06 March

Do you like to use spray paint for some of your DIY projects?

I love to use it sometimes. Major improvements have been made to spray paint over the years and there are now so many options to choose from:

standard gloss, satin, and matte finishes
new color options like different shades of pink, blue, and green
brand new on-trend colors like peach, mint, metallics, etc.
textures like hammered metal and stone finishes, crackled, etc.
specialty effects such as sea glass, stained glass, chalk finish, and even mirror effects

I tried out Krylon's Chalky Finish spray paint and I'm sharing the results here!

Upcycled Mail Sorter

A Review of Krylon Chalky Finish Spray Paint

I was not compensated or given any samples for this project however, this post contains some affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link I will earn a small commission which helps keep my blog up and running but won't cost you a penny more)! As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

Supplies Used:

Krylon Chalky Finish Spray Paint (it comes in 10 colors, I used classic white)
Fine-grit sandpaper
Thrifted wooden mail sorter (any small wooden item would be a good candidate)

The minute I saw this paint, I had to try it, I mean seriously? Chalk paint in spray paint form? Yes, please!

I'm experimenting with a mail sorter I found at Goodwill for $4.99.

It sat in the to-do pile for over a year. I knew it would be super cute painted white and distressed but I kept stalling because I knew it would be a pain to paint inside all those little cubbyholes!

But spray paint would be easy, and chalk paint would be beautiful!

I removed the drawer pulls and labels and sanded the whole thing. Regular chalk paint claims to bond to anything without sanding. This spray paint didn't specify and normally spray paint bonds better than brush-on paint but I decided not to take any chances.

Since this was a darker shade of wood and I used white, it took the whole can of paint to get good coverage. This would be the same with regular spray paint, specifications are 25 square feet of coverage for both.

I used some fine-grit sandpaper to distress it a little. The chalky finish paint seemed to distress a little easier than regular spray paint so that was nice.

I reinstalled the metal label pulls and I liked the handwriting on the labels from the previous owner, so I left them as is.

I did not paint the inside or sides of the drawers because I thought this would make sliding them in and out difficult and it would scratch the paint eventually. But it would be cute to add some fun paper inside them!

Krylon also has a matte finish clear sealer spray and antiquing wax available to use with their chalky finish paint.

My review of Krylon's Chalky Finish Spray Paint

Pros:

It has a very matte finish as you would expect chalk paint to have.
It has the same coverage as regular spray paint (about 25 square feet depending on the color of what you are painting and the color of spray paint you use).
It distresses easily.
It makes painting hard-to-reach areas easier.

Cons:

The paint runs easier than regular spray paint so use several light coats. (I had some runs on the top of this piece but I just sanded them until they looked like regular distressed areas).
It is more expensive than regular spray paint at about $10 a can in stores.

I do recommend this paint for smaller or difficult-to-paint projects.

You may also be interested in my eBook, The Upcycler's Ultimate Guide to Painting.

In the eBook, I've done a deep dive into six distinct topics - 1) What Exactly is Paint? 2) Specialty Paints, 3) Tools You May Need, 4) Painting Techniques, 5) Finishing Your Project, and 6) Troubleshooting common problems, and it's just $9.99 and if you email me a copy of your order receipt, I'll send you all the bonus materials you see above for free!😃

If you enjoyed this post, you may also like:

DIY Sea Glass Bottles

DIY Stained Glass Lanterns

Knock off Anthropologie Tinted Glass Vases

Comments by Blogger

Donna WilkesMarch 06, 2016
I have been using Krylon Chalky Finish Spray for over a year with great success. It is the product to use for pieces with a lot of nooks and crannies like your piece. It is $8 here in SC at Hobby Lobby - you can wait for the week spray paint is 30% off or use the weekly coupon. A large dresser took 1 1/2 cans to complete.
Kim@Snug HarborMarch 06, 2016
Oh, I'd like to try this. I have a small roll top desk I'd love to re-do.
MelissaMarch 07, 2016
LOVE! :)
mary scottMarch 09, 2016
I love this - so cute!!!!! Thanks!
BonnieMarch 15, 2016
Great to know about. I wonder if it would adhere to plastic Easter eggs?
Your organizer looks great. I know it felt good to just do it. I have so many of those!
Tania PelletierApril 22, 2016
Thank you, I'll be doing reviews of a couple of other new spray paint products soon, I hope you'll check them out!

Tania