Friends, I can hardly wait to share my news! I found it! I found IT! After six weeks of scouring Facebook Marketplace, I found my faux fireplace mantle. Oh, happy day! The decor possibilities! I am bursting with excitement! It is the perfect style and the perfect size, but a terrible color. Picture 80s shiny orange. Yup- we are going to fix that! Join me as I show you how to chalk paint a mantle!
Here is my pride and joy at time of purchase:
Yes, it is bright orange. And yes, it looks extremely dated and stands out like a sore thumb against my modern farmhouse décor. But beneath the surface, I see a ton of potential! The “bones” of this mantle are fabulous!
Finding Just the Right Mantle
Let me share a bit about my journey to find this mantle. Facebook Marketplace has no shortage of faux fireplace mantles. I literally received daily notifications for new postings. The trouble is the good ones go fast! I wanted one relatively close to me (within 30 miles), in good shape with some nice decorative accents, under $100. They go fast, friends. Whew!
I seriously inquired about half a dozen prior to finding the one I got. When I found a good prospect, I sometimes did not act quick enough. Ugh! Well, in the end it all worked out! I got one I am really happy with and it was $80. Happy dance time!
The mantle I was lucky enough to score came from a family that recently purchased a gorgeous reno on the lake. This particular beauty sat in a storage area of the garage.
The Perfect Mantle Comes Home
Here’s another shot of my mantle in the space it will occupy once it is painted:
I cleaned the mantle really good with warm water and removed the insert. Cleaning the mantle was necessary for a couple of reasons. One, it was sitting in a garage for the last 1.5 years. Additionally, it is always good practice to thoroughly clean a piece of furniture before painting it. You want to remove all of the dirt and grime on your piece to avoid unsightly surface bumps or discolorations with the final product.
All clean! Oh la la! Loving it!
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How to Chalk Paint a Mantle
After the cleaning and removal of the insert, I made my chalk paint. What is that you say? You made your chalk paint? Yes! Yes, I made my chalk paint! Used two cups of white latex paint mixed with 5 tablespoons Plaster of Paris and 3 tablespoons water. Love this stuff!
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You can buy paint already mixed as chalk paint. In fact, Annie Sloan is a brand I have tried and it is wonderful! But it is costly. I found this recipe on Pinterest four years ago and have used it on countless projects. And I can honestly tell you their is no difference in the finished product using Annie Sloan or my homemade recipe!
Here is a picture of my supplies:
I use a brush, but a roller brush would work well too. Truly you can do this project with either.
Start to Chalk Paint a Mantle
And away I go! Painting my first coat! I am careful not to make this first coat too thick. Living in Florida, where the humidity is CRAZY, paint can easily bubble as it dries if it is applied too think.
Here are some shots of the mantle with one coat of chalk paint:
At this point I tell you do not panic- I know it does not look great. The first coat is always a bit streaky looking and weird. Do not worry! Each coat will look better and better! Be sure to let each coat dry thoroughly before applying the next. I recommend overnight, when possible. At minimum you want 3-4 hours of drying time. Allowing for sufficient wait time will ensure each coat dries smooth and bubble free.
Here is my prize after the second coat of chalk paint:
It is looking better, right? Still not the coverage I want but it is getting there! Thinking this might be a four coat job. With each coat, it keeps looking better and better. No worries- it is going to look great!
The Mantle Begins to Come Alive
I apply the next coat and get this:
Oh, look how gorgeous! The white is coming out so clean and crisp. When you look close enough around the cracks and crevices, you can see where the paint is slightly thinner. One more coat will to the trick!
And here it is!
I LOVE it! This mantle is just what I have been dreaming of in our living space! And the white makes it absolutely clean and beautiful!
How to Chalk Paint a Mantle and Transform Your Living Space
Here it is with the insert back in place:
Wow- it is almost as though this mantle was made for this area! It truly fits perfect with our TV and two side tables! I feel it is a terrific height too. Slightly taller than the tables but not too tall for where we have the TV mounted. Win win!
Prepare for the onslaught of seasonal decor pictures featuring this gem! I can already see it with garland and Christmas lights… 🙂
Let Chalk Paint Inspire You!
Have you used paint to breathe life into a piece of furniture lately?
Over the last four years, I have painted many pieces of furniture. It was almost as though once I started, it became really fun to see how I could transform a piece! I had a black entry table for three years. I spent a year wondering what it might look like black and white. Then finally, I took the plunge! See the picture below. It is not the best picture- but I think it gives you the idea of what can be done with a little creativity and a paint brush! I would love to see what you conquer. Be sure to share in the comments!
