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Chalk paint can add a distressed and aged look to dressers, bed frames, nightstands, and other pieces of furniture. To help you add a personal touch to your favorite furniture, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the best chalk paint on Amazon. Here are our top recommendations.
Top 4 Chalk Paints
- Best Color Options: FolkArt Home Decor Chalk Paint
- Most Eco-Friendly: Country Chic Chalk-Style Paint
- Best Coverage: Rust-Oleum Matte Interior Chalked Paint
- Most Customizable: Retique It Chalk Furniture Paint
Best Color Options
FolkArt Home Decor Chalk Paint
- $7.74
- $9.99
- 23% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Key Features
- Comes in an eight-ounce can
- Available in over 50 colors
- Can be used on wood, metal, ceramic, terracotta, canvas, and other surfaces
What Customers Are Saying
Customers liked that the paint color they received matched the photos of the color on the product page. However, some reviewers said that the packing process needed more care, as multiple customers received damaged products.
Most Eco-Friendly
Country Chic Chalk-Style Paint
- $28.95
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Key Features
- Comes in a 16-ounce can
- Available in three sizes and over 40 colors
- Can be used on furniture
What Customers Are Saying
Customers who loved this paint praised its matte finish, which gave their furniture a rich color without needing multiple coats. However, some dissatisfied customers said that the paint was easy to chip.
Best Coverage
Rust-Oleum Matte Interior Chalked Paint
- $23.78
- $31.99
- 26% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Key Features
- Comes in a 30-ounce can
- Available in over 10 colors
- Provides 150 square feet of coverage
- Can be used on wood, ceramic, metal, and other surfaces
What Customers Are Saying
Customers liked this paint’s versatility, which allowed it to be used on almost any surface, including brick and wood. However, dissatisfied customers complained that the recommended top coat that kept the paint from peeling caused the white paint to turn yellow.
Most Customizable
Retique It Chalk Furniture Paint
- $37.99
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Key Features
- Comes in a 32-ounce can
- Available in three sizes and over 40 colors
- Can be used on furniture
What Customers Are Saying
Many customers were impressed that the paint didn’t leave an odor behind after application. However, unhappy customers complained that the paint required multiple coats to dry without streaks.
Buyer’s Guide
Before deciding on a can of chalk paint, consider the following four factors.
Quantity
Most chalk paint comes in 32-ounce containers, though some brands offer paint in a variety of sizes. For example, the Retique It Chalk Furniture Paint comes in three sizes to match your painting needs.
Color Offerings
Chalk paint is meant to add a decorative and rustic look to surfaces, which is why most brands offer a variety of color options. For example, the FolkArt Home Decor Chalk Paint offers over 50 color selections.
Coverage
A chalk paint’s coverage refers to the amount of square footage it can coat. Most offerings cover up to 100 square feet per quart, though some paints, such as Rust-Oleum’s 30-ounce chalk paint, can cover up to 150 square feet.
Formula
Some chalk paints make do without the common additives found in most water-based paints. For example, the Country Chic Chalk-Style Paint has a phthalate- and formaldehyde-free formula, making it safer for the environment and you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between chalk and regular paint?
While chalk paint is water-based like many regular paints, it contains a matte finish that covers cracks and blemishes with ease. Additionally, chalk paint typically has a thicker consistency that’s less likely to drip down surfaces.
How do I apply chalk paint?
Many DIYers select chalk paint because of its simple application, which usually doesn’t require sanding or priming. When you’re using chalk paint, a quick cleaning of the surface is usually all that’s required before applying it with a paintbrush or roller.
Do I need to wax my chalk paint after application?
While a wax coating isn’t necessary after applying chalk paint, adding a protective layer of wax shields the chalk paint from normal wear and tear.
Why Trust The This Old House Reviews Team
This Old House has empowered homeowners for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement content in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content on its website and social media platforms. The This Old House Reviews Team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content to help inform your purchasing decision for just about any item or resource that you might need for your home. The This Old House Reviews Team has written over 1,000 reviews on products in the home space, from cordless drills to kitchen trash cans, lawn mowers, and dining room decorations.
We recommend products in each review using an intensive research process, spending hours combing through the best available models on Amazon. For a product to make our list of top picks, it must hold a solid sales record on Amazon, have consistently positive customer reviews, and offer unique features, among other factors. After narrowing down our list of recommendations, we conduct additional research and sometimes in-person testing to ensure that the products meet our standards. Once we conclude the research phase, we craft a well-rounded, user-friendly article that includes our recommended products and additional information to help homeowners like you make the right purchase.
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