Pro tip: My local clients keep asking for milk paint finishes

I mean, in the last few months, almost every new job request mentions milk paint for that rustic look. It's a big shift from the glossy lacquers I used to do all the time. I had to practice a lot to get the application right without it cracking. Anyone else seeing this trend pick up? I'd love to swap notes on best brands.

3 comments

3 Comments

emma4842mo ago

Honestly how long can this milk paint thing last anyway. Feels like every few years a different "rustic" finish gets trendy then fades out. Remember when everyone had to have that chalk paint look on everything. It's just paint, not some life changing event.

aaron4052mo ago

Totally agree on the paint trends. I jumped on the milk paint bandwagon last year for a coffee table project (thinking I'd be all rustic and chic). Followed the mix instructions to the letter, but it dried all patchy and weird, like a cow sneezed on it. Had to sand the whole thing down and start over with regular paint, which was honestly a relief.

simon_davis2mo ago

Emma, saying it's "just paint" misses the point a bit. The reason milk paint is having a moment is because it's a totally different material that gives a real, old-school finish you can't fake with modern latex. That chalk paint trend was mostly about looks, but this stuff is actually historical. The patchy finish aaron mentioned is part of the learning curve, it's supposed to be uneven and layered. Once you get the mix and prep right, it's way more durable than people think.