Chalk paint is a popular choice for giving furniture a vintage charm. Whether you’re updating a dresser, nightstand, bed frame, or other household pieces, chalk paint offers a simple way to create a custom, handcrafted look. To help you transform your furniture, our team reviewed some of the best chalk paint options available on Amazon.
Below are our top picks to inspire your next DIY remodeling project.
Top 4 Chalk Paints
- FolkArt Home Decor Chalk Paint: Best Color Options
- Country Chic Chalk-Style Paint: Most Eco-Friendly
- Rust-Oleum Matte Interior Chalked Paint: Best Coverage
- Retique It Chalk Furniture Paint: Most Customizable
Best Color Options
FolkArt Home Decor Chalk Paint
Available in over 50 colors, this FolkArt chalk paint allows homeowners to select an option that best suits their furniture. Because it comes in an eight-ounce canister, this paint works best for small projects, such as painting plant pots.
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 People Are Saying About The FolkArt Home Decor Chalk Paint
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
This chalk paint from Country Chic has an eco-conscious formula free of phthalates, formaldehyde, heavy metals, and solvents to provide DIYers with a safe way to decorate their furniture. It’s also rated for indoor and outdoor use, making it a safer option for areas in your yard where kids and pets play.
Key Features
- Comes in a 16-ounce can
- Available in three sizes and over 40 colors
- Can be used on furniture
What People Are Saying About The Country Chic Chalk-Style Paint
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
This Rust-Oleum chalk paint is designed for DIYers who want a quick-dry paint that can add an antique look to a variety of home furniture. Each coat takes only 30 minutes to dry, allowing you to finish painting furniture with multiple coats in a few hours. Plus, one can can cover up to 150 square feet, which is enough for several pieces of furniture.
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 People Are Saying About The Rust-Oleum Matte Interior Chalked Paint
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
This chalk paint from Retique consists of an indoor- and outdoor-safe formula that emits little odor and dries in under 30 minutes for a quick and simple paint job. You can customize the paint to meet your needs with over 40 color options and three size options.
Key Features
- Comes in a 32-ounce can
- Available in three sizes and over 40 colors
- Can be used on furniture
What People Are Saying About The Retique It Chalk Furniture Paint
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.
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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.