• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

The Best Organic Lifestyle

Helping you Find Quality Natural, Organic, and Eco-Friendly Products

  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Your Home
  • Eco-Living
  • Wellness
  • Garden

January 3, 2021

Chalk Paint Vs Milk Paint

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link.

chalk paint vs milk paint

Chalk paint and milk paint are all the rage when it comes to breathing new life into vintage furniture. You have probably heard of these paints and are wondering what the differences are. In this article, you will learn:

  • What chalk paint and milk paint are
  • The similarities and differences of milk paint and chalk paint
  • The pros and cons of each
  • What type of paint is best for what project
  • My recommended paint brands

What is Chalk Paint?

Chalk paint is made of Calcite (aka calcium carbonate), talc and pigment, it was developed by Annie Sloan in the early 1990's as a decorative furniture finish. Sloan named it chalk paint because of its matte finish. Since then, DIY chalk paint recipes have popped up on the web (which are just adding things like baking soda to latex paint) and other companies have created their own versions of chalk paint.

What is Milk Paint?

Milk paint has been around for hundreds of years. It is made of milk powder, lime and pigment. It is an all natural paint and behaves much differently than the latex paints we are used to. Milk paint comes in a powder form and is mixed with water before use. The resulting finish is matte with amazing variances in color.

Chalk Paint Vs Milk Paint

Below is a table showing how chalk paint compares to milk paint:

Features
Milk Paint
Chalk Paint

Form

Comes as a dry powder that

you mix with water before use

Water-based. Comes in quart cans.

It is premixed and in liquid form.

Price

$22 - $30 a quart

About $40 a quart

Eco-Friendliness

Very safe; all natural;

non-toxic. Old paint can be thrown in the compost.

Fume free and non-toxic

Shelf Life

6 months in powder form;

1 day once mixed with water

1 year

Texture

Thin

Thick

Adhesion

Wants to absorb into the surface it is painted on. Paint will chip on non-porous/glossy surfaces. Does not stick well to metal, plastics, oil based paints, or wood finishes.

Adheres to just about anything straight out of the can: metal, glass, lacquered furniture, ceramic, upholstery, painted surfaces.... 

Application

Can be applied with a brush, roller or sprayer. If spraying, paints need to be well mixed and strained.

Can be applied with a brush, roller or sprayer. If spraying, paints need to be thinned.

Primer

May need to use a bonding agent

added to the paint for use on

glossy surfaces or if you do not want chipping.

No need to prime, the paints are

really grippy and stick to just about anything.

Sanding

Not necessary, but helpful for

best adhesion on glossy or

uneven surfaces.

Not necessary, but helpful for

best adhesion on glossy or

uneven surfaces.

Topcoats

Not necessary, but recommended.

Can use wax, hemp oil, tung oil or poly topcoat to protect from moisture and wear.

Not necessary, but recommend.

You can use wax or polyurethane as a topcoat.

Custom Colors

Can mix colors to create your own.

Can mix colors to create your own.

Thinning

Can be watered down to

suit your project.

Not designed to be watered down, but people have done it.

Finish

Matte, hand-worn finish. Will usually show wood grain.

Matte (chalky) finish. Receive luster by buffing. Wood grain is covered.

Dry Time

30 minute dry time. 30 days to harden and cure.

30 - 60 minute dry time. 30 days to harden and cure.

Distressed Finish

Unpredictable in how it will distress.

Sometimes it grips really well and comes off as a fine powder,

other times it comes off in big cracks and flakes.

Comes off in a fine powder when sanded before waxing. Easy to control the amount of wear. Results in a soft, distressed finish.

Cleanup

Soap and water.

Soap and water.

Coverage

1 quart covers approx 70 square feet. Darker colors may only need 1 coat. Light colors require multiple coats.

Quart covers about 140 square feet. You only need 1 - 2 coats.

Outdoor Usage

Can be used outdoors. Milk paint is very durable to the weather.

