Okay, I have been refinishing my own furniture for about a year now! I ALWAYS get questions from people who would love to try it but, like me, were super nervous and had no clue where to begin! Other blogs have great tips and tricks... but I feel like I was still in the dark on some things! So I hope this helps all you closest painters out there join the fun! I am new to the blogging world, so forgive me if I am rambling or throwing in information you really don't care about!
First, name brand or DIY?
If you are like me, you don't want to get overwhelmed or mess up on your first try.. so you may give in and buy your chalk paint from Annie Sloan or another brand of paint just to try things out. This may give you a heart attack at just how expensive it can be! I personally say jump straight to DIY! Its easy!! I will go over everything in here... including a shopping list at your local Home Depot (so you only have to make one trip ;) your welcome!)
Second, what color?
If your like me... this step takes the longest! I am so indecisive.. and I want it to be PERFECT! I go to Home Depot and pick out various different paint colors and bring them back to my piece to make sure they fit my vision before I make a choice. Keep in mind that the grout will make the color slightly lighter then the original paint.. and it will dry with a flat chalky finish.
Once you have picked a color, it is time to shop! I have linked each item back to the products I prefer. to make things easy! All can be purchased at a local Home Depot.
You will need:
Flat latex paint (at least one cup)
Things you may want:
sand paper
a tiny paint brush for details ... I don't like what they have at Home Depot, but they aren't vital!
Now that you have everything you need, it is time to mix the paint! Start by pouring the paint into your container in 1 cup increments. 1 cup of paint is enough to cover a buffet or medium dresser. For each cup of paint you pour, add 1 TBSP of the grout and stir. After you have stirred the grout into the paint, add water. Be conservative with the water, LESS IS MORE! I would not recommend anything more then 1/2 cup of water, I usually use a tablespoon.
The paint should be thick!
Your paint is now ready to use!! Make sure you have removed any dust from the piece, you do not need to sand prior to painting.
Ironically, there is no real science to actually painting the piece. You can paint indoors or out, and it has a relatively fast drying time. The paint may have tiny clumps out grout that weren't stirred properly, but all this can be sanded out later. If you stirred the paint correctly, one coat should be enough.. if it is two watery, and there is bleed through... no worries! Just wait for it to dry and apply a second coat.
What if you want to save your project for later? No problem! just put the lid on your container (if your brush will fit in there, stick it in so you don't have to clean it!) BUT you will notice that after 24 hours the paint will have an oder in your container... It is no cause for concern, the smell will disappear when the paint dries.
After the paint has fully dried, and the finishing wax using a brush or cloth. make sure to fully cover any high traffic areas (like a table top) to prevent chipping or discoloration. IF you would like to use a polyurethane, you can. I have heard that certain brands or types turn yellow on over lighter colors so I personally steer clear.
YOU ARE NOW FINISHED! Can you believe it was really that easy? Me either!
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