If you are willing to give a new look to your furniture or paint it freshly but you only want the chalk paint to give it a new look then you should know the best chalk paint for furniture. Because this is what you should know before starting.
There are many chalk paint brands and products that you need to know and when you start you know the prep process to make it work.
When I first painted the furniture in my own bedroom, I took whatever chalk paint the store clerk recommended and it was a mistake. The coverage was terrible, I needed like four coats, and I almost gave up on chalk paint.
But then I learned something.
Not all chalk paints are created equal. Some are thick and creamy and cover like a dream. Others are watery, they streak, and you’ll be standing there wondering why everyone on Pinterest makes this look so easy.
I’ve probably tested more chalk paint brands than most people. Some I bought with my own money.
What I’m about to share isn’t some perfect review. This is real talk about what works when you’re standing in your garage trying to finish a nightstand.
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What is the Best Chalk Paint for Furniture and What Makes it Best?
Calling something the “best” chalk paint for furniture sounds simple but it’s not. Because what works for someone doing a small decorative project can be wrong for someone refinishing a dining set.
I learned this after recommending a paint to a client that worked GREAT on my test piece but looked awful on her laminate cabinet doors.
Chalk paint is an ultra-matte decorative paint that’s supposed to stick to almost anything without sanding or priming. When I’m choosing chalk paint, I look at specific things that I wish someone had explained to me before.
Adhesion and Coverage
Adhesion is whether the paint STICKS to your furniture without peeling off when you look at it wrong. Good chalk paint bonds to wood, metal, laminate, even glass without primer.
I used a cheap chalk paint on a dresser and when I came back two weeks later I could scratch it off with my fingernail.
Coverage determines how many coats you need. Premium paints like Annie Sloan Chalk Paint cover in 1-2 coats because they’re thick and heavily pigmented.
Here’s my test: if I can see wood grain showing through after two coats, the coverage isn’t good enough.
Texture and Consistency
The viscosity or thickness of chalk paint matters.
Annie Sloan is THICK. When I first opened a can I thought something was wrong with it. But the thickness means great coverage and it stays where you put it.
Rust-Oleum Chalked Paint is thinner, more like regular latex paint. It is easy to brush on, levels out smoothly, but you need an extra coat.
Some paints are so thick you need to thin them with water. I’ve done this with some colors that come out of the can looking like paste. A bit of water makes them workable. But too much water can ruin the coverage.
Finish Quality
The finish is what people see so it matters.
True chalk paint should dry to an ultra-matte, almost flat finish and this is the signature look. But some brands calling themselves chalk paint dry to more of a satin or eggshell finish.
Leveling is whether brush strokes disappear as the paint dries or if they stay there. Behr Chalk Decorative Paint levels beautifully like you can barely see brush marks.
I don’t always mind brush strokes because sometimes they add character. But on a tabletop, I want smoothness.
Durability
Chalk paint is NOT durable.
The matte finish is beautiful but it’s also porous and soft. Without a protective topcoat, chalk paint will scratch, stain, and show every fingerprint. I learned this when I painted a coffee table, didn’t seal it, and within a week it had water rings and scratches.
You NEED to seal chalk paint. Either with wax or with a water-based polyurethane or clear coat. This isn’t optional for furniture that gets used.
Wax gives a soft sheen and smooth feel but it’s not very water resistant. I use it for decorative pieces. For tables, cabinets, anything that gets touched a lot, I recommend water-based poly.
Easy Use
One reason chalk paint got so popular is because it’s easy, minimal prep with no sanding, no priming but only paint.
And with good chalk paint, it is true.
I’ve painted over old varnish, over latex paint, over stain and over the old laminate that nothing sticks to. Good chalk paint handles it and you need to clean the surface first to remove grease and dirt.
Bad chalk paint though, you’ll be sanding and priming like regular paint.
Select a Color
Color selection varies WILDLY between brands.
Annie Sloan has 42 colors. They’re beautiful colors, carefully curated, but they are 42. If you want something specific you’re mixing colors yourself.
Behr Chalk Decorative Paint has over 500 colors because you can tint it to any Behr color at Home Depot. This is amazing when you need to match existing decor. I used it when a client wanted a very specific shade of gray that no premixed chalk paint offered.
Rust-Oleum has around 30 colors, Dixie Belle has 68 and Country Chic has 50+.
Pricing
Annie Sloan is about $40-45 per quart. I mean it’s excellent paint but that price makes me wince every time.
Rust-Oleum Chalked Paint is around $20-22 per quart at hardware stores. Half the price of Annie Sloan and it has comparable performance for most projects.
