How to Get A Chippy Look with Milk Paint

Create the perfect chippy finish on furniture using milk paint!

I promised the next furniture makeover I shared would be aged and chippy and this dresser makeover is full of chippy goodness.  

I usually stick to mid-century modern furniture that I keep smooth, clean, and free of distressing, so this chippy dresser was a bit different from my normal painted furniture makeovers.

Traditional powder milk paint is different than any other type of paint, so before I get to all the before and after makeover details, I wanted to answer a few common questions about milk paint.

What is milk paint? 

Milk paint is a water-based, non-toxic paint made from milk protein (casein), lime (calcium), and earth or mineral pigments.  It provides a durable finish, is environmentally safe, and has zero VOC. 

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MILK PAINT AND CHALK PAINT?

Both types of paint have pros and cons, each giving different results.  Real milk paint comes in a powdered form and needs to be mixed with water,  Chalk paint comes premixed in a liquid form. 

Old fashioned milk paint will adhere to unfinished wood without chipping but will resist on some finishes resulting in a beautiful vintage chippy finish.  A bonding agent can be added to the paint to improve adhesion when a chippy finish is not desired.  Chalk paint can be painted over virtually any surface, requires minimal prep work, and can be sanded and distressed, but will not chip.

WHEN SHOULD A BONDING AGENT BE USED?

If you are painting over a non-porous surface (laminate, previously painted surface, sealed surface, etc) and a chippy finish is not desired then a bonding agent should be added to your milk paint.  A bonding agent will allow the paint to adhere to wood, metal, and glass without chipping.

HOW TO GET A CHIPPY FINISH WITH MILK PAINT?

Getting the perfect chippy look using milk paint can be a bit tricky.  Unfinished and porous surfaces will absorb milk paint and will not chip.  In this case, wax or vaseline should be applied to the edges and areas where chipping is desired.  If painting over stained or finished wood, milk paint can be applied directly to the wood and will begin to chip on its own.  

Milk paint can be very unpredictable, so if you don't get the chippy finish you were looking for then apply a resister (wax or vaseline) before applying another coat of paint.

SUPPLIES NEEDED TO GET THE PERFECT CHIPPY FINISH WITH MILK PAINT

(Affiliate links have been used)

- Milk Paint Powder (I used Shackteau interiors brand in Clarke Pond Green)

- Clear Wax

- Antique Wax

- Bonding Agent (If you end up with too chipping)

- Simple Green

- Respirator

- Dewalt orbital sander

- 120 grit sanding pads
- 300 grit sanding block
- Paintbrush
- Screwdriver

- Putty knife or paint scraper

- ORB Spray Paint

- Gold Leaf Rub 'n Buff

- Paper towels

- Wax brush 

- Lint-free rags

- Lidded mason jar or another similar jar

CHIPPY MILK PAINTED DRESSER

I recently found a piece of furniture on Facebook Marketplace that had the perfect lines for a chippy makeover.   I thought about playing it safe and painting it black, but then I discovered Shackteau Interiors on Instagram.  I fell in love with their milk paint colors, particularly, Clarke Pond Green. 

I started by removing the hardware and lightly sanding the dresser.  Milk paint won't chip on raw wood, so I was careful not to sand around the edges and areas where I wanted the paint to chip and flake off.  Once the dresser was prepped and ready for paint, I mixed up the milk paint using a 50/50 ratio of powder and water.   

I painted two coats of milk paint over the dresser and immediately saw chipping after the first coat dried.  I didn't chip off the loose paint before applying the second coat.  Instead, I carefully applied the second coat of paint over the first coat of chipping paint. 

Once the paint was dry, I used a 3-inch putty knife to gently scrape off any loose and chipping paint.  The end result was a beautiful and natural-looking chippy finish. 

After I scraped off all the chipping paint, I brushed away any loose paint and sealed the dresser with clear and dark wax.  You can read more about how I apply clear and dark wax HERE.

I was originally going to replace the hardware, but since this piece is being sold I decided to keep costs down and update the hardware with my favorite Oil Rubbed Bronze spray paint.  A few light coats and a little distressing made all the difference and now they pop against the gorgeous green chippy paint.

Creating a chippy finish with true milk paint can be a bit unpredictable, but that's just one of the many reasons why I love using milk paint.  

     

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