DIY: How to paint furniture with milk paint

I paint about a piece of furniture a day at the shop, so I try like to mix it up and keep it interesting. Today was "painting stuff with milk paint" day, so I thought it might be fun to share the steps with you.

Milk paint is thousands of years old. There is evidence that it was used in ancient Egypt and the colors remain nearly as vibrant as the day they were applied. When applied to a porous surface, it bonds incredibly well and soaks into the grain. The milk paint we use in the shop is all natural, zero VOC, non-toxic, Certified Green, and a USDA Certified Biobased Product. Good stuff and completely safe for your family. It has a very faint milky smell to it which dissipates as soon as it's dry.

First, I pulled out an old dresser that's just begging for a beautiful ebony patina. I gave it a quick spray down and wipe to clean off any old dirt and cobwebs, then got to work.

Some folks like to mix their milk paint powder with a fork, whisk, or mixer. I just pour the powder into a canning jar and shake it up. Then I can see to measure it and close it up when I'm done with a project or just want to take a break. (A great re-use for those old spaghetti sauce jars.) Typically it's 1 part warm water to 1 part milk paint powder. The milk paint we carry is all natural, containing no preservatives, so you'll want to mix it fresh for your project and use it within a day.

For this project I'm using Pitch Black by Old Fashioned Milk Paint. You can go a couple of ways with milk paint. If you are into that whole "Let's just see what it does" vibe, then paint right onto the old surface. It'll chip and flake in the most beautiful random ways. But ya gotta be zen about it. It is what it is. Just let the flake flake, man.

Now, you don't have to go the flakey-chippy route when using milk paint. Just mix in a bonding agent (like Extra Bond) and it'll adhere without sanding or priming. This option is great for mid-century pieces and control freaks.

Once the paint is dry, I take a putty knife, razor, or whatever's handy and run it over the surface to get rid of any flaking paint. Other great tools for distressing include old keys, a wet rag, pocket knife, and of course sandpaper. (I totally should have said "of coarse, sandpaper" but I thought you'd think I couldn't spell.)

For a protective finish today I used Daddy Van's Lavender Beeswax furniture polish. It's kind of like a little aromatherapy treatment while you work. It's a soft furniture wax, not hard like paste wax (so it spreads easily), and smells delightful. Just massage it into the paint in very thin coats. 1-2 usually does the trick.

There are lots of options for a protective finish once your piece is dry. I love Annie Sloan Soft Wax (made to pair with her Chalk Paint®, but it works great with other paints, too) as well as tung oil, hemp oil, and Miss Mustard Seed's furniture wax (made by Clapham's). That's good stuff. It's beautiful on dry wood and all sorts of other surfaces that need a refreshing moisture treatment. 

Once the solvents in the wax evaporate (just a couple hours), give the piece a good buffing with a soft, lint-free cloth, find some pretty hardware, and you're good to go!

If you have any questions, please feel free to leave them below. Don't feel shy! If I don't know the answer, I'll get one from an expert I respect.