Foyer Table Makeover with Homemade Chalk Paint

Looking to make your own chalk paint for furniture painting? Try this calcium carbonate chalk paint recipe!

This post was first published in 2013 and updated in May 2024.

I am officially on the chalk paint bandwagon.  In fact, if I could, I would drive that wagon.  I am obsessed.  

I am already thinking about my next chalk paint project, but for now, here’s a before and after of my first.

This all began a few weeks ago when my husband was in Las Vegas for his fantasy football draft.  (Yes, I banked about five gazillion points for this one).  With the kids in bed and nobody to talk to, I decided to go on a Pinterest binge.  

Some amazing chalk paint projects caught my eye that night, so I decided to watch a few tutorials on YouTube about how to use the name brand chalk paint, Annie Sloan.  After that, I researched the product and found that it is pretty expensive.

This seemed strange to me because last year, my mom gifted me with some gorgeous chairs that she had refinished with chalk paint, and my mom is not the type to spend a ridiculous amount of money on paint or supplies.  

Perplexed, I called her and found out that YOU CAN MAKE YOUR OWN CHALK PAINT (as she did for my chairs)!  Add this to the long list of reasons why my mom is amazing.

So anyway, I did some more research and found that there are a few recipes for homemade chalk paint floating around: calcium carbonate chalk paint, Plaster of Pairs chalk paint, and unsanded grout chalk paint.

I decided to try making calcium carbonate chalk paint, and that’s what I’ve been using ever since 2013.

Chalk Paint Recipe Calcium Carbonate

This post contains affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

To make your own chalk paint with calcium carbonate, here’s what you’ll need:

• Flat or matte latex paint
• Calcium carbonate
• Water
• Measuring cup
• Measuring spoon
• Mixing spoon
• Container

To make up a batch of this chalk paint, simply mix 2/3 cup of flat latex paint with 1/3 cup of calcium carbonate and 1 tablespoon of water.

Stir the ingredients together and make sure that all of the calcium carbonate clumps have dissolved. If they are not dissolving or the paint mixture seems too thick, you can add another tablespoon of water to thin it out a bit.

Important Things to Know About Painting with Homemade Chalk Paint

Making your own chalk paint is a great way to save money and get specific paint colors in chalk paint form! There are a few important things to know though.

The Price of Calcium Carbonate

First, you might think that the price of calcium carbonate is too expensive. Just remember that a bag of calcium carbonate will make so much chalk paint! Depending on how much painting you do, you could have enough calcium carbonate to last you years.

Calcium Carbonate Chalk Paint Prep Work

Next, the best thing about chalk paint, in my opinion, is that the only prep work involved is mixing your paint.  You don’t need to sand the furniture, prime it or anything!  I always want to get right to it, so eliminating the tedious prep work is fantastic.

That being said, it is important to make sure the piece is clean. And, I do recommend a gentle scuff sand before painting any surface! It’s better to rough up the surface a bit to help give the paint more to hang onto.

When Making Chalk Paint, Mix it Well!

On my first homemade chalk paint project, I didn’t mix the paint and calcium carbonate enough, so I had little white bumps all over the place.  It looked really bad.  

Make sure to mix homemade chalk paint so that there are no white bumps left in the paint.

And, if you do happen to get some calcium carbonate bumps in your finish, you can gently sand them off (once the paint is dry). Then, remix the paint and apply a second coat of paint.

What to Seal Calcium Carbonate Chalk Paint With?

Finally, make sure to properly seal any piece that you paint with calcium carbonate chalk paint! It will chip right off if you don’t do this correctly.

My favorite sealer to use was S.C. Johnson Paste Wax, but it is no longer being made! Apparently a great alternative is Minwax Paste Finishing Wax. I have not tried that product though.

Alternatively, I like to use polycrylic in a flat finish to create a very durable but matte piece.

***

Since the time I first wrote this post, I’ve completed dozens of furniture makeovers, and I never hesitate to use my trusty calcium carbonate chalk paint recipe. It is really great and I think you’ll love it, too!