Wanting to start a Chalk Painting project but have no idea where to start? This Ultimate Chalk Painting Supply List for Beginners saves you time and money, so you can start painting the right way – right away!
I get so excited when I find an old piece of furniture that I want to paint!! My first thought is that I want to revive it …breathe new life into it with a coat of paint and a dose of wax!! My mind goes into rescue mode….. my adrenaline starts pumping, ideas are flowing and a vision of how it will look when it is finished starts to emerge!! Finally, I start pulling out the paint…. trying to decide what color……….
Have you ever had that feeling – like you know you want to redo that old dresser in the bedroom and you have a vision of how beautiful it will be when it is painted…..but you have never used chalk paint before and you just don’t know where to start?
WANT TO LEARN HOW EASY CHALK PAINTING REALLY IS?
If you are NEW to CHALK PAINTING and READY to learn how EASY it really is then this CHECKLIST is for you!!
You are so excited to get started….. But…..but….but…
Well, if you are anything like me, the biggest problem is…… that you are overwhelmed by all of the choices when it comes to figuring out what the heck you really need! What kind of chalk paint to use and what brushes to buy and how to finish it and on and on!! You wonder what supplies do you really need? Which ones will serve you best? And which ones will be the best buy?
Does this all sound familiar? And Overwhelming? I know!!
Because – that is exactly how I felt when I started chalk painting! I didn’t have a clue where to start and it was overwhelming!! All I knew was that I wanted to learn how to do it, and how to do it right, so my projects would turn out just as beautiful as all of the others I had been drooling over!! And I count my blessings that I found a “chalk painting mentor” who shared her Supply List Favorites with me!!
She was an angel and the list was a life saver – it saved me time (not having to figure it out and research it on my own – “I can do that later when I have more time” …hee hee hee) and it saved me money (buying the right stuff the first time – “So I will have more money for more projects later” aahhh yes, of course!!) I was smiling from ear to ear!
Using someone else’s expert advice until I could slowly build my own list of favorites made all the difference when it came down to actually getting started! It made it simple and took all the guess work out of it!! It made the decision making easy!!
So to make sure that this is easy for you too, I am going to share my Ultimate Chalk Painting Supply List for Beginners with you – passing on the favor she did for me – in hopes that you too will be inspired to start painting without any worries!!
This way you can just pick up a paint brush and enjoy this creative chalk painting adventure!!
You can get more tips on how to paint with chalk paint in our simple step by step guide “Chalk Painting Made Easy!!
This supply list has evolved over time as I have tried out different supplies on different chalk painting projects. But it is very smilar to the first list I started out with! As you continue to paint different projects you will start to build your own set of favorites too – but in the meantime you can kickstart your painting project using this list and get started right now!!
The Ultimate Chalk Painting Supply List for Beginners
Chalk Paint®
I have tried others, but Chalk Paint®by Annie Sloan has been my all time favorite! Her paint is sold by retailers called “stockists”. If you have a local stockist in your area I recommend using them to purchase your paint and other supplies! If not, then you can search for a stockist online and have your paint shipped to you! Most of them do ship and their customer service has always been amazing!
My favorite online stockist is The Purple Painted Lady!
This paint is amazing – and maybe the most important part about it for me is that it takes little to no prep work to get your piece ready to paint. You can just get to painting ASAP!!
You will love the way this paint goes on and the feel of it after it is sanded a little and waxed. It is buttery soft and beautiful!
Annie Sloan’s Chalk Paint® will cost you approximately $38 per quart, which seems a little spendy. But, I consider it money well spent and worth every drop for 2 reasons!! First – you do not have to buy primer or stripper to prep your piece. This saves a considerable amount of money (and time). Second – consider how far this quart of paint will go!! I usually get two, three and sometimes four projects out of one quart!! Amazing!
Now most generally I am a girl that loves to find a bargain, but not so much when it comes to creating something that I want to turn out super amazing and to last a long time! I do alot of painting for family, friends and clients and I always want my work to stand out because of it’s superior quality . I have used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint® long enough that I am confident in it’s ability to help me achieve just that!
This paint comes in 36 colors!! And if that is not enough…. with a little imagination you can create a variety of other mixtures, even creating your own personal color if you are inspired to play around with it a bit!! Be creative!
Wax and Poly
Annie Sloan Waxes are available in clear, dark, black and white wax. Annie Sloan recommends these waxes for all of your Annie Sloan Chalk Painted projects for indoor use. The clear wax is just that – clear! It has absolutely no color and very litttle odor, which makes it an excellent choice if you are working on your project in the house. The clear wax will enhance the color of your paint, giving it a little richer finish.
