We get a lot of calls about chalk paints, usually from people who want to know which products are best for finishing chalk paint or sealing it. Although we don’t sell the paints themselves, we do stock the products to finish them. So we thought it’d be a good idea write about chalk paints, how to use them and what’s the best way to make sure your project stays looking great.
About sealing chalk paint
What is chalk paint?
Chalk paint gets its name from the lovely velvety matt finish it provides. It’s brilliant for decorating indoor and out, including furniture, walls, ceilings and even floors. It’s eco-friendly, containing extremely low volatile organic compounds (V.O.Cs) which have virtually no smell, and there are several manufacturers to choose from.
How to use chalk paints
Chalk paint is remarkably versatile. It sticks to more or less any surface including wood, concrete, metal, matt plastic and even ceramic. It dries super-fast, making it very easy to use. And it’s perfect for achieving decorative finishes like lime washes, antiquing and shabby chic looks, all of which means it’s extremely fashionable right now in interior décor circles.
Chalk paint is easy to work with. You rarely need to do any preparation. There’s no sanding or priming required, which is good news for those of us who love instant results! The colours are stunning – Autentico, for example, manufactures 130 different colours inspired by vintage décor styling.And you can even mix the paints together very easily to create your own unique colours.
It’s water soluble which means you can add water for a smoother surface, thicken it by leaving the tin open, and even add more water to transform it into the perfect product for creatingbeautiful lime wash effects; for example, bringingout thegrain in oak. You can use more or less any kind of brush too, creating everything from a dead flat to a heavily textured finish.
You’ll find a couple of handy videos about how to use chalk paint here, there are also a number of other great video tutorials on how to use chalk paint on YouTube.
Which products for sealing chalk paint do we recommend?
You can leave your finish as it is, of course. But how do you seal chalk paint? If you’re into creative paint effects or want to give the surface a lovely sheen, here’s what we recommend…
Fiddes Supreme Wax Polish
Fiddes Supreme Wax Polish is wonderful stuff. It is designed to nourish and protect wood, whether it’s raw wood or has an existing finish like a water-based stain, solvent-based stain or French polish. It can also be used on top of a matt or satin varnish, lacquer and oil to increase the sheen level and provide a more traditional wax appearance. It’s ideal for any kind of interior wood and goes over chalk paint like a dream.
When might you use it? Say you’ve painted a bedside table with chalk paint and you want a shabby chic finish. Because the product comes in a range of colours, you can use a dark colour like Jacobean over the chalk paint, bringing out the patina and texture of the surface and making a feature of scratches and dinks for that classic shabby chic look.
Manns Classic Wax Polish
Manns Classic Beeswax Polish is such a treat to use, giving a beautiful sheen to chalk paints and acting as a protective layer. It’s a clear wax polish formulated to enhance surfaces by penetrating deep into them, helping to nourish and protect the finish. When you let it dry and buff it gently with a soft cloth, you get the most beautiful sheen.
Also see our full list of .
It’s worth mentioning that when applying a clear wax or varnish over chalk paint, it will likely alter the chalk paint colour to some degree. This is especially so with white finishes. Applying a clear coat over a white finish tends to make it turn yellowy, giving it an aged or Victorian look. Whilst this suits many down to the ground who are looking for an aged look, it’s not to everyone’s taste. For this reason, a test area of the base-coat and clear top-coat is highly recommended before starting any project.
Alternatives to Traditional Chalk Paints
Chalk paints are all the rage and massively popular with interior designers and shabby chic furniture makers who love the pastel colours and flat matt finish they produce. That said, there are some great alternatives that produce the same chalk paint finish but with better durability, meaning that it’s not necessary to seal them with a wax, polish or varnish.Our top recommendations are Ronseal Chalky Furniture Paint and Earthborn Eco Chic Paint. Both products do a great job of achieving that desirable chalk paint finish, but without the need to seal them afterwards.
Earthborn also produce a range of other eco friendly clay paints that are are suitable for furniture and other interior projects.
Need our help with your painting project?
Need our help with your painting project?
For more information about chalk and other paints, contact our team of resident experts who are always on hand to help with project advice and product recommendations. Alternatively, see our wood paints FAQ page which covers many of the most commonly asked questions about wood paints.
We love to see before, during and after photos of any wood finishing project. If you would like to share your project pictures with us and our followers, you can either send us some photos or share on our Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or Instagram pages.
