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You’ve probably heard of chalk paint if you’re a do-it-yourselfer. It’s a popular choice for anyone who wants to decorate their home with the “modern farmhouse” or “cottage core” aesthetic. But what exactly is chalk paint, and what is it used for?

Chalk paint is basically a primer-free paint that has a chalky-looking finish to it. It’s quick and easy and covers surfaces easier than traditional paint. 

Any brand of chalk paint gives a soft matte “chalky” finish to whatever you’re painting. With a little bit of light sanding, it’s easy to use chalky paint to create a “distressed” appearance on furniture.

It can transform any ordinary household item to give it the look of a cherished antique. For some items, a sealant coat of wax is applied to give your painted item a more velvety matte appearance or to create a soft patina finish. 

What’s The Difference Between Chalk Paint and Regular Paint?

Chalk paint is unique and differs from traditional home paints in many ways. The most obvious difference is in its appearance. Once chalk paint dries, it has a matte “chalky” look. There isn’t even a hint of glossiness. It even has a bit of a chalk-like texture when you touch it.

There are plenty of traditional matte finish paints on the market, but they don’t have quite the same velvety look that you can achieve with chalk paint.

Chalk paint is easy to apply, and unlike traditional home paints, you won’t need to do much preparation and rarely need to use a primer coat. In fact, you can use chalk paint right over existing paint with no problems.

This is especially nice if you want to sand edges and let the prior paint color show through for a distressed style. Chalky paint applies smoothly to most surfaces, even glass, and metal, with little to no preparation.

Sometimes a very light sanding will help the paint stick easier, but that’s only necessary if you’re painting a very glossy surface.

Traditional home paints and chalk finish paints are also different in their consistencies. Chalk-style paint is a bit thicker. Because of this, it’s less likely to drip and run while you’re painting. In fact, for many projects, you can probably get away with only applying one coat of chalk-style paint, whereas you might need two coats of traditional paint.

Chalk paint is much easier to clean up, too. It’s water-based, so you can wash your brushes with a gentle detergent and water instead of mineral spirits.

What Do You Use Chalk Paint For?

Annie Sloan first invented chalk paint because she was frustrated with trying to find furniture paint that she liked. Her efforts definitely started a popular trend, with dozens of chalk-style paint brands in a wide assortment of colors now available! All brands of chalk-style paint have been used primarily for refinishing and upcycling wood furniture to give them a “vintage” look.

A plain piece of furniture, no matter how old, can easily be transformed into an eye-catching focal point of any room when refinished with chalk paint. A coat or two of chalk-style paint applied to used furniture from thrift stores and yard sales is an easy way to bring a designer look to your home.

If you’re a fan of the “distressed” look, chalky paint is the best way to achieve it. A light sanding over chalky paint gives that antiqued distressed look that is popular with so many interior designers.

While chalk paint isn’t the best choice for painting entire rooms, you can use it as an accent to your home decor by painting picture frames, shelves, and even light fixtures. Bottles and jars painted with chalk paint become pretty accent pieces in any room of your house. 

Chalk finish paint works well for stenciling projects. You can add chalky paint accents on any piece of furniture, even if the furniture is already stained or painted with traditional paint.

When using chalk paint with a stencil, you’ll want to be sure that your stencil brush or roller has a small amount of paint on it. Because chalk finish paints are thicker than traditional paint, your stencil won’t have nicely defined edges if you use too much paint. You can always add more paint to your design if necessary.

Seasonal craft projects, such as wooden signs or table accents, can be transformed into beautiful vintage-looking pieces with the right colors of chalky paint and a little imagination.

Holiday floral arrangements in a chalky painted container are absolutely charming! 

How Do You Use Chalk Paint?

Chalky Paint is easy to use for any project! If you’re painting furniture or any other large project, most of the time you won’t even need to sand or apply a primer coat. The only time you might want to sand a surface is if you are painting something that is very glossy. Just a light sanding will be enough for the chalky paint to go on smoothly.

Chalky paints are water-based. If your paint seems too thick, you can pour some of the paint into a paper cup, then thin it out with a little bit of water. It won’t take much water, so add it a small amount at a time until it’s the consistency you want.

