My Best Tips For Blending Chalk Paint On Furniture

Blending Chalk Paint On Furniture

Before we get started, I put together a list of the products you’ll need for blending chalk paint on your furniture. Click on the products in the list below if you need to find where to purchase them and all the products used for this makeover.

• Chalk Mineral Paint (Colonel Mustard, Pine Cone, Butter Cream)
• Paintbrushes
• Fine Mist Spray Bottle
• Paper Towels
• WoodUbend (wood appliques)
• Titebond Wood Glue
• Heat Gun 

Oh, and don’t forget to prep your wood furniture before you paint. CLICK HERE to learn more. Don’t make this mistake!

WoodUbend… add details!

Here is a fun way to add beautiful details without a lot of hassle. It’s called WoodUbend. These little nuggets are made from compressed sawdust and molded into amazing appliques that bend when heated up to conform to the surface area when applied with wood glue. It can even be applied to rounded corners if you feel fancy. If you want to learn more about the application and watch a short video on how to… CLICK HERE.

Chalk Mineral Paint For Blending

Are you ready? Let’s talk about chalk paint before we get started on today’s subject of blending chalk paint. I have my favorite, but it’s up to you to see what works best for you. I like this one, but you probably knew that already. You’ll want a chalky-based paint that will harden over time but one that reactivates with water before it completely cures. That’s where the blending of chalk paint comes in. The truth is, drying times matter when you’re working with chalky-based paints, and you need to know what your chalky paint can and cannot do as far as reactivating and blending with water. For me, the only way to know is to test it and test it again. I practiced blending two paint colors over and over until I got the results I wanted.

Tip #1 Blending Chalk Paint 2-3 Colors

Chose 2-3 colors that are complementary to each other. For example… for this piece, I chose Colonel Mustard (yellow), Pine Cone (brown), and Butter Cream (off-white). Blending chalk paint is much easier when the colors are cohesive. One-color blends into the other, creating a third color, and you can create some amazing finishes when colors collide.

Tip #2 Good Quality Synthetic Paintbrushes

You will need good synthetic paintbrushes for blending chalk paint. I prefer round brushes, but there is no reason that you can’t use your standard synthetic paintbrush. It’s a personal preference, but if my round brushes are all dirty, and will grab whatever I have clean and go to town. The technique is more important than the style of paintbrush you’re using. Just make sure you use a quality synthetic paintbrush.

Tip #3 Get Prepared Ahead Of Time

Prepare the area you’re working in. Get all of your supplies together in one place. Once you start painting, you’re going to need your full attention on the task at hand: paint, water mist bottle, paper towels, and paintbrushes. Use one paintbrush for each color you chose. Turn off your cell phone! Lock the door! Do whatever you need to do to be ZEN and feel peaceful and calm about the art you are about to create. This is your time, and paint can be extremely therapeutic.

 Tip #4 Apply A Basecoat First

Apply 1-2 coats of your base color (yellow) and allow it to dry overnight before you start blending chalk paint on your project. Dry time should be a good 12 hours so that all of the water has had time to evaporate from the paint. The paint is still technically wet when it’s dry to the touch, and it can take hours to days depending on the temperature and humidity for chalk paint to dry properly. Yes, a heat gun or blow dryer can speed up this process, but I’m not a fan of shortcuts when I’m blending chalk paint. Take your time and do it right for the best results. If the base coat isn’t allowed to fully cure and dry well, blending paint and water on top of the base coat will break it down and cause it to pull away and leave you with exposed wood.

It’s like pouring water on water. Then you’ll be crying! Not a pretty picture. If this has happened to you, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

Tip #5 Use 1 Paintbrush Per Color

You will need to use a different paintbrush for each color for the best results. Three colors = three paintbrushes. Hey, you’re an artist now, and artists have lots of paintbrushes. 🙂

Tip#6 Blending Chalk Paint On Furniture

Paintbrushes should always be water-dampened before blending chalk paint. Your fine mist spray bottle of water (I use bottled water) is your best friend! Start by applying the same base color (yellow) in the area you want to blend. Using the fine mist spray bottle, lightly mist the water as you apply the paint. You’ll want a thin coat of paint for the best results. Immediately apply a tiny amount of the second color (Pine Cone) and start blending the two colors. Be mindful that you now have a different color of paint on your brush to brush over into another area. I use paper towels or cotton cloth to clean the brushes as I paint instead of water. Use the smallest amounts of paint. Remember, you’re not painting to cover the wood but to blend the two colors.

This technique will take time and practice. Each time you blend a different color, use the base color (yellow) as your blending base for the other colors you apply. This creates a cohesive look, and soon you’ll be blending paint like a pro.

Tip #7 Use The Soft Touch Approach

Blending chalk paint is a delicate balance of paint, water, and just the right amount of pressure with your paintbrush. Let the paintbrush do the work. Practice different brush strokes and pressures to see what works best for you.

Tip #8 Don’t Overwork When Blending Chalk Paint

Chalk paint typically dries pretty quickly but using the fine mist spray bottle with water helps keep the paint moving. You’ll get to a point when blending chalk paint and think to yourself, “oh, this looks amazing,” and then you will go too far. STOP! Walk away if you’re not sure and let it dry. You will be pleasantly surprised that blended chalk paint looks a lot better when it’s dried.

Tip #9 Drybrushing

As your blended chalk paint begins to dry, try using a clean, dry brush and softly blend any fine lines that may have occurred during the blending while using a paper towel to clean the brush periodically to prevent the colors from mixing.

Tip #10 Don’t Be Afraid To Experiment

Practice, practice practice! Don’t be afraid to experiment with different color combinations. In the beginning, you’ll want to stick to similar colors, but there are no rules when it comes to blending chalk paint on furniture.

I got sunshine on a cloudy day! Nothing says happy like the color yellow. I am glad you decided to drop by and hope this has answered some questions or concerns about blending chalk paint on furniture. And as always, I welcome all comments below.

Until the next project… xo, Do

* A video tutorial for this finish is available in The Art Of Painting Furniture with many other finishes. You can learn right from the comfort of your very own sofa. CLICK HERE to start learning right away.