Can be used outdoors on metal, concrete, matte plastic, and terracotta. No need to add a protective coating.

Popular Uses

Kitchen cabinets, furniture, walls.

Furniture or walls.

Best For

Raw wood. It penetrates the wood like a stain, but looks like a paint. Best for creating a "chippy" look on already finished furniture.

Already painted furniture or other surfaces such as metal or plastic.

Milk Paint Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Great adhesion on raw wood that will never chip/peel or fade.
  • Can be distressed and/or crackled and will resist some finishes. This gives it an authentic, chippy aged look.
  • Creates interesting, one-of-a-kind texture. No two pieces will look the same.
  • Totally non-toxic and natural
  • Fade resistant
  • Beautiful colors that can be mixed to create your own custom colors

Cons

  • Requires frequent stirring
  • Need to add a bonding agent to improve adhesion to previously finished surfaces.
  • Different batches of the same color can look different.
  • Unpredictable where it will chip. Less control than with chalk paint.
  • Takes awhile to get used to

Chalk Paint Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Great adhesion on most any surface without the addition of a bonding agent.
  • Consistent color
  • Can be used right out of the can
  • Provides great coverage 
  • Flakes and chips less than milk paint
  • Easy to use, predictable results
  • Beautiful colors that can be mixed to create your own custom colors
  • No VOC's

Cons

  • High cost
  • Can't create the "chippy" look that milk paint can.
  • Annie Sloan line lacks dark colors
  • Using only one color on a piece of furniture can look "cheap"

Which Is Better?

Both of these paints have their strengths. Your choice on which one to use will depend on your surface and desired outcome.

  • Beginners should start with chalk paint, as it is easier to use.
  • If you want a chippy look on a piece of furniture, use milk paint.
  • Raw wood is best painted with milk paint (it will not chip).
  • Chalk paint will adhere better than milk paint to previously finished surfaces.
  • Milk paint is best for furniture whose natural surface is in great shape (a surface that you don't mind showing through).

Whichever paint you choose, the fun will come with experimenting and seeing what results you get. Start with a small piece, maybe an old dresser or bookshelf that could use some sprucing up. Give these paints a try and let us know which one you like best!

Recommended Brands

Renaissance Chalk Paint

Even though Annie Sloan created Chalk Paint ®, there is another brand offering the same thing for a better price. Renaissance chalk paint has over 650 reviews on Amazon, with 75% of them being 5-star reviews.

renaissance chalk paint
Buy Chalk Paint Now! lorem ipsum dolor

Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint

I recommend Miss Mustard Seed because it is a popular milk paint brand with over 100 reviews (70% of them are 5-star) on Amazon. With 23 beautiful colors to choose from, you are sure to find one you will love.

miss mustard seed milk paint
Buy Milk Paint Now! lorem ipsum dolor

What is your favorite? Do you have any tips to share? Leave a comment below!

This post was originally published on August 16, 2016.

Filed Under: Home Tagged With: furniture, Paint

Related Posts

how to make your own chalk paint - 3 easy recipes
Gallery image with caption: How to Make Your Own Chalk Paint – 3 Easy Recipes
miss mustard seeds milk paint review
Gallery image with caption: Miss Mustard Seeds Milk Paint Review
Gallery image with caption: Toxic Chemicals in Paint and Natural Alternatives

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Footer

  • Disclosure
  • Privacy Policy
  • Data Access Request

Categories

  • Eco-Living
  • Garden
  • Home
  • Wellness

Tags

air purifier Area Rugs Baby Bathroom Bedding Bedroom Breville buying guide Cast Iron Children Clay Clean Air Cleaning Coffee Detox Diffuser DIY Essential oils Fermenting furniture gosun Grain Mill Holidays jewelry Juicing kinderfeets Kitchen Laundry mattress Nursery Omega organic cotton Paint Pest Control Pet Plastic Recipe Rocky Mountain Oils ROK Sauna solar cooker Sprouting Seeds Therapy Toys Yoga

Copyright© 2021, The Best Organic Lifestyle