Adding Unique Texture to Furniture: DIY Chalk Paint Dresser Makeover

Sometimes I wait to participate in a trend until the point it's no longer a trend. There's this small rebel inside that doesn't want to do something just because everyone else is. It's like reverse peer pressure. Case in point: chalk paint. I finally jumped on the chalk paint/distressed furniture bandwagon while making over my bedroom. To save money, I made chalk paint based on other bloggers' experiments--- except the paint came out very thick and lumpy. I decided to go along for the ride to create a unique, textured piece of furniture that's perfect for my bohemian bedroom. Read along to find out how I achieved this look and to see more of the dresser.

Originally, when I planned my makeover, I planned to leave my black dresser as is. But I  soon realized the dresser just didn’t work. This hunk of black in the room felt very heavy compared to airy vibe I was creating in the room. (It was also the only black piece of furniture in the room.)

After pondering ways I could make it over without a ton of work (I loathe sanding and priming), I found a solution: chalk paint.

My DIY chalk paint formula consisted of: 2 tbsp. unsanded grout + 1 tbsp. water + 1 cup latex interior paint. To save money on the paint, I chose Glidden’s America’s Finest in white.

The beauty of using chalk paint is that you don’t have to prime and sand your piece first. Unfortunately, my paint mixture ended up being so thick and lumpy that I did have to sand it afterwards (though not to perfection). I believe this was due to the paint I used.

To apply the chalk paint, I used chip brushes. These worked wonderfully since my paint was so thick, although I did have to pick out the occasional bristle from the paint. The cheap quality of these brushes added more rich texture to the dresser.

Instead of using wax as most people do for chalk paint jobs, I went with my usual sealing method— several coats of water-base polyurethane. Again, I used the chip brushes since a smooth finish wasn’t necessary.

I also replaced the drawer pulls on the dresser since the former ones would be too modern for my bohemian bedroom. I scored some black pulls on clearance and gave them a spray paint makeover with Krylon’s Caramel Latte.

Check out the before and after pics– this dresser now matches its shabby chic/boho surroundings.

I’m so glad I was able to save some money by just making over my existing dresser. It’s the only furniture I still own that I first moved away from home with, so I’ve had it for about 19 years. This dresser is all wood (no laminate or MDF!) and it’s very sturdy.

My final grade on the DIY chalk paint? C— although it does have potential to be higher with a better quality paint. I would definitely use this formula again for smaller projects to create a lot of texture.

Have you used a DIY chalk paint or a name-brand chalk paint? Which do you prefer? What’s your favorite distressing method?

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