How to Chalk Paint Vintage Dining Chairs: 2 Different Techniques

Hi there, Friends! Recently I updated the vintage dining chairs for my kitchen table with chalk paint. Undecided if I wanted to commit to painting all four, I started by painting two with my favorite brush on chalk paint. Then, after living with purposely mismatched chairs for a few months, I decided I was ready to paint the other two. When I was blessed to receive two cans of Rust-Oleum Chalked spray paint in a giveaway from Lauren at Wonderfully Made, I chose the Linen White shade so I could compare the two paints and share my results with you. Thank you to Lauren and Rust-Oleum! {This is not a sponsored post but I have included affiliate links for DIYers. See full disclosure here.} 

So here's the red shade of the chairs before I started. Can you believe these vintage chairs and the table that goes with them were given to me by a neighbor? This was years ago, before we moved into our home and they were originally part of an outdoor set. My neighbor preferred modern furniture, but I liked them so much that when we moved into our new home, I brought the set inside to use as a breakfast table. The chairs are quite heavy and I love the design. 

When I painted the first two, wanting to use paint I had on hand, I used my go-to chalk paint, Americana Decor Chalky Finish, in Everlasting. During the process of hand painting all of those curves and curlicues, I remembered why I spray paint 90% of the time! One of the benefits of chalk paint is the excellent coverage that doesn't usually require priming. However, to go from red to white, I did use two coats and it took F-O-R-E-V-E-R! 

Even so, I loved the finished results and decided it was worth the time. 

Originally, I liked the idea of mismatching two red and two white chairs, but changed my mind after living with them for awhile. Fast-forward two months, when I was ready to paint the other two chairs and not only learned that there is a chalky spray paint option, but I won two cans in the giveaway from Lauren--yay!

As I said before, chalk paint doesn't usually require priming but since it was my first experience with Rust-Oleum Chalked spray paint, and I wanted to make sure I had enough to cover both chairs, I used some inexpensive white spray paint as primer. I try to keep a few cans of generic white on hand, it's a good way to stretch more expensive paint. 

As it turned out, the Chalked spray paint covered really well and I only used one can for both chairs, which left me a can for future projects! 

I am really pleased with the results--it has an almost identical chalky finish to the brushed on chalk paint. 

See for yourself. These really are photos of the two different paints-I promise! 

I finished all of the chairs with Americana Decor Creme Wax.

Here's a view of all four painted chairs at the breakfast table. In conclusion, I will definitely use Rust-Oleum Chalked spray paint again. It's perfect for jobs with ornate details like the dining chairs and now I know how well it covers and that the finish really does look like chalk paint. On the other hand, I'll continue to use Americana Decor for projects that I wouldn't spray paint. I couldn't be happier with all four chairs and am slightly shocked at how well the two paints match.