Homemade Chalk Paint with Baking Soda Recipe

Get the look and texture of chalk paint with this paint with baking soda recipe!

I’ve been wanting to make paint with baking soda for a long time, and finally had an excuse to try it when I decided to make over an old dark picture frame.

Baking soda chalk paint was so easy to make and use, and the end result was just what I wanted!

How to Make Chalk-Like Paint using Baking Soda

Supplies You’ll Need:

• Leftover house paint (acrylic, water base)
• Baking Soda
• A container to mix it in – I like to use a disposible container like a yogurt container.
• Stir stick
• Measuring cup- I used a disposible yogurt container as my measuring cup. I didn’t want to use my baking measuring cups!

How to mix your own baking soda chalk-like paint

Recipe for enough baking soda paint to paint a large picture frame:

• 2/3 cup acrylic water base house paint (I used Simply White)
• 1/3 cup baking soda
• 1 1/2 tablespoons cool water to make the paint non-grainy and smooth-but still thick (start with just a little and add more as needed)

Step one: In a disposible plastic container, mix one part acrylic house paint to 1/2 part baking soda until smooth. For this large picture frame, I used 2/3 cup Simply White latex wall paint with 1/3 cup baking soda.

Step two: Once the baking soda and paint are mixed, add in enough cool water to make it a smooth non-grainy paint. (I used 1 1/2 tablespoons cool water.) You will want the paint to be thick enough to cover well, but not so thin that it runs off the brush. Start with a little water and mix it well. If you need to add more to help the paint slide better, add a little more at a time.

Watch how to make paint with baking soda video

I documented this diy craft project for my Instagram stories. If you missed them, here is a video watching how I mixed up baking soda paint and applied it to the picture frame above:

How to use homemade paint with baking soda

Once the paint is mixed well, use a paintbrush to apply it to the surface you are painting. The paint will dry quickly, making it easy to add additional coats to get the desired look you want to acheive.

If you are going for a distressed or antiqued look, rub off some of the paint with a damp cloth or piece of sandpaper to reveal the color underneath. (I spray painted the frame above gold before applying the homemade chalk paint.)

This paint can be used to updated outdated home decor objects like picture frames and vases.

If you would like more specific details on how to paint and antique a picture frame, I recommend this article called “Chalk Painting and Antiquing a Frame“. It’s what I followed when I painted the frame above.

Can paint with baking soda be stored?

Well, you can try storing it like you do with other paint – in a tightly covered container in a cool place. However, depending on the type of paint you use, it may seize up and harden beyond use again. For that reason, I recommend mixing up only the amount you’d like to use up.

Why you may want to try this paint with baking soda recipe

• Making your own homemade chalk paint with baking soda is very convenient when your town doesn’t have easily accessible chalk paint sources!
• It’s cheap to make with leftover house paint and baking soda.
• Homemade chalk paint is a great way to makeover dated decor (like frames and vases) and make them look fresh, new, and trendy.
• This baking soda paint recipe is like chalk paint in that it is slightly textured so it sticks to the surface you are painting well – eliminating the need for paint primer.

Other Paint Craft Projects

• Homemade Chalk Painted Old Window
• DIY Painted Jars with Folkart Chalk
• A Painted Farmhouse Table Makeover with Country Chic Paint
• Faux Cement Flower Pots from Tin Cans