For smaller projects, one coat of chalky paint is probably enough for smooth, even coverage. For larger projects, one coat will be okay if you plan to “distress” a painted piece. If you want a smooth all-over coverage, it would be best to apply two thin coats of chalky paint. Be sure to allow the first coat to dry completely before applying the second coat of paint. 

If you like the appearance of “distressed” furniture, it’s easy to achieve with chalky paint. Once your painted project is completely dry, go over the areas you want to “distress” with a piece of very fine sandpaper.

You won’t need to sand very long; it should just take a couple of minutes to see results. Lightly sanding along edges, or over uneven places in the wood will turn an ordinary piece of furniture into something special.

The final step for your chalky painted work is to seal it with a wax finish.

For smaller pieces, you probably don’t even need to apply a sealant. However, large items like furniture should be sealed to prevent chipping and scratches. There are almost as many brands of chalked paint waxes available as there are chalked paint choices! It’s easy to apply but does take a little bit of patience. Follow the directions for the specific brand you buy, but the basic steps are to apply a thin coat of the clear wax with a stiff bristle paint brush, let it dry overnight, then use a soft, lint-free cloth to buff the wax. A

second wax coat can be applied if you want a little more protection for your painted object. You don’t want to use a gloss finish sealant on chalk paint; that would completely ruin the beautiful matte finish. There are matte finish spray sealants available, but they’re better suited to smaller painted projects.  

Are Chalk Paint and Milk Paint The Same Thing?

You’ve probably seen milk paint while you’re shopping for the perfect paint to spruce up a unique piece of furniture. While there are many similarities between milk paint and chalk finish paint, they’re not the same thing. You can my full article about chalk paint vs milk paint here.

Both milk paint and chalk finish paint will give you similar results.

They both dry to a soft matte finish and both are easy to create a “distressed” finish. Milk paint does have a very subtle bit of sheen when dried, as opposed to the absolutely matte finish of chalk paints.

They’re also both water-based, and have almost no odors. Those are the primary similarities.

One of the biggest differences between milk paint and chalk paints is that milk paint is usually sold in powdered form that has to be mixed with water. It requires quite a bit of mixing to get a smooth consistency. Chalk paints are ready to use; at most they might need a couple of stirs when you first open the can. 

Both of these paints are similar in their composition, with one of the main ingredients being calcium carbonate. This mineral is what gives milk paint and chalk style paints their soft matte texture.

Milk paint differs in that it contains actual milk proteins (casein) as one of the ingredients. In the powdered form, milk paint lasts a very long time.

However, you should only mix a small amount of milk paint at a time, because once mixed the milk proteins can start to break down.

You can store unused mixed paint in the refrigerator for a couple of days, but not much longer. Milk paint dries very quickly, and once it dries there’s no risk of the milk proteins degrading.

How Much Does Chalk Paint Cost?

How much you spend on chalk paint depends on the quantity you need, and on the brand. Smaller bottles of paint from craft stores cost under $10.

Larger cans usually 30 ounces, can cost between $20 and $45, depending on the brand. When budgeting for your project, don’t forget to include chalk paint wax to protect larger projects. The wax is fairly inexpensive. Depending on the brand you purchase, the price usually averages between $15 to $25 a can.

Which Chalk Paint is the Best?

There really isn’t a best overall chalk paint in my opinion. There are a lot of quality options to choose from but they are in slightly different price ranges.

Some chalk paints are better at one thing and not quite as good at other things. I wrote a whole review post on the best chalk paints that you can find on this site. I’ve tried them all but it depends on the project you’re doing on which one is actually the best.

Where To Buy Chalk Paint

Chalk paints are readily available from many locations. If you want to try designer options, such as the paints from Annie Sloan or Joanna Gaines, you can order directly from their websites. Large home improvement stores carry chalk finish paints made by large paint companies such as Behr and Rustoleum. Craft stores will have chalky paint in smaller quantities, which are perfect if you’re painting smaller objects. 

Chalk Paint Alternatives

Is there anything that makes a DIY project more frustrating than not being able to find the perfect color for your project?

Have you ever tried to match a color you have in mind, with absolutely no luck finding it? I think any home crafter has been there! While there are many chalk-style paints available, there is a way to take any paint and transform it to a chalk finish. 

BB Frosch Paint Transformer Powder is an additive that you can mix into any brand/color of latex or acrylic paint and it will dry to a matte chalky finish. It has 100% all-natural ingredients and is relatively inexpensive with prices ranging from $12 to $34 depending on the quantity.

