DIY Chalk Paint

To achieve the romantic, matte look of painted antique furniture, you'll need to use chalk paint. Commercial chalk paint can be expensive—but you can make your own for much less! In the article Why You Should Add Baking Soda to Latex Paint from Apartment Therapy, author Tess Wilson shares three recipes for making your own chalk paint to use on furniture.

Chalk Paint Recipe No. 1: Baking Soda

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup baking soda
• 1 cup latex paint
• Water

Directions

1. Mix ingredients very thoroughly until baking soda is totally dissolved. Add a couple of tablespoons of cold water to help dissolve the baking soda.

Chalk Paint Recipe No. 2: Plaster of Paris

Ingredients

• 1 part Plaster of Paris
• 3 parts latex paint (without primer)
• Water

Directions

1. Mix the plaster with water until smooth. It should be the consistency of pancake batter.
2. Add the latex paint and mix well.

Chalk Paint Recipe No. 3: Calcium Carbonate

Ingredients

• 1 cup latex paint
• 4 tablespoons calcium carbonate
• 2 tablespoons water

Directions

1. Stir ingredients together. Mix well.