II OUR DELIVERY LEAD TIME FOR ALL ORDERS WOULD BE 7-10 WORKING DAYS II
II OUR DELIVERY LEAD TIME FOR ALL ORDERS WOULD BE 7-10 WORKING DAYS II
When Annie Sloan developed her unique decorative paint, Chalk Paint®, over 25 years ago, she revolutionized the world of decorative painting. Frustrated with the lack of paint options available at the time, she created her signature furniture paint with its remarkable versatility and ease of use for everyone from the novice to the professional to enjoy. She called it Chalk Paint® because of its beautiful velvety, matt finish. These paints are natural, water-based, non-toxic, odorless, baby-safe and eco-friendly.
“One of the great aspects about my paint is the number of different ways it can be used – it is not a one dimensional paint but can be used thickly, thinly, crackled, stippled, overlaid and rubbed through, smoothly, and like gesso.” – Annie Sloan
Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan is very easy to work with. It very rarely requires any preparation, such as sanding or priming, and can be used indoors or outside on just about any surface from wood to metal, and matt plastic to terracotta. It can revitalize old furniture, walls, ceilings, and floors with ease. It’s easy, fun, and makes amazing results accessible to everyone.
With a colour palette inspired by 18th and 20th Century decor and design, you can easily mix the colours together to extend the range. The possibilities of creating different textures, finishes and shades are endless.
As a rough guide, one litre of Chalk Paint® covers approximately 13 square metres, or the equivalent of a small dresser or china hutch.
For most purposes, one coat of paint is enough. If the piece you are painting is dark, then you will need 2 coats of paint. Chalk Paint® adheres to almost any surface, and there is rarely any need to sand or prime before painting.
To get started, tip pot upside down and shake before use. Then open and stir well. If paint is too thick just add a little water and stir. For the best results, we recommend using a good quality paintbrush like the Chalk Paint® Brushes to apply the paint.
Want to know more? We can offer you workshops and practical advice on these and other tips from the Annie Sloan Method.
Chalk Paint® Wax is the perfect complement for Chalk Paint® paint. In fact, we’d say it’s an essential partner! It adds durability, deepens the colours and gives a very slight sheen. It’s really easy to get sensational results – just use a cotton rag, or your Chalk Paint® Wax Brush, to get it into corners and crevices.
As a very rough guide, you will need one 500ml tin of wax for every 3-4 litres of paint – of course, this will vary depending on how many coats of paint or wax you use to cover a piece. And it's always best to have a little wax left over for touching up. With the lid tightly on, it will last indefinitely.
To bring out brushstrokes or for an aged effect, work Dark, Black or White Chalk Paint® Waxes into crevices, wiping it back with Clear Chalk Paint® Wax to achieve your perfect result. Always apply a coat of Clear Chalk Paint® Wax before you apply coloured waxes – this will allow you to control the colour.
The Wax will be dry to the touch very quickly but take longer to harden or ‘cure’. The ‘curing’ process can take 5 - 21 days depending on ambient temperature.
If you want to achieve a really good shine, allow around 24 hours before buffing.
Annie Sloan Soft Wax is food-safe and toy-safe when completely cured.
Want to know more? We can offer you workshops and practical advice on these and other tips from the Annie Sloan Method.
After you’ve applied Chalk Paint® Wax, you’ll find that it will become dry to the touch very quickly. At this stage, it is still what you might call ‘soft’. It will start to harden as the solvents in the wax evaporate. This hardening process is known as ‘curing’. Curing can take between 5 and 21 days depending on ambient temperature.
Of course, you can use your finished piece straight away, but you may need to treat it with extra care up until the wax has cured completely (you might want to use coasters, avoid sharp objects etc). Once cured, a piece of furniture finished with Chalk Paint® and finished with wax will stand up to normal wear and tear.
Chalk Paint® Wax is food-safe and toy-safe when completely cured.
Want to know more? We can offer you workshops and practical advice on these and other tips from the Annie Sloan Method.
We have 37 colours in the Chalk Paint® range from soft and pale to bright and strong. Annie Sloan’s carefully selected range of colours is hugely flexible as you can mix colours together to extend the range and create endless possibilities.
If you want to make a colour paler then add Old White or Pure. Old White will give the colour a softer vintage feel, and Pure will make the colour more modern.
Find out roughly what ratio you need by experimenting - you could use you fingers to dab and mix colours, or a teaspoon to make small amounts. For larger amounts you could use a cup or even a tin as a measure.
