How to Best Use Corn Starch to Flatten Paint Finish

Take your paint from glossy finish to a flat finish by adding corn starch to flatten paint.

Are you looking for an easy and cost-effective way to remove gloss finish from latex paint? Look no further! Corn starch is the perfect flattening agent. Learn how and why it is best to use corn starch to flatten paint. With just a few simple ingredients, you'll be able to achieve a smoother and more even finish on your painted surface.

Supplies Needed to Make Flat Paints

• Paint - it can be semi-gloss or high gloss
• Cornstarch
• A little water
• Small container to mix water and cornstarch
• Large container to combine cornstarch mixture and paint
• Stir stick

How to Use Cornstarch to Flatten Paint

Paint can add up quickly when you have multiple painting projects to complete. However, if you have some flexibility you can easily lower the cost with some homemade solutions.

When shopping last week I found a gallon of semi-gloss "mess up" paint for $4. I am not a huge fan of semi-gloss or glossy paint, but I loved the color so I bought it with intent to change the type of finish for the paint mixture.

Make Corn Starch Mixture

First, add three tablespoons of corn starch to four oz of cold water. Mix with a whisk until the corn starch is completely dissolved.

Combine Paint and Corn Starch Mixture

I then poured the semi-gloss paint into a plastic 45 oz empty container. Use an airtight container if you plan on keeping what you don't utilize. Then pour the corn starch mixture into the normal paint. Stir your paint until the mixture reaches desired consistency with no stringy clumps.

Note that this will thin your paint slightly. Be sure to stir your paint frequently to produce the appropriate sheen of paint. Adding corn starch to flatten paint is an easy and affordable option.

Before applying the paint to my chosen furniture piece, I tested a little bit of the paint on a sample wood surface to make sure I used the right amount of ingredients. I loved the results. You can add more or less corn starch depending on your own designs.

How to Apply Corn Starch Paint Mixture on Furniture

Prep Work

Pick out your furniture piece. I opted to use this old dresser and turn it into a buffet table or entertainment console. There are so many different ways that you can repurpose old furniture and transform it. Make sure to find a piece that is wood so that the paint will better adhere to the surface. This buffet is a solid two inches of wood.

Remove all hardware, cabinets and drawers first. Then proceed to sanding your piece. The best way to help the primer and paint stick to your wood furniture is by lightly sanding the exterior coat. Clean off any dust or dirt particles before painting.

Primer and Paint

When you are ready to paint, start by applying a coat of primer first. You can choose to spray paint or use a paint brush for your painting surface.

Allow time to dry after applying primer. Then it is time to paint. Use long strokes when applying your paint and apply a second coat. This paint went from a semi-gloss sheen to egg shell, which is my favorite to paint with.

Finishing Touches

After drying, I lightly distressed the cabinet and used wax for protective coatings. For the top, I stripped down the wood (see how I stripped down a wood bed frame here), stained it a new color and then also applied wax for the top coat.

Purchase new hardware and install.

Using Corn Starch to Flatten Paint

DIY-ers looking for an easy and cost-effective way to flatten latex paint don't have to look any further. Cornstarch is the perfect solution. With just a few simple ingredients, you can achieve your desired finish with less time and effort. Why not try it out for yourself and see just how well it works? The results are sure to be worth it.

Happy Painting!

Brooke