• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Start at Home Decor logo
  • New? Start here
  • Home
  • Projects
    • Building
    • Before and After
    • Decorating
    • DIY
    • Furniture
    • Holiday Decorating & Crafts
    • Tutorials
    • About Me
  • Custom Built Home
  • Remodeled Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Newsletter
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • DIY and Home Decor
  • New? Start Here
  • Our Home
  • Remodeled Home
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
  • About Brooke Larsen
  • Privacy Policy
×

Home

How to Get a Smooth Finish with Milk Paint

Feb 21, 2018 · Modified: Oct 13, 2022 by Brooke Larsen · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

One of the reasons why people are sometimes afraid to use milk paint is that they think milk paint = chippy. Or perhaps that it is only used to create a vintage, distressed look. Not so, my friends!! In fact, you can get an amazingly smooth finish with milk paint if applied properly. Today I'll show you just how to achieve that smooth finish with this hutch I updated using Sweet Pickins milk paint.

How to get a smooth finish with milk paint

Table of Contents

  • Supplies (affiliate links)
  • How to Get a Smooth Finish with Milk Paint

Supplies (affiliate links)

  1. Milk Paint (Flour Sack)
  2. Extra Bond
  3. Paint Brush
  4. Shellac
  5. Sand Paper
  6. Orbital Sander
  7. Oil Wax
  8. Water Based Polyurethane

Subscribe to our YOUTUBE channel here

How to Get a Smooth Finish with Milk Paint

  1. First of all, take everything apart! Remove the hardware, take off any built-in lights, and take the back off. If your doors have glass inserts that can be removed then do so, otherwise tape it off.
  2. Sand everything really, really well. Milk paint will flake in spots where the previous top coat hasn't been removed, so make sure you get off as much as possible.
  3. Next, mix up milk paint and add extra bond. To mix up milk paint you add equal parts of warm water and milk paint. So for a piece this large I mixed up ½ cup of water to a half cup of milk paint at a time. Mix your paint and water so there are no chunks. Once I mixed up the water and milk paint powder I added ½ cup of extra bond.
  4. Paint the first coat using long, even strokes and let it dry overnight so the extra bond can fully dry. It also must be at least 60 degrees for the extra bond to work.
  5. I had bleed through after the first coat so I had to apply 2 coats of Shellac. Shellac can also work as an extra bond for milk paint so it will help the paint stick even better.
  6. Now add additional coats of milk paint. I applied 2 more coats of milk paint without the extra bond in it, but you do want to be careful how many coats you apply. Also, the more coats you apply the more likely your paint is to chip.
  7. Sand in between each coat of paint. I used 220 grit sandpaper in between each coat and at the end to distress the edges (this was the desired effect for this piece, but distressed edges are not necessary) and smooth out the paint.  Milk paint sands very smooth.
  8. I applied 2 coats of a spray on water-based polyurethane.  I like to use a spray can because it goes on even.
  9. Finally, add oil wax to slightly distress and bring out the details.Get a smooth finish with milk paint

Get a smooth finish with milk paint Create a smooth finishing using milk paint

Look at this gorgeous detail!! Again, you will notice that these edges were given a slightly distressed look, but that is completely optional. It is very easy to accomplish a smooth finish with milk paint. You can see some of my other hutch makeovers here and here. Details using milk paint for furniture refinishing

Happy painting!

Brooke

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

« How to Use Sweet Pickins Oil Wax
Hello Spring Printable and Some Real Fake Tulips »
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

About Brooke Larsen

Hello Friends! I love anything DIY and home decorator! On my blog I hope you will find home inspo. Whether it is for your next DIY project or home decor. If I can do it, anyone can!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Clara @Model Home Improvement says

    February 22, 2018 at 11:24 am

    Love a nice smooth modern finish! I love your info.Thanks for your blog.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Hi I am Brooke I am an avid DIY-er and home decorator! I share home inspo and all of my DIY projects with step-by-step directions. I sprinkle in a few recipes to help out all of us busy moms too. If I can do it, so can you!

More about me →

Popular

  • Red Onion Vinaigrette and a Strawberry Salad
  • DIY Aluminum Pergola
    Easy Outdoor DIY Aluminum Pergola Kit for the Backyard
  • Free Spring Printables
    Free Spring and Flower Printables for Kids and Adults
  • DIY Bedside Table
    How to Build a Modern DIY Nightstand with Storage
  • New? Start here
  • Home
  • Projects
  • Custom Built Home
  • Remodeled Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Newsletter

Copyright © 2023 Start at Home Decor on the Seasoned Pro Theme

12 shares