Behr is about $20 at Home Depot and Dixie Belle is $35-36.
For someone starting out or doing furniture flipping, these price differences add up fast. I’ve calculated it and if you’re doing 10 dressers a month, choosing Rust-Oleum over Annie Sloan saves you a lot.
Best Chalk Paint for Furniture: Top Recommendations
I’m going to be honest about each of these brands. What I liked, what annoyed me, what I’d use them for again and what I wouldn’t.
These aren’t ranked in perfect order because the “best” depends on your project. But I’ll tell you what each one does well and where it falls short.
Annie Sloan Chalk Paint
This is the original. The one that started everything back in 1990.
Annie Sloan Chalk Paint is THICK. When I say thick I mean you could stand a brush up in it. The pigmentation is intense, colors are rich and deep. One coat covers completely if you’re going over light wood and two coats and you’re done.
It distresses beautifully. If you want an aged farmhouse look where you sand the edges and the paint comes off in this perfect soft way then this paint was made for it.
The matte finish is what chalk paint should be, ultra-flat, velvety and gorgeous.
But it’s $45 a quart and you can only buy it from Annie Sloan stockists, not just any store. The wax they sell to seal it is another $35-40.
The thick consistency can also show brush strokes if you’re not careful. I’ve learned to use a good brush and work in thin layers. Some people thin it with water which helps but then you’re losing some of that coverage advantage.
Rust-Oleum Chalked Paint
Rust-Oleum Chalked Paint costs about $22 at hardware stores. It’s everywhere like Home Depot, Lowe’s, even some grocery stores. The availability is helpful when you’re mid-project and realize you need more paint.
The consistency is thinner than Annie Sloan and it is more like regular paint. At first I thought this was a bad thing but it levels out smoothly and brush strokes disappear better. The finish is slightly less matte, more of a soft matte, but most people can’t tell the difference.
Coverage is good but not quite as good as Annie Sloan. I need two solid coats, sometimes three if it’s light over dark.
The downside is some colors are better than others. I’ve noticed the dark colors can streak more and need extra coats. And it needs sealing, I use either their Rust-Oleum Matte Clear topcoat or regular poly.
Behr Chalk Decorative Paint
The huge advantage here is custom color mixing. You can tint it to any Behr color. I needed this very specific sage green for a client’s nursery furniture and Behr could match it perfectly.
The paint has a creamy consistency, smooth, easy to brush on and the leveling is excellent…. it smooths itself out as it dries which is great if you’re worried about brush marks.
Coverage is decent. Not quite as thick as Annie Sloan but better than some other budget brands I’ve tried.
The finish is matte and distressing well. I sealed a Behr-painted table with poly and it’s held up great with kids eating at it daily.
My only complaint is the adhesion can be iffy on really slick surfaces. I had it not stick great to a glossy laminate piece even after cleaning. A light scuff with sandpaper fixed it but that defeats the no-prep.
Magnolia Style Chalk Paint
Available at Ace Hardware and Lowes for about $40 a quart. It is part of the Magnolia Home brand.
The coverage is okay like two to three coats. The finish is matte and it works. It’s Rust-Oleum quality at Annie Sloan prices.
The color range is good with over 150 colors available. I used the Weathered Windmill color on a farmhouse table and it looked nice after sealing.
For $40 I’d rather buy Annie Sloan, for budget-friendly I’d rather buy Rust-Oleum or Behr.
Dixie Belle Chalk Finish Paint
This brand runs about $35.95 a quart with 68 colors available. You mostly find it online or at specialty paint retailers.
Dixie Belle performs reliably. Good coverage in two coats, nice matte finish. It distresses well and the consistency is pleasant to work with, it is not too thick, not too thin.
What I like is their Dixie Belle Clear Coat topcoat. It goes on milky white which freaked me out the first time but it dries completely clear, really durable. I use it on high-traffic pieces and it holds up better than wax.
The colors are pretty. I’ve used their Fluff (off-white) and Drop Cloth (greige) multiple times. Consistent quality between different cans which is more important than people realize.
Melange Mineral Paint
This is mineral paint not chalk paint but people compare them so I’m including it.
Mineral paint is similar to chalk paint but with different binders. It is more durable without sealing and has a slightly different finish.
I’ve used it a few times and it’s different but it is good. More of a modern matte look versus the chalky vintage look. Doesn’t distress quite as easily which could be good or bad depending what you want.
Country Chic Paint
Country Chic Paint is interesting because their formula is clay-based and they claim it works for outdoor furniture too.
