How to Make Chalk Paint With (and Without) Baking Soda?

Many people still remember their first experience with chalk as a child.

The excitement of playing with the many different colors of the chalk as well as drawing animals, people, and hopscotch courts was infectious for many of us.

And even as an adult, chalk is still an exciting medium of art to create with, whether as a formal artist or with the little ones in your life.

Thankfully, the DIY chalk paint recipe has come up as a fun way for many people to play with chalk (indoors and outdoors); as well as to create a fresh and vintage look in just one application.

DIY Chalk Paint Recipe with Baking Soda

Chalk paint is beautiful, and versatile, but can be expensive to buy (costing from $20 to up to $40 for a single quart), primarily due to its expensive ingredients and thorough coverage.

If you simply don’t have the cash to be investing in tons of high-quality chalk paint; don’t worry, you can mix up a do-it-yourself version at home very easily!

By making chalk paint with baking soda, you can provide a beautiful finish to any project that leaves it looking as though it’s a very old and respected vintage product.

You can also use it to add touches of chalk to indoor art projects as a new medium that adds even more life and energy to your work.

So, to make chalk paint with baking soda, here are the ingredients you will need and the procedure you should be following…

Ingredients Needed:

– 1 Cup Latex Paint

– 3 Tablespoons of Cold Water

– ½ Cup Baking Soda

Procedure to Follow:

Begin by whisking baking soda and cold water together with a whisk, beating evenly until all baking soda has dissolved and there are no lumps anywhere in the material.

If the baking soda is refusing to blend, add a few drops more of water.

You should end up with a thick, wet mass of baking soda.

If you’re still struggling with chunks, you can spoon the mixture into a plastic bag and massage it with your hands to ensure there are no thick lumps hiding inside the material.

Next, pour your mixture into your cup of latex paint.

Use a yardstick or paint stirrer to mix evenly until the paint is smooth and drips off the end of your stirrer.

You will need to mix for a few minutes to ensure that your paint is truly smooth, and the process will be easier if your chalk ingredients are entirely lump-free prior to being mixed into the paint.

Once your paint is smooth, apply as needed to your project and allow it to dry.

How to Make a DIY Chalk Paint without Baking Soda?

For some people, baking soda can irritate the skin. 

So, if you do not want to use baking soda for preparing a homemade chalk paint there are two other popular methods you can use.

For cooking up chalk paint at home using these methods will require just a few simple ingredients.

And the good thing is you can find most of these materials at your local hardware store and mix them up in small or large batches depending on the size and space of your project.

Each of these HMCP recipes (homemade chalk paint) will let you apply the paint smoothly, dry quickly, and sand easily in order to provide a distressed, textured, and stylish look all year round.

1- Making Chalk Paint with Plaster of Paris

Preparing chalk paint using Plaster of Paris is straightforward and that’s the reason so many people love using this quick method for their projects.

Here are the things you will require and the steps you should follow…

Ingredients Needed:

– 1 cup of Latex Paint

– 1 ½ Tablespoon of Water

– 2 ½ Tablespoons of Plaster of Paris

Procedure to Follow:

Begin by mixing the Plaster of Paris with the water and stirring evenly with a spoon or paint stick, mixing thoroughly until all lumps have been thoroughly dissolved.

You should end up with a thicker paste that has a consistency akin to wet sand.

Next, take the mixture and pour it directly into the paint.

Stir until the paste has dissolved into the paint and pours smoothly off the end of your stirrer.

Your paint should not look any different than when you begin, but you’ll notice the chalk difference upon application.

You can create a quart of paint by quadrupling the ingredients and following the same mixing recipe.

But be aware that chalk paint tends to dry out more rapidly than other materials due to the higher-than-average amount of dry or chalk contents inside the liquid material.

2- Making Chalk Paint Using Unsanded Grout

If you want to make chalk paint without Plaster of Paris and baking soda, this is the method that can work.

Here are the things you will need and the process to follow…

Ingredients Needed:

– 2 Tablespoons of Unsanded Grout (available at hardware stores in the tile department)

– 1 Tablespoon Cold Water

– 1 Cup Latex Paint

Procedure to Follow:

Mixing your own unsanded grout mixture requires a good amount of arm work.

For this recipe, you’ll begin by mixing in your grout and cold water until they run evenly and smoothly together with no chunks or other disturbances in the consistency of the product.

You can beat out any lumps with a stirring device or kitchen whisk to help smooth out any other inconsistencies in your mixture.

Next, you’ll need to blend your grout mix in with your latex paint.

Beat smoothly until all your paint drips out smoothly and does not clump or run.

Apply quickly so your paint does not dry out and allow it to dry evenly in order to obtain the perfect distressed chalk paint patina.

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Chalk Paint Mixing Reminder

One of the most important parts of making a good DIY homemade chalk paint is having your mixing routine down pat.

Having a velvet smooth paint solution will ensure that your paint applies evenly and accurately and dries with the smooth, antique patina that you’re hoping for.

The best way to make sure your solution is lump-free is to whisk and beat thoroughly prior to mixing in with paint until every part of the solution is fluid and smooth.

You can also use an electric blender, mixer, or drill to help speed up the process, but be warned that your clothes or workspace might get a little dirty in the process!

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PRO Tips for Painting with Your New Chalk Paint

Keep in mind that your homemade chalk paint is a universal applicant, so you won’t need to sand, strip, or prime your materials or project prior to their use.

You can simply mix up your solution and apply it directly to the intended surface.

Finish it by sealing the chalk paint properly so that you get a long-lasting finish.

Use a brush or roller and apply smoothly, or if you’re going for a distressed or rough look use a cheaper, dry brush to apply.

You can always adjust the consistency of your chalk paint by adding more water to thin it out or more chalk ingredients to help thicken it, it simply depends on your preference.

Your chalk paint won’t store well, so try to only mix up as much as you need in order to prevent it from drying out too quickly.

Chalk paint is a creative and adventurous new paint medium, and with these handy DIY tips, you can begin making it for yourself in no time!