REFINISHED CHEST

I’m your typical Millennial so naturally I love anything one would consider effortless. I’m an avid bargain hunter so I love a good deal. And really, who doesn’t love great quality?! For those of you that can relate to me on even just one of these levels, you will love this simple Furniture Hack that is about to revolutionize your DIYing.

Featured Colors

ULTRA PURE WHITE

1850
SOFT MINT

HDC-MD-19
TOTALLY BLACK

HDC-MD-04

What You’ll Need

Time

Budget

Complexity

Shopping List

BEHR PREMIUM PLUS ULTRA® Interior Paint in your choice of sheen (I recommend Eggshell or Satin finish)
Plaster of Paris
Sanding Sponge
Paint Brush
Resealable Container for Chalk Paint
Painter’s Tape (optional, for creating crisp stripes)

Tools

Buy Behr® and your painting supplies at The Home Depot®

I'll take you step by step through my process for mixing your own chalk paint using BEHR Latex Paint and Plaster of Paris.

HOMEMADE CHALK PAINT

Yes, folks! It is possible to get the same ease, quality, and outcome that you would from name brand chalk paint by mixing your own at home for a fraction of the price in less than 5 minutes. Nay! 3 minutes! Not to mention your endless choice of colors. I’ll take you step by step through my process for mixing your own chalk paint using BEHR Paint and Plaster of Paris. Let’s get started!

RECIPE

Mix 1/3 cup Plaster of Paris with 1/3 cup cool water; mix until smooth.
Combine 1 cup of BEHR PREMIUM PLUS ULTRA Interior Paint with the Plaster of Paris mixture and stir thoroughly.

See? Couldn’t get any easier! Mix, pour, stir & voila! Homemade Chalk Paint

chest being sanded with sanding sponge To prep your piece simply take a sanding sponge (any grit between 120-180 will do the trick) and quickly sand down the piece. I don’t spend more than 5 minutes on this step. You want to rough up the finish just enough to keep it from being slick. Then begin.

partially painted chest To prep your piece simply take a sanding sponge (any grit between 120-180 will do the trick) and quickly sand down the piece. I don’t spend more than 5 minutes on this step. You want to rough up the finish just enough to keep it from being slick. Then begin.

THE BIG REVEAL

full length view of refinished chest of drawers with vertical stripes down middle and decor

top of refinished chest of drawers with decor

front view of bottom of refinished chest

To give this super outdated piece a modern flair I simply used painter’s tape to create a couple of stripes down the middle. I went through the same process with the black paint (Totally Black HDC-MD-04) and mint paint (Soft Mint HDC-MD-19) to mix up a chalk paint finish for easy application. I store my paint in a sealable container so I can reuse. I don’t typically save beyond 2 weeks. To preserve your creative genius for all of time, apply a couple coats of Polyurethane or furniture wax to protect. Both work equally as well with this homemade paint.

READY TO DIY?

Find your color, pick your paint, and be inspired.
When you're ready, buy your paint online.

Explore colors on your own or browse through our curated collections.
Click on "Buy" then customize your options.
Checkout at homedepot.com

Get Started

Author

Jenni West

I’m Jenni, your average, run-of-the-mill, twenty-something trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up with a whole lot of passion for designing, reviving, and repurposing old furniture. Visit my Girl Meets Restoration blog for more projects.