Why add baking soda to acrylic paint?

Adding baking soda to acrylic paint is a popular DIY technique used to create texture, matte finish, and chalky appearance for craft and furniture painting. Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, when mixed with acrylic paint, acts as thickening agent and creates paste-like consistency that adds gritty, textured, slightly raised finish similar to chalk paint, which is desirable for farmhouse, vintage, and distressed furniture looks. The typical ratio is about 1 part baking soda to 4 parts acrylic paint, mixed well to avoid clumps, though ratios vary for desired texture. Benefits include creating thicker paint that covers better with less dripping, creating matte chalky finish that adheres well to wood and furniture without extensive priming, adding texture for faux plaster or stucco effects, and being cheap alternative to buying expensive chalk paint. Baking soda also makes paint more absorbent and slightly more durable. It works best with water-based acrylics and latex paints, not oils. After painting with baking soda mixture, seal with wax or polyurethane for durability because textured surface can be porous. So artists add baking soda to acrylic paint for texture, thickness, matte chalk finish, and cost-effective chalk paint effect.