This can be a very economical option for your painting projects because you can mix up as little or as much paint as you need for any project. The transformer powder has a long shelf life if properly stored, so if you find yourself with leftover powder you can save it for future craft projects. 

BB Frosch Paint Transformer Powder works best on flat finish paints, although you can use it on paints with satin and gloss finishes. They just won’t look quite as chalky once dried. I

t can also be sanded for a distressed appearance and sealed with wax, just like ready-made chalk finish paints. 

Are you ready now to try revitalizing a piece of furniture with chalk paint? Or do you want to create some cute vintage-style home decor items?

Hopefully, this article has given you a good overview of how fun and versatile chalk finish paint can be, as well as inspired you to create something wonderful!

Is Waverly the best chalk paint out there? Or is it a waste of money? This is my Waverly chalk paint review.

Short on Time? Here’s the Key Takeaway

Waverly used to be amazing for the price. It was a good deal. It’s not the best quality out there but it’s acceptable. I made a long post about the best chalk paints and Waverly didn’t make the list. The main problem is that their color selection is a bit smaller than some of the other brands. I would actually recommend getting Folk Art instead. It’s basically the same quality as Waverly but for a fraction of the price. I’ve tested it and it works. Save yourself a trip to Walmart by getting Folk Art chalk paint online.

What Is Chalk Paint?

Chalk paint, also known as “chalky paint” or “chalk style paint”, is a decorative paint that has become very popular with both DIY crafters and professional interior designers. This type of paint has a very distinctive flat matte, chalky appearance once it dries. With a little bit of light sanding, you can transform any piece of furniture into a vintage-style distressed piece that looks like a family heirloom.   

Waverly Chalk Paint vs. Annie Sloan and Other Chalk Paint Brands

Chalk paint was first invented in 1990 by the artist/interior designer Annie Sloan. Since then, this type of paint has steadily gained popularity. There are now dozens of paint brands that manufacture similar products. Her brand of chalk paints, wax sealants, and accessories are considered to be top-of-the-line.

Waverly Inspirations Chalk Paint is a product manufactured by Waverly, Inc. Waverly is a well-known home decor and lifestyle brand that has been around since 1923. Waverly Inspirations Chalk Paint is a budget-friendly paint that comes in colors synonymous with the “Waverly look” of interior design.

Let’s Look at These Two Different Chalk Paint Brands

Both Waverly and Annie Sloan have a good variety of color choices. Waverly comes in 28 different colors, and Annie Sloan has 42 colors to choose from. The selection from Annie Sloan has more neutral colors than Waverly. 

One very nice thing about the Waverly paint line is that the colors are designed specifically to complement Waverly brand fabrics and home decor. So, if you’re decorating a room with Waverly brand linens or accent pillows, it should be easy to find the perfect Waverly chalk paint color to match your decorating scheme.

Both brands describe their paints as not needing any preparation before painting. You can just open the can, give it a quick stir, and begin your painting project. However, with any brand of chalk style paint, if you’re applying it to a glossy surface a light sanding will help the paint stick better.

The first noticeable difference between these two brands of paint will be the texture. Annie Sloan Chalk Paint is thick, but easily spreadable. The Waverly brand of paint is very thick. It’s almost the consistency of yogurt! Fortunately chalk style paints are water-based, so you can thin the Waverly paint with just a little bit of water. You need to be careful not to add too much water, or your paint will dry with streaky looking visible brush strokes.  A good method for thinning overly thick chalk paint is to pour some of the paint into a disposable bowl or paper plate, then spray it with water from a spray bottle. Stir it up, then spray again if it still seems too thick. If the thicker consistency isn’t something you mind, you don’t even need to thin it out if you don’t want to. Of course, one advantage to having thicker chalk paint is that you can get good coverage with just one coat on some projects.

How Quickly Does Waverly Chalk Paint Dry?

Both the Waverly and Annie Sloan chalk paints apply very smoothly and dry quickly. They should be dry to the touch in approximately one hour. Whether you need a second coat of paint or not will depend mostly on the surface you’re painting. Once they dry, there is very little difference in appearance, other than colors.

If you want to distress your project with a bit of light sanding, the Waverly brand seems to require a little bit less pressure than Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.

