.)
I know you thought there’d be more, but that’s it! The tricky part is knowing the measurements. The goal is to end up with some grit but to still be the consistency you are want for the project you are doing. Try a ratio of 2 Tbsp of paint to 1 tsp of baking soda to get started. There you have it, an easy chalk paint recipe. Or, just measure with your heart. That is what we did, but you do you, boo.
What Can You Use Homemade Chalk Paint On?
You can use your homemade chalk paint on anything you can use store bought chalk paint. Ha! Got ya there. Seriously though, you can use your homemade chalk paint on:
- Rocks
- Glass
- Flower Pots
- Wood Signs
- Furniture
- Craft Projects
Does Homemade Chalk Paint Work As Well As Store Bought?
Absolutely! We love our homemade chalk paint especially since we can customize the color according to whatever craft project we are doing. The world is your oyster … well, as long as you have all the colors. But, go crazy. Make a whole shelf full of colorful homemade chalk paint to have at your fingertips. I put in just the tiniest drop of denim blue and it came out this beautiful periwinkle color.
Please enjoy the entirety of Janelle’s demonstration! And see how nicely it covers that little rock.
Supplies Needed to Make Chalk Paint:
- Regular pain (or color of your choosing)
- Baking soda
- Empty jar & lid (must be able to seal)
- Stir stick
How To:
- Add paint to your empty jar (the amount depends on your project)
- Sprinkle in some baking soda (if you are measuring, your ratio is 1t baking soda to 2T paint)
- Stir, stir, and stir some more (just add little bits of baking soda if you want it to be grittier)
Now you have some chalk paint thanks to this easy craft paint hack, and you can save the day when you need some gritty paint for your beginner painting projects!