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How To Paint Over Chalk Paint Furniture: DIY Guide

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Did you use chalk paint as a quick fix for an at-home DIY project but now want to elevate the piece? Or you stumbled upon a cheap thrift and want to fix the paintwork. Whatever the case, painting over a chalk paint piece of furniture will not cost you much, and you can do it yourself with just a few easy steps! 

In most cases, you can paint over chalk paint. To paint over chalk paint, ensure any old wax is fully cured, lightly sand the entire surface if needed, and thoroughly clean the furniture piece. Then repaint, following instructions for the specific kind of paint chosen.

Tips to paint over chalk paint- Annie Sloan chalk paint in French Linen, paint brush, and sanding block.

If you love a good DIY, follow the steps outlined in this article to help you achieve a beautifully painted surface when freshening up old chalk paint pieces.

Also, note chalk paint is NOT chalkboard paint. Chalk paint is a decorative paint with a matte sheen and will give your furniture a farmhouse-style vibe.

Learn more: what is chalk paint for furniture.

Prep Your Workspace 

How you begin a DIY project can be a great indicator of how the project will end. 

A well-organized, laid-out workspace will help you reduce time spent fidgeting for supplies and ensure the best results. A well-prepped workspace can also create a stress-free environment and allow you to feel relaxed. 

So, get out your sanding supplies, paints, lint-free cloth, a primer, and drop cloth, and get to work.

Consider the Finish of Your Piece 

Assess your piece to determine its finish. 

Consider whether your piece has a sealant applied on top, such as clear wax. Wax sealant is commonly used over the top of chalk paint to help protect it. 

Chalk paint, the most common being Annie Sloan’s Chalk Paint, is famous for its effortless, drip-free application.

However, it requires a topcoat to last. If the wax was recently applied and hasn’t fully cured, it could prevent fresh paint from adhering to the piece. 

Conduct a simple water test to determine whether a sealant has been applied to the piece you are working with. Drop a few drops of water onto your piece; if the droplets are absorbed, there is no sealant. 

However, if the water glides right off and does not penetrate the surface, you are dealing with a wax sealant. 

The good thing is you can paint over furniture covered in chalk paint wax!

You are good to go if the wax is not fresh or tacky and appears to be thoroughly dried/cured. 

Sand the Piece 

The next step is to sand your piece.

Sanding block used to sand grimy chalk painted furniture.

On most occasions, I will even skip this step!

If the chalk-painted furniture has a smooth finish, you can skip this step and clean the furniture before repainting.

Furniture with Multiple Layers of Paint

If there are several coats of old paint, you will need to invest a bit more effort to prep your furniture for repainting. It is very challenging to get a smooth surface if you are painting over the top of many layers of paint.

You can use a power sander such as an orbital sander, disk sander, or belt sander to sand off your piece. 

If the intent is to repaint, there is no need to remove ALL of the paint. Just ensure the entire piece is smooth and ready to accept new paint. Sanding can be a lot of hard work.

Furniture Minimal Coats of Paint

A complete sanding is not necessary for a chalk-painted piece of furniture that is still in great condition but merely needs an update with a fresh coat of paint.

Just grab some medium-grit sandpaper and rough up the surface. The existing finish does not need to be removed, only roughed up.

Sanding your piece helps ensure a smooth base for your new paint layer to sit on top of. Sanding also reveals any imperfections that may later need to be filled. 

Dust and Clean the Piece 

After sanding, your furniture piece will be full of dust particles on the surface and in the crevices. 

Use a dry, lint-free microfiber cloth to wipe off the surface, removing any debris or dust. Follow up the dry cloth with a damp cloth to help clean off any grime. 

Dust and dirt on black chalk-painted furniture.

Over time, older pieces tend to develop greasy grime from use.

This grime can build up into a sticky layer that, similar to a glossy topcoat, will not allow your paint to adhere or allow you to achieve a smooth finish. 

Mineral spirits helps remove any oily substances you find on the surface. Read instructions on the can for best results and proper use.

Another excellent cleaner that works as a degreaser is Krud Kutter. Use a rag to clean the surface, ensuring you remove any chalk dust or debris in the cracks and crevices. 

Prime Your Piece

Priming your piece with a bonding primer is optional, depending on your time constraints and the new color you are using. If painting with white or another light color, one to two coats of primer will save you a little effort in the long run.

I’ve also had to prime previously painted furniture that had bleed-through from stains and tannins beneath the paint.

If you have the time and resources, priming your piece with furniture primer is a great way to have a clean canvas to paint on. 

White primers also help the new layer of paint pop and appear true to color. However, if you’re short on time or do not have primer, you can skip this step when painting over chalky paint. 

Keep in mind, though, that the paint you apply may appear slightly different depending on the base color of the piece. 

Paint Your Piece

Now for the painting part of this transformation. You will need a good paintbrush to minimize brush marks.

You can paint your piece with any type of paint listed below. All the listed paints will work great if you do the preliminary steps discussed above. Look through the different types of paint, decide on the paint color, and good luck!

Chalk Paint

When repainting your old piece, one of the first options is reconsidering chalk paint. Chalk paint (Annie Sloan Chalk Paint or a number of other popular brands) is a great choice if you’re looking for a quick fix. 

Chalk paint is a good choice because it is straightforward, provides a pretty farmhouse style, and can quickly help you achieve the distressed look.