Both of these brands can be sealed with a wax sealant. In fact, both Waverly and Annie Sloan sell their own brands of wax for this purpose. The Waverly brand of wax doesn’t apply quite as smoothly as Annie Sloan’s brand, so it might take a little more effort to get it buffed to a nice even coverage. In spite of it being described as a wax, the Waverly brand is more like a thick liquid wax, while the Annie Sloan brand is more of a solid wax product.

How Much Does Waverly Chalk Paint Cost?

Waverly Chalk Paint is considered a “budget” brand. It is sold in 8 fluid-ounce size bottles, at a price of just $6.98 a bottle! Compare that price to Annie Sloan paint, which sells at $46 for a liter can, and you can see why Waverly is a great bargain. Four bottles of Waverly brand (approximately one liter) will cost you just $27.92. 

Waverly Chalk Paint Wax also sells for $6.98 per 8-fluid-ounce bottle. Since you only need a small amount of wax to seal even a large painted piece, one bottle should be enough for a couple of projects.

Waverly also sells its own brand of paint brushes made especially for the application of chalk paint and wax. A pair of these brushes sell for a very reasonable price of $14.12.

Where To Buy Waverly Chalk Paint

Waverly Chalk Paints and associated products are sold primarily at Walmart. They can be found in Walmart stores, as well as being available to order from Walmart.com. Additionally, there are a few of paints available to order from Amazon.com. 

Pros and Cons of Waverly Chalk Paint

Just because Waverly is a bargain, doesn’t mean it isn’t a good quality product. Here are some of the pros and cons of Waverly Chalk Paint.

Pros:

The biggest advantage of choosing Waverly Chalk Paint is the price. It’s a bargain at under $10 per bottle, especially when compared with many designer chalk paints. The eight-ounce bottles seem small, but this paint has good coverage so you might not need to use as much of it. The smaller bottles are also nice if you are working on a smaller project and don’t want to buy more paint than you’ll need. 

The color selection is great. While Waverly might not have as many colors as other brands of chalk-style paint, the colors they do have are quite nice. It’s a good mix of neutrals and brighter shades. The best part of their color collection is that they are made to complement the Waverly fabrics and linens. This makes it fun and easy to achieve a designer look for any room of your home.

Waverly Paint is easy to use. You can literally open a bottle up and start painting. Because it is thicker than other brands of chalk style paint, many people like to thin it out with a little bit of water. Thicker paint usually means you can cover some projects in just one coat, so you might be using less paint than a brand where you have to apply two to three coats of paint.

Even though it is only sold at Walmart and Amazon, you can order it online from either if you don’t want to physically go to the store. Shipping is fast from either location, so you won’t have to wait long to get started on your chalk paint project. You can also place an online order from Walmart and have it ready for pickup on the same day.

Like most chalk style paints, Waverly is water-based. You won’t have to use any solvents to clean your brushes and work area; you can clean everything with warm soapy water.

Cons:

Waverly has a really good color selection, but it’s not as extensive as other brands. If you’ve got a  “perfect” shade in your head that you’re having trouble finding, you might end up having to buy a more expensive brand.

The smaller bottle size isn’t really a huge disadvantage, but if you plan to paint a large piece of furniture and know you’ll need a larger quantity of paint, it would be nice to be able to just buy one larger bottle instead of several smaller sizes.

Even though purchasing from Walmart or Amazon is pretty convenient, it would be nice if Waverly paints were available from more sellers. Being able to buy it at large craft stores and home improvement stores might be easier for people who don’t want to order online, or who don’t live especially close to a Walmart.

Conclusion for Waverly Chalk Paint

Overall, Waverly Inspirations Chalk Paint is a good product at a budget-friendly price. If you’re new to using chalk style paints, you can try the technique using Waverly brand without having to spend a lot of money right away. The Waverly brand of wax sealant and specialty brushes are also very affordable.

For a “budget” paint, the end results look pretty good! Waverly paint is perfect for transforming older furniture and home accent pieces. Pair your painted projects with Waverly fabrics, and your home will look like it was decorated by a professional interior design expert! You’ll get a nice smooth, matte finish with Waverly paint that can easily be distressed and buffed to a velvety sheen with their brand of wax sealant.  The end results can appear just as nice as what you’ll get with many higher priced chalk style paints.