The Dark Wax and the Black Wax are used to achieve specific results. Antiquing is the result of using the dark wax to give more definition to beautiful details. You can use it to highlight those specific areas.
Wax finishes are beautiful but they take time to cure. The wax finish will be dry to the touch in a couple of hours and can take light use. Over the following 7 to 30 days, depending on your climate, the wax will harden, or cure, making it very durable! It is water repellent so you can use this product on table tops, cabinets, coffee tables and so on. Do not use it for projects that will set outside in the sun or rain.
General Finishes Poly in Flat or Satin are alternatives to the waxing process. I use the Flat Poly when I do not want the color of my paint to change. I apply a coat of the Flat and then follow with a coat of the Satin to get the sheen I like on my finished projects.
Brushes
You can purchase the majority of these supplies from your Annie Sloan Stockist as well!
- The Annie Sloan Paint Brush comes in 3 sizes and range in price from$28 – $55. I use the medium brush and if you take good care of these brushes they will last forever!! Not kidding…
- Annie Sloan’s Foam Roller sells for $12. This is great for moving over larger areas of a project if you are trying to achieve a smoother look.
- Purdy 3-Brush Value Pack comes with a 1″ brush, a 1.5″ brush and a 2″ brush. You will pay approximately $20 for this package. These brushes are very versatile and designed for all types of paint.
- These Annie Sloan Wax Brushes make all the difference when using her wax. I have two of the small wax brushes, one for clear wax and one for dark wax. After I use them I can just seal them in a plastic sandwich bag and they will be ready to use the next round. And they are super easy to clean with Dawn Dishwashing soap and warm water!! Love, love this brush! Cost is $52 for the small and $72 for the large. Again this may seem steep – but this is the one brush that I wouldn’t do without!! And like I said earlier – they last forever!
- Annie Sloan Flat Brushes are $13 – $22. I use the large brush. I can get into all the small places that I need to with this brush so I have not really needed the small brush. Again – I have one of these that I use over and over and over!!
- Foam Brushes – found at your local hardware store and are very inexpensive. The pointed edges on these brushes work well for straight detail work. They are precise and allow for better detail. I always have a handful of different sizes in the shop!
Other Supplies to have on hand
- Drywall Sanding Block and All Purpose Sanding Blocks in fine and medium grit. I use these primarily for distressing – to get an aged look to the piece I am working on. I really like the beveled edges of the Drywall Sanding blocks. It can get into some of the tighter harder to reach areas when you are distressing a piece. The shape of these sandng blocks makes them easy to hold and to control.
- Blue Painters’ Tape is a must if you are trying to avoid getting paint on a section that does not need painted. I use it if I am painting a mirror with a wooden frame and don’t want to remove the mirror. It helps save on trying to remove unwanted paint in unwanted places!! Saves me a ton of time when I am working on a piece. If you are good at free-hand painting then you may not need this tape!! Some people are so talented…..
- Screwdriver Set – this set has interchangable ends so you will always have a phillips or a straight end and you will always have the right size!! Very reasonably priced for such a convenient tool!!
- Wooden Paint Sticks should come with your paint whether you buy it from a local Annie Sloan Stockist or if you order it online.
- Blue Plastic Tarp – this is what I use to set my projects on when I am painting! It protects your floors from paint spills and drips and it makes clean up super easy, especially if you are sanding to distress a piece. When you finish just fold it in half, roll it up,and then take it outside and spray it off!! Super simple and it is the only one you will ever have to buy! No more worries about messes!!
A couple other little tips:
Keep a Small Bowl on hand for mixing paint or adding water to your paint.
Save your old paint cans – these come in handy when you need to set a project up on something to get it off the floor and make painting it easier!
Chalk Painting has never been easier than NOW!! You have a PROVEN LIST of supplies and the inspiration to create beautiful pieces for your home!! Take the stress out of the decision making with this list and start painting right away!!
These are my favorite “go to” supplies to keep on hand! The Ultimate Chalk Painting Supply List is available as a simplfied checklist that will help you get your supplies lined up and ready to go!! Get your checklist now!!
Your Chalk Painted Masterpiece Awaits You!!
P.S. – Other helpful information you may like:
- 7 Super Simple Chalk Painting Tips for Beginners
- From “Deadbeat Dresser” to “Coolest Coffee Bar”
- 5 Simple Places to Find Antique or Vintage Furniture for your next Repurposing Project
Blessings ~