I’ve used it on a few pieces and coverage is good. The matte finish is beautiful, it does feel more durable than some other chalk paints before sealing.
My experience has been positive but I don’t reach for it first because it’s less available. Usually I have to order online but if you’re doing outdoor furniture pieces, then they are worth considering.
How to Chalk Paint on Furniture?
So you’ve got your paint. Now, I’m going to walk you through this based on years of doing it.
First, clean your furniture piece well. Wipe it down with a damp cloth. If it’s greasy or waxy, use a degreaser or TSP solution. This is the most important prep step. Chalk paint sticks to a lot of things but it won’t stick to dirt and grease.
Second, decide if you need to do any repairs. Fill holes with wood filler. Fix any damage. Let it dry. I do this the night before painting.
Third, very lightly scuff sand if the surface is glossy. Most of the time you don’t need to but if it’s like shiny lacquered furniture. Quick scuff with 220 grit sandpaper helps.
Fourth, stir your paint well. Don’t shake it, stir it. Chalk paint can separate in the can.
Fifth, apply your first coat. Use a good brush. I like natural bristle brushes for chalk paint. Work in thin even layers and don’t overload your brush. The paint dries fast so work in sections.
Sixth, apply a second coat. This looks much better. If you can see the original finish showing through, you’ll need a third coat.
Seventh, let it cure overnight before distressing. If you want the distressed look, use medium grit sandpaper on edges and high points. The paint sands away easily.
Eighth, seal it. Wax or clear coat. For wax, apply with a cloth or brush in thin layers and buff it out. For a poly or clear coat, use a good brush and apply like regular paint.
Ninth, let the whole piece cure for a few days before using it hard. Chalk paint continues hardening for up to 30 days. Be gentle with it at first.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Chalk Painting Furniture
I’ve made every mistake possible so learn from my failures:
• Not cleaning the furniture first – Paint will peel right off greasy or dirty surfaces. Clean it. Just clean it.
• Applying paint too thick – Thick coats take forever to dry, show brush marks worse, and can crack. Thin layers.
• Not stirring the paint enough – Pigment settles at the bottom. Stir thoroughly every time.
• Expecting one coat to cover everything – It won’t. Accept that you need two coats minimum.
• Skipping the topcoat – Your beautiful paint job will be scratched and ruined within weeks. SEAL IT.
• Using the wrong topcoat – Wax on a dining table is asking for water rings. Use poly on high-use surfaces.
• Sanding too soon – Let the paint dry fully before distressing or you’ll just make a mess.
• Not testing colors first – Paint a sample board first. Colors look different on different surfaces and in different lighting.
• Buying cheap brushes – Bad brushes leave bristles in your paint and give awful coverage. Get a decent brush.
• Giving up after the first coat looks terrible – First coats always look bad. Keep going.
Conclusion
So, best chalk paint for furniture, Annie Sloan Chalk Paint is the gold standard.
If you want the best value and you’re doing multiple projects, Rust-Oleum Chalked Paint gives you 80% of the quality at 50% of the price. This is what I use most.
If you need custom colors, Behr Chalk Decorative Paint at Home Depot can’t be beat for flexibility.
If you want reliable mid-range quality, Dixie Belle with their clear coat is a solid combo.
The truth is most chalk paint brands will work fine if you prep properly and seal correctly. The differences matter when you’re doing this professionally or doing a lot of pieces.
Skip the absolute cheapest no-name brands. I’ve tried them and they’re frustrating. Spend the $20-25 on Rust-Oleum or Behr at minimum and save from redoing it.
FAQs on Best Chalk Paint for Furniture
Yes, chalk paint is excellent for furniture when you seal it properly. It adheres well to most surfaces without primer, dries fast, and gives that ultra-matte finish people love. But without a protective topcoat it scratches easily. Seal it with wax for decorative pieces or polyurethane for tables and high-use furniture.
The main downsides are that it’s not durable without sealing, it can be expensive especially premium brands, and it shows brush strokes more than regular paint. The matte finish also shows dirt and fingerprints easily. Some brands require multiple coats for good coverage which takes time.
I think you might be asking about specific chalk paint brands with “posh” in the name but I’m not familiar with one called specifically “Posh Chalk Paint.” There are many small chalk paint brands out there.
The point of chalk paint is that it adheres without primer to most surfaces like wood, laminate, metal, and some plastics. I prime before chalk paint. BUT…. if you’re painting something slick and glossy, or if you’re worried about tannins bleeding through from dark wood, a coat of primer helps. Also if you’re using a light color over dark stained wood, primer can reduce the number of topcoats you need.