Start with a dollop of your chosen colour, slowly adding the Old White or Pure. A dollop of Provence and two dollops of Old White gives you a ratio of 1 to 2, making a lovely soft pale slightly aged turquoise like old faded French shutters. Use Pure and the colour is cleaner and fresher, giving a more vintage 1950’s look!
It’s useful to keep a sample of the colours you make in your Chalk Paint® Work Book, just incase you want to recreate them.
For lots more information on mixing colours, see Annie’s book ‘Colour Recipes for Painted Furniture and More’.
Want to know more? We can offer you workshops and practical advice on these and other tips from the Annie Sloan Method.
Chalk Paint® is a natural, non-toxic water-based product and is safe to use on baby furniture and toys. However, it is important to let the wax completely cure before using the piece - at least 3 weeks. The paint is also food-safe after the wax has cured
Annie Sloan Chalk Paint® has a matt finish and can be written on with chalk.
Follow this quick and easy tutorial to create a chalk board.
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If you’re working with new, untreated wood such as pine, you’ll need to apply a coat of water-based primer to wood knots and open grains. This will block tannins that can bleed through the paint.
On rare occasions, a stain may bleed through your first coat of paint – this is often from a previous oil-based finish and is most likely to happen on old pieces from the 1930s and 1940s, and especially teak.
If you see a stain bleeding through the paint, apply a coat of water-based primer (you can buy from our store) directly over the paint you have already applied. Treat the whole affected surface to avoid any patchiness in the final finish. One or two coats of primer applied evenly with a brush will block the stain. It dries in 30 minutes, and then you can get on with your painting!
Want to know more? We can offer you workshops and practical advice on these and other tips from the Annie Sloan Method.
In the very rare case that Chalk Paint® isn't sticking to the surface you are painting, it may need some additional preparation work. This usually happens if the surface you are painting has been previously treated in some way (pledge, polish, protection oil, etc). Clean the surface well, and if needed apply one or two coats of water-based primer by brush if you experience bleed-through or staining. Although preparation work is usually not necessary, sometimes a little extra care is required.
Remove old, greasy or waxy residue with a soft rag moistened with white spirits. Clean the surface that will be painted with soap and water. Use a scouring pad to lightly scrub the surface. Rinse with a clean rag and warm water and let the piece dry completely before painting.
Apply Chalk Paint® to walls with a large brush or a roller. A brush will use less paint than a roller and will add depth and texture to the final finish. You can then wax the wall with a wax brush, or just leave it – bedrooms walls look great with a soft, matte, unwaxed finish. For kitchens, bathrooms and walls that require a tougher, scrubbable finish, we recommend waxing.
Want to know more? We can offer you workshops and practical advice on these and other tips from the Annie Sloan Method.
Chalk Paint® can transform old concrete and wooden floors, even if they’re varnished. Just apply two or three coats of Chalk Paint®, and then apply Chalk Paint® Lacquer with a sponge roller, for added durability.
Always test the paint and Lacquer on a few areas of the floor before you start, to check whether any stains will bleed through.
Want to know more? We can offer you workshops and practical advice on these and other tips from the Annie Sloan Method.
You can Chalk Paint® straight onto all kinds of metal surfaces and hardware, including metal work. Chalk Paint® can re-invigorate old brass and other metal fixtures and fittings, and it even covers and slows down rust.
Any rusting areas should be sanded and treated with a rust inhibitor before painting.
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You can achieve beautiful results using Chalk Paint® on – and in – your cabinets. Apply at least two coats of paint, and then two or three coats of Chalk Paint® Wax to seal and protect the cabinets since they will have a lot of wear and tear. Simple.
Want to know more? We can offer you workshops and practical advice on these and other tips from the Annie Sloan Method.
As a guide, one litre of Chalk Paint® Lacquer will cover 10-12 square metres, but this will vary according to the absorbency of the floor. Lacquer should always be applied in very thin coats. Results may also vary depending on previous treatment of the surface.
When applying Chalk Paint® Lacquer, bear in mind that it is a 'penetrating' finish and can pull tannins or stains from the wood up through the paint. This can be especially noticeable on whites, manifesting as a yellow stain. Always test Chalk Paint® paint and Lacquer on several areas before you begin your project. If a stain appears, simply apply a thin coat of Chalk Paint® Lacquer directly over the entire surface to be painted before painting and lacquering again.