Matte chalk paint with a chalky finish is most popular due to its thick consistency, allowing easy all-over application with minimal streaks and drippings. Discover my favorite brushes to use with chalk paint for a beautiful finish with less noticeable brush strokes. 

You can even make your own chalk paint.

This paint is a good idea if you’re considering a less-is-more rustic approach. The prep work is minimal, and for many projects, a second coat is all that is required. Light colors require more. 

Milk paint is a similar process but requires a bit more prep work.

However, remember that when using chalk paint or milk paint, using a wax sealant such as soft wax is a must to preserve the paint’s color, finish, and longevity. A wax finish will last around two years before needing reapplication. 

Suppose the furniture will be exposed to heavy use and potential water rings from glasses. In that case, consider a more durable sealant such as polycrylic or polyurethane, so it lasts a long time. 

Furniture that gets heavy use would be dining room table, kitchen table, kitchen cabinets, coffee table, etc.

Acrylic Paint 

Acrylic paint is one of the market’s most versatile and easy-to-use paints.

What’s great about it is that unsealed chalk paint can act as a primer for acrylic paint. Matte chalk paint is a great base layer for acrylic paint to stick onto. 

Waverly chalk style acrylic paint in the colors Mineral and Lagoon.

Apply acrylic paint on top of unsealed chalk paint, sand the piece, then apply. You can choose whether or not you want to seal the acrylic paint depending on your climate and where you want to place your piece. 

Sealing may be unnecessary if you want to have your piece indoors in a cool, dry environment without daily use. 

Latex Paint

Latex paint, or regular paint, is often very underrated. 

This thin, water-based paint is a great option if you want an overcoat effect. Latex paint can be used on top of unsealed chalk paint since both of them are water-based. 

Duck egg blue color of latex paint on jewelry box.

However, remember that since latex paint is thin, whatever paint or color is underneath will show through. But if you plan on only sticking to latex paint, beware that it can take up to several coats to achieve an opaque finish.

Spray Paint

Who doesn’t love spray paint for DIY projects? 

It’s easy to use, store, dry, and clean up. 

Spray paint is a cheap and easy option that can be used over unsealed chalk paint.

It will adhere beautifully to the base layer and comes in many beautiful colors and finishes. Remember to work in layers with spray paint to avoid uneven coverage and drippings. 

Another great tip is to ensure you have thoroughly sanded and buffed your piece. A rough surface or imperfection will be more prominent and easy to spot under spray paint than under thicker paint.

Glossy Paint

Glossy paints or sealants such as polyacrylic can be layered on top of unsealed chalk paint to help give a beautiful glossy finish. 

Chalk paint is known for its smooth matte finish, so if you want to add longevity with glossy sealers, that works fine too. You can even use gloss paints on wax-sealed chalk paint with just a little prep. 

To help give the glossy paint more adhesive power, you will need to roughly sand down the wax, then clean the piece. Then, apply your colored or clear glossy paint overtop. 

Oil-Based Paint

Oil-based paints are excellent, long-lasting paints. But they are not as easy to use.

Even though they’re not water-based, oil paints can adhere to chalk paint pretty well. To prepare the chalk paint layer, use sandpaper to create grit on the surface to allow the oil paint to stick. 

Also, remember that oil paint is not as flexible as chalk paint and is, therefore, not the greatest option when painting a piece meant to be outside in ranging temperatures. 

Top Coat Options

Depending on the paint used for the new paint job, you will likely need to use a topcoat. 

Minwax, Varathane, and General Finishes polycrylic and polyurethane top coats stacked on counter.

To seal painted furniture, consider a sealing coat using:

  • Clear wax
  • Dark wax
  • Other furniture wax
  • Dark glaze
  • Polycrylic
  • Polyurethane (water or oil-based polyurethane)

In many cases, the best option is polycrylic because it is fast and easy to apply and adds a durable finish to the whole piece, potentially getting a lot of use. Flat Out Flat is a popular choice and a great poly to consider for items that get daily use.

Conclusion

The best way to prepare a chalk paint piece to be painted over is to determine the finish of the piece, clean up any dirt and grime, and then paint away. 

If these vital steps are followed, the good news is that chalk paint can be very user-friendly and come in many different colors and save a lot of time.

LEARN MORE
Get more in-depth tips: What is Chalk paint for furniture

Yield: 1 painted surface

How to Paint Over Chalk Paint

How to paint over chalk paint- supplies needed.

Tips to paint over furniture that has been painted with chalk paint.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Active Time 1 hour
Additional Time 1 hour
Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Difficulty Easy
Estimated Cost $50

Materials

  • Chalk paint or other paint used to repaint furniture
  • Microfiber cloth
  • Drop cloth
  • Top coat or clear wax

Tools

  • Quality paint brush for paint and top coat

Instructions

  1. Thoroughly clean previously chalk-painted furniture.
  2. Sand if needed. Many times no sanding is required and you can go straight to painting the furniture piece.
  3. Paint with two or more coats, ensuring good coverage. Allow adequate dry time between coats.
  4. Apply wax or top coat for improved durability. Piece should be dry enough for light use in two days. Allow up to two weeks to fully cure prior to heavy use.

Notes

In most cases when painting over chalk paint, cleaning a piece of furniture prior to repainting is all that is required. If the surface is not smooth, sanding will be needed.

For more chalk paint information see: What is Chalk Paint for Furniture

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