Chalk Paint Furniture Ideas

Chalky painted furniture can be traditional, modern, or anywhere in between. In truth, the options are limitless, which is one reason why this paint has exploded in the crafting world.

Painting furniture generally requires a lot of prep work, but that isn't the case with chalky-finish paint. The entire process is quick and beginner-friendly. Pick up a quart of your favorite color, and try out one of these chalk paint furniture ideas.

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Paint the Interior of a Bookshelf

Damask Love

Sometimes you don't even need to paint the entire piece of furniture to make an impact. Consider this chalk paint project from Damask Love. She was able to elevate the look of this bookshelf by only painting the inside portion with a bright color.

Modern Ikea Hack Shelf from Damask Love
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Add Subtle Details to a Nightstand

Love Create Celebrate

Love Create Celebrate has come up with a helpful furniture makeover guide that includes five tips that make a big difference. Once you've completed the initial paint job, implement some of these ideas to make your furniture feel more luxurious and custom.

5 Tips to Revamp Old Furniture from Love Create Celebrate
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Upgrade the Look of a Dresser

Lauren Thomann / The Spruce

Dressers can go through various makeovers over the course of their time in your home. You can quickly update the look of a dated dresser in your home using chalk paint. Remember, this paint requires minimal prep work and boasts a fresh matte finish.

How to Paint a Dresser to Make it Look New Again from The Spruce
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Give Your Kitchen Cabinets a Makeover

A Beautiful Mess

There are pros and cons to painting your kitchen cabinets with chalky-finish paint. One of the major bonuses of this project is the reduced prep work. To find out more about the process and what to expect, check out this guide from A Beautiful Mess.

Painting Cabinets with Chalk Paint Pros and Cons from A Beautiful Mess

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Master the Chippy Paint Technique

A Piece of Rainbow

There are varying degrees of distressing when using chalky paint. The chippy paint technique might be too bold for some people, but it will fit right in with a more eclectic home style. If you want to learn how to do this technique, check out this tutorial from A Piece of Rainbow.

How to Chippy Paint a Table from A Piece of Rainbow
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Upgrade an Old Rocking Chair With a Pop of Color

Addicted 2 DIY

A simple way to update a dated piece of furniture is to choose a bold color. Luckily, there are hundreds of unique chalky paint shades. You can mix and match and even make your own if you're ambitious. We love this bright yellow that Addicted 2 DIY chose for this old school rocking chair. Just remember, make sure the rocking chair or an antique piece of furniture isn't extremely valuable before you decide to paint it.

Yard Sale Rocking Chair Makeover from Addicted 2 DIY
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Use Painter's Tape to Add a Design

At Charlotte's House

There is an infinite number of color and design combinations you can use when you paint a piece of furniture. Let this unique cabinet from At Charlotte's House serve as an inspiration for your future projects. She goes through the process of using painter's tape to create this polished finished product.

Using Painters Tape to Paint a Dated Table from At Charlotte's House
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Transform an Antique Washstand Into an End Table

Lauren Thomann / The Spruce

In some cases, painting antique furniture is frowned upon, especially if the wood is in good shape. However, you can make the piece usable again with some quick repairs and some chalky paint if the furniture is in poor shape. Check out our tutorial for details on how we transformed this old washstand.

How to Paint an End Table with Chalk Paint from The Spruce

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Incorporate Several Furniture Makeover Techniques

Cherished Bliss

Painting a piece of furniture with chalky-finish paint can be the first and only step you complete. However, if you want to take your furniture makeover one step further, consider what else you can do to update the piece. Cherished Bliss shows you how she added stained wood and unique hardware to modernize this nightstand.

Ikea Tarva Nightstand Hack from Cherished Bliss
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Give a Kitchen Table a Farmhouse Style Makeover

Deuce Cities Henhouse

You can transform a solid oak kitchen or dining table with a little elbow grease and a lot of chalky paint. Deuce Cities Henhouse transformed this table with black chalk paint, but you could use gray or white for a similar effect.

Kitchen Table Makeover from Deuce Cities Henhouse
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Learn How to Paint Fabric With Chalk Paint

Lauren Thomann / The Spruce

Chalk paint is one of the few types of paint that will work well on upholstery fabric. The painting process will change the texture of the fabric, but the final finish is ideal for pieces you don't sit on for an extended period. Learn more about the process with the following chalk paint tutorial.

How to Paint Fabric from The Spruce Crafts
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Transform Some Dated Accent Chairs

Home Made By Carmona

You'll absolutely want to check out the before pictures from this chalky paint furniture makeover. The monochrome effect with slight distressing made these chairs go from dated to trendsetting.

The Great Armchair Chalk Over from Home Made By Carmona

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Only Paint a Small Part of a Dresser

Persia Lou

Stencils can look very shabby chic, but they don't have to be so traditional. Take inspiration from this modern dresser from Persia Lou. A simple scallop pattern can instantly change the look and feel of an inexpensive piece of furniture.

DIY Scalloped Dresser from Persia Lou
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Distress a Kitchen Island With Chalk Paint

Lauren Thomann / The Spruce

Chalk paint is the most versatile paint when it comes to distressing furniture. The finish is easy to sand and buff, and it's nearly impossible to mess up. Try out this chalk paint furniture project if you have a kitchen island that could use some added character.

How to Antique Wood from The Spruce
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Add a Zigzag Pattern to a Stool

Crafts Unleashed

If you want to be daring with some new chalk-finish paint techniques, try them out on a smaller piece of furniture first. Step stools make great practice pieces. If you don't like how the project turned out, it won't take long to paint over it. One common pattern to try is this zigzag. Learn how to get started on Crafts Unleashed.

Chalk Paint Wooden Stool Makeover from Crafts Unleashed