Want to know more? We can offer you workshops and practical advice on these and other tips from the Annie Sloan Method.
To clean marks or stains, use a slightly damp cloth with a little mild soap. If you need to use a stronger cleaner, you may have to re-wax the area. Stubborn marks on waxed pieces can often be removed with a little Clear Chalk Paint® Wax on a cloth.
Always use heat mats and coasters to protect your painted and waxed surfaces. Keep away from extreme temperatures or humidity. Like you, your finish prefers a moderate climate!
Waxes dissolve in alcohol, so using it on bars is not advisable.
Want to know more? We can offer you workshops and practical advice on these and other tips from the Annie Sloan Method.
After painting with Chalk Paint®, squeeze out as much excess paint from your brush as you can, then wash your Chalk Paint® Brush well with warm water to rinse out all the colour. Hang to dry with the bristles pointing downwards.
Whether you apply Soft Wax with the Chalk Paint® Wax Brush or Chalk Paint® Brush, simply wash your brush with warm water and grease-cutting soap to clean it. Harsh detergents may shorten the life of your natural bristle brushes.
Want to know more? We can offer you workshops and practical advice on these and other tips from the Annie Sloan Method.
Chalk Paint® even works outdoors! It’s particularly good on brick, concrete, stone and terracotta – and there’s no need to wax. On garden furniture, a coat of water-based exterior varnish will protect against stains and keep the finish looking good for longer. Look for a clear varnish with UV protection to prevent colour fading.
Chalk Paint® will fade in the sun and age gracefully with the elements. Chalk Paint® is a water-based decorative paint and does not have any weatherproof or protective properties. Depending on the look you want and the site-specific conditions you may find it needs a fresh coat periodically.
Want to know more? We can offer you workshops and practical advice on these and other tips from the Annie Sloan Method.
As with all decorative paints, it’s not advisable to paint over small areas that need a touch up – even if you are working with paint from the same batch. When you apply a first coat of paint to a surface, the rate at which the water is absorbed by the surface (‘wicking’) has an effect on the final colour. Subsequent coats will be absorbed by the paint underneath at a different rate, leading to a subtle shade difference in the finish. For this reason, where repairs are necessary, it’s best to paint the entire surface of the affected area, whether this is a section of wall (from corner to corner & top to bottom) or the face of a piece of furniture (for example, a drawer front). There is no need to repaint the entire room or the whole piece of furniture!
Want to know more? We can offer you workshops and practical advice on these and other tips from the Annie Sloan Method.
When it comes to painting upholstery, small items which are firmly upholstered (such as a dining chair seat) and made from natural fabric (such as cotton or linen) give the best results. In these cases, Chalk Paint® can be diluted with water and painted on as a 'wash' which will stain the fibres. Fabric that is painted in this way does not require to be waxed afterwards. Take a look at our video tutorial for more on this technique.
There are other ways to paint upholstery, but the success of painting any upholstered piece does depend on factors such as the condition, colour and composition of the fabric, how firmly it is upholstered, and the colour you are using (reds are less colourfast).
For any project, we would recommend testing in a small area first before you commit to painting the whole piece. As a general rule, we don’t recommend painting very cushioned sofas or suites or items that get very heavy use.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with different techniques either – applying the paint more thickly will change the composition of the fabric, making it stiffer. This can then be waxed and buffed to create a leather effect.
You can also use Chalk Paint® on leather and vinyl – build up the coverage in thin coats, and then wax to finish. As the leather creases and cracks with age, so will the paint, so bear this in mind on well-worn or cushioned items.
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To stencil fabric with Chalk Paint®, apply with a sponge roller. There is no need to dilute the paint, but to keep the image from bleeding around the edges, try not to overload your roller with paint. Allow the fabric to dry naturally, then heat seal by tumble drying or pressing with a hot iron.
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Dip dyeing with Chalk Paint® a great way to completely change the colour of fabric. You can control how intense the colour comes through simply by adding more water. Linen, cotton, cotton voile and synthetic curtains all work well with this technique. You can also use patterned cottons or linens.
We have found that the deeper pigmented colours work best, such as Aubusson Blue, Scandinavian Pink, Antibes and Florence.
Go to our Techniques section for step-by-step tutorial on dip dyeing fabric.
Want to know more? We can offer you more information and practical advice on these and other tips from the Annie Sloan Method.