By leading the decorative painting revolution over the last 25 years, Annie Sloan has become perhaps the worlds most respected expert in decorative paint, colours and techniques.
Alongside her unique and hugely versatile decorative chalk paint, Annie has inspired generations with her open, lively and creative approach to getting great results. Annie's fine art background and contagious enthusiasm for decorative painting have motivated both home painters and experienced professionals and have unlocked countless creative potentials.
The Annie Sloan range is synonymous with excellent results that are easy and fun to achieve. These products are exclusively sold through Annie's network of independent stockists who are located all over the world.  

Please pop into our store 'Creations' to see Annie's stock range and get more information on individual products.
we would love to meet you.

Frequently asked questions about Chalk Paint:

How much can you get out of 1 tin of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint?
 Annie Sloan Chalk Paint goes such a long way, you can get about 13sq meters out of a 1ltr tin of paint and even with a tiny bit left in the bottom of the tin you can create a wash effect by adding water. A tester pot will do an entire chair the size of a standard dining room chair if you are looking for a distressed finish.

I have some dark liquids on top of the paint when opening the can. Is this normal?  
Yes this is completely normal, just make sure you mix it all together and don't poor the liquid away, as all the ingredients are needed to create the durability of the paint and help it cure to most surfaces. We always advise to turn the paint tin upside down half an hour before using it and then give it a good stir.

I’ve accidentally left the lid off the can of paint. Will it be OK?  
Yes, it may form a skin on top but don't worry just mix it in and add a touch of water at a time to get it back to a thickness you are happy to paint with, if you add too much water don't worry just leave the lid off again to thicken up.

Is it normal to get irregularities and brush strokes in the finish? 
This is what this paint was made for, the brush strokes and drips etc add to the character of a vintage aged look and its just what Annie wanted from the paint. If you are looking for a smoother, sleeker finish typical of a 50's retro style piece, then you'd need to add a little water to the paint and apply with an Annie Sloan flat brush, painting in a single direction to create a flatter surface, alternatively you can use Annie Sloan Rollers to do the job.

How durable is the finish?  
We advise you to treat your piece with care as you would any new piece.  Allow the finish to cure completely, this should take up to 30 days, but the furniture can be used with care before then. Furniture finished with Chalk Paint and then waxed will stand up to normal wear and tear but best to avoid excessive water and scratchy objects.  Use coasters under water glasses and place mats on dining tables where possible and only clean with a soft damp or lint free cloth and avoid all liquid furniture polishes and baby wipes.

Is there only one way to use the paint? 
No there are so many different ways to use the paint, from painting a piece of furniture, to creating lovely pieces of art work and painting and dying material. this is just the tip of the iceberg really as the paint will take you as far as you want to create. The paint dries in less than an hour in normal conditions – a little longer in the cold, damp. Please see our Paint Workshops that are available to learn new techniques and skills.

I have stains coming through on a new paint layer, what do I do?  
It happens very rarely but you sometimes get bleed through or staining from old furniture varnishes or old wood, if this happens use clear knotting solution, clear shellac or Zinsser B-I-N Primer. These are some of the only things that will cover the marks, layering the paint does not cover the stain.

Is the paint safe for use on cots and children's furniture etc?  
Yes the paint is perfectly safe to use on all children's furniture and can be us as its non toxic (we would still advise to be in a well ventilated room to do so though or wear a face mask if you are pregnant). Once the items are waxed we recommend to leave it for at least 7 days before your child or baby uses it as this gives the wax time to cure.

The paint is not sticking to my piece of furniture, why is this happening?
If this happens then the surface has some sort of oily substance on it or layers of previous wax. you would need to clean the item thoroughly with warm soapy water or a watered down bleach solution to remove the oils before painting again. if its layers of wax unfortunately the only solution is to scrape it all off and clean it before painting. If you are painting a really shiny surface we advise to do a light key before painting with fine sandpaper or wire wool or you can paint straight onto the piece, but leave it 24 hours at least before you do a second coat of paint.

Using Annie Sloan Soft Wax:
*Clear Wax - Apply the wax in thin coats (less is more), if you apply too thickly this may cause a tacking finish to the piece and some yellowing may occur on lighter paint. Wipe off any excess and then buff when dry if you like the semi shiny look.

*Dark/Black Wax - Apply Dark Wax to the Clear Wax while it is still wet for a big item do a section at a time as it dry's quite quickly and if you want a softer look apply clear wax over the dark wax to take the darkness away. Alternatively if you'd like a piece to look aged in places then only add dark wax over the clear wax where you'd like it i.e. in corners and rims of the furniture. The same rules apply with Annie Sloan Black wax too. The dark waxes are great for bringing out any texture in the grain of the wood or the brush marks in the paint and to highlight detailed areas.

* White Wax - Apply white wax straight to the furniture (the same as the clear wax) without the use of clear wax first, this is great on grainy wood for a lime wash effect and on painted furniture with a lot of texture and detail, rub off any excess with a clean lint free rag.

*Leave waxed pieces overnight before buffing, it allows a lot of the wax to soak in and makes it easier to buff. For high traffic areas, i.e. a kitchen table top we suggest 2-3 coats for a tougher finish, apply one coat a day. The wax will ‘cure’ after a day but will not reach it’s full strength for a few weeks – you can still use your piece, just be careful for the first few weeks. 

*To clean your wax brushes, use hot soapy water to soak and then rub off all excess wax with your hand until clean then leave standing or hanging bristle side down .
​USEFUL TIPS:
*Use cling film or plastic bags to store brushes if you need to leave a job halfway through.
*If in any doubt – always try a little test area first!
*Warm the wax before using and store in a warm place to avoid making it too hard.
*To minimise chalk dust, distress your furniture after waxing but you will need to re-wax areas you’ve rubbed down. Alternatively sand before waxing for heavier distressing but be warned this creates a lot of dust so a mask and goggles are always recommended.
*One or two coats should cover most jobs, dark colours over a dark wood normally only needs one coat and whites for a more solid colour sometimes 3 coats is best.
*For outside furniture, paint and leave to harden at least 24-48 hours before exposing to rain, for better results that will last longer and be more durable leave the paint to cure for a longer period without putting the furniture outside, alternatively keep it covered.
*when painting radiators or cast iron baths, please be aware when they heat up the paint will crack so if you aren't going for a chippy aged look this paint may not be the best product to use.
* If you are using Annie Sloan lacquer, layer this on thinly as leaving it on thick will leave a milky/frosted look to the piece and is not an easy fix.