The first thing I ever painted with DIY chalk paint is the bathroom vanity in the guest bath. My favorite DIY Chalk Paint Recipe is one part Plaster of Paris mixed with water to a pancake like consistency and three parts latex paint. The samples from the various paint and home improvement stores work great. I thought you would like to see How Does DIY Chalk Paint Look After 3 Years.
As you can see by the before pictures… Aren’t you amazed I took before pictures? I really didn’t know what I was doing but since I have painted forever including my house inside and out more than once and that was one of my jobs volunteering on the Habitat job sites I decided I had nothing to lose. I know how to paint.
When I ventured into the great unknown of painting with DIY chalk paint, what was the first thing I did? I took the doors off and removed the hinges. Another thing was to wipe down the cabinet although I can’t tell you after all of these years what I may have used. My best guess is Murphy’s Oil Soap.
If you have ever used DIY Chalk Paint you know the first coat generally doesn’t look good and your heart stops and you think oh boy what have I done. Yes, that is the emotion I experienced. By that time the deed was done so I continued on.
I don’t know if that makes me stubborn or what but let me tell you when I start a project I finish it regardless of what happens during.
After the second coat of paint and before waxing I knew this was a good thing to do to get rid of the builder grade cabinets without buying new ones. I lightly distressed the cabinet.
Then I started waxing the cabinet and I was in love with the look. I did get carried away with the clear wax and applied seven coats. I suspect that may have been overkill. At some point I found the new knobs at Hobby Lobby and it worked.
How Does DIY Chalk Paint Look After 3 Years? I am very happy with the look and it looks as good as when I painted it 3 years ago. As an update, it is going on 5 years since I have painted the vanity. It still looks as good as the day I painted it.
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Buffer Brush (I recommend this although I didn’t own it then)
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Yep looks great!
Thank you, Karen
Looks great Debra! Nice to see the perspective of longevity. Wow, 7 coats of wax! Was that b/c it was a bathroom? Love your knobs too!
Thank you, Florence. I think the 7 coats of wax was overzealousness on my part but it has held up 🙂
Wow!…it certainly stood the test of time…the vanity looks fantastic!
Thanks so much. I am pleasantly surprised it held up so well. Now I need to get busy and do the cabinet in the master bath.
I use that exact recipe for homemade chalky finish paint and I like it as well! Your cabinet is looking amazing and I love the distressed look on it! Great to know that the homemade paint will last and look great for a long time!!
Isn’t it the easiest recipe and gets great results. Thanks so much.
Wow! I am impressed, Debra! I know you do excellent work, but that paint holding up is fabulous. Thanks for the update!
Thanks so much, Larissa. It is especially important to know it is a quality product because the items are sold.
This is so good to know. I often wonder how self painted things stand the test of time. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Julie. I worry about that myself, especially since I sell them at my booth.
I am so happy to hear that Debra because I too have been painting up a storm with chalk paint and hope it will last for a while yet. I just think I should reapply the wax since I did not overkill it, in fact I would say the opposite. Thanks for your honest opinion.
I think 2 to 3 coats of wax should work. I have a little cabinet I did in my master bath(picture of it is in the Follow Your Dream post)and that is all I did and it looks good. Thanks for stopping by.
This is such a great idea for a post. Many people, including me, would like to know how projects hold up and it’s good to know that your chalk-like diy is doing so well.
Thank you, Patti. I am really pleased that it did hold up, especially since I sell items that I have used this DIY recipe on.
Vanity looks wonderful, I love knowing how well chalk paint looks over time!
Pinned!
Thanks so much, Jemma. I won’t use it in the kitchen but I am very pleased with it in the bathroom.
Wow, I bet your arms were burning with all that waxing! Your cabinets look amazing.
I know, right :). Thanks so much.
I agree your cabinet still looks great. Thank you so much for sharing at Snickerdoodle Create~Bake~Make link party!
Thank you so much, Sharon.
It looks amazing! I want to try this recipe now! Pinned!
Thank you, Rachael. I also love how easy it is and it stands the test of time.
Your cupboards look great, Debra! I’ve been considering using chalk paint on my kitchen cupboards, so it was great to here your review of your homemade product. Thanks for sharing your posts at Vintage Charm 🙂
Thanks so much, Diana. I look forward to seeing the kitchen cabinets.
WOW ! Just amazing cabinets idea. As a woodworker, Really I appreciate your job.
Thank you so much. I am so happy that it has held up so well.
Your cabinets still look great after all these years. I haven’t tried the plaster recipe yet. The one time that I went looking for it I could find any. But since then I’ve seen it around. I’m painting my bathroom cabinets with chalk paint hoping that they will hold up. Their looking good so far, and after seeing your I think I made a good choice. But you are right about that first coat. I had that same feeling, what have i done. Lol
Thanks, Linda. I am still very happy with them. I plan on painting the vanity in the master bathroom very soon.