Exterior chalkboard paint is a versatile and durable product that can be used on various surfaces, including wood, metal, and more. It is designed to withstand exposure to the elements and provide better durability than interior chalkboard paint. When using exterior chalkboard paint, it is essential to choose a product specifically formulated for exterior use. Chalk paint can be sealed with wax or a topcoat for extra protection.
There are several advantages and disadvantages of using chalk paint for outdoor projects, such as creating a vintage look, being affordable, low-toxicity, and available in various colors. Chalk Paint® is a decorative paint with a matte, chalky finish that can be used on furniture, walls, and more. It is easy to use, cost-effective, and can be applied to cushions, patio tables, benches, and metal.
Outdoor chalk paint is water-resistant and can be used on surfaces that are not saturated with water all the time. Some brands even contain additives that battle the growth and re-growth of mold. When using outdoor chalk paint, it is best to use it on a surface that will not be saturated with water all the time.
Working with Chalk Paint® Lacquer is a simple way to add a layer of protection to your outdoor furniture and help keep your colors as they last. Making outdoor chalk paint is similar to making indoor chalk paint, but with “exterior” paint.
📹 Is Chalk Paint Over?
I started furniture painting back in 2014 and chalk paint was all the rage. With all the new paints on the market and all the creators …
📹 How to protect outdoor furniture with Chalk Paint® Lacquer
Annie Sloan shows you how to use Chalk Paint® Lacquer on top of Chalk Paint® to protect garden furniture from the elements.
I painted, distressed and waxed many pieces of furniture six or eight years ago. Loved Annie Sloan brand. But, when I started painting a chair today, I realized that I don’t love it any more. I just didn’t care for the finish any longer. So- I turned to YouTube and found you! Thanks for all the information you’ve shared. I’m going to Lowe’s today for Beyond Paint!
I never cared for the distressed look, but I have used chalk paint and liked the result. I have also used some of the newer all-in-one paints and liked them for specific purposes. I really like how the newer ones level out and cure to a hard finish. I used one of these on kitchen cabinets. My sprayer broke and I brushed it on instead and the results were great, but a lot slower method.
I’m a Furniture painter and woodworker. I do a lot of two toned pieces in my woodworking builds. I’m more of the modern farmhouse and sleek looks. I’ve never done a lot of distressing or blending. In my journey to find a paint for both my built projects and my painted furniture I used a lot of paints. But I’ve found that I love love love Dixie Belle. I’ve only just started using there Silk line and love it even more. Especially since it has a built in top coat and primer. I love Dixie Belle so much I became a retailer. I still sell way more of the Chalk Mineral line than Silk so I feel like it’s not dead yet. Thanks for sharing this.
I sure hope not! Thanks to you Christina, I trusted it with two furniture makeovers that turned out fantastic! My biggest fear was that the finish wouldn’t last. But on my bedroom chest of drawers (used daily) and a nightstand (used nightly) it has held up perfectly. I have been involved with painting for over 50 years, and it is the easiest and most uniform paint I’ve ever applied. I prefer the Amy Howard brand, as it is self-leveling and may be top-coated if necessary, but two coats usually do it. I also liked the scent of it, and the super easy brush clean-up that it affords. Now, back to your thesis. I’m a retail manager for a major hardware store in Atlanta, and chalk paint’s popularity began to dwindle around 2021. It was very popular around 2014, as people began calling my store insisting that we carry it, and so we did. It was an instant hit, and I strengthened awareness via advertising with many before and after pics (proudly supplied by customers). This strategy greatly helped sales. I think the pandemic also boosted its sales, as people were regimented to stay indoors mostly to have fun. But nowadays there’s virtually no interest in it, and part of the reason might be its premium price in an inflationary economy.
Here in very Conservative Central Illinois we’re years behind you! White Farmhouse, distressed Vintage White French Provincial chalk painted dressers is all the rage for Nurseries. Pregnant Moms literally come out in tears! Modern furniture with those boring bar handles are frowned upon! My favorite paint is homemade All in one because it’s so fast and easy. I chip brush it on and smooth it out with a roller — Easy Peasy!
I started perusal you during the pandemic, and have been influenced by what you and other flippers use. I never went for the distressed look but was still a big Annie Sloan user back then. I recently painted a hutch in Athenian Black and worked really hard to give it a factory-like smooth finish with a paint brush. More and more, however, l am stripping off the red stain on my cherry furniture and just wanting to let the natural grain show through. I loved your recent article where you stripped the cherry dresser and used that au natural and denim stains from Dixie Belle. That has been very inspiring! So going forward, l am leaning toward just using products like Odie’s Oil or more natural-looking paint washes or stains. Thanks for all you do on this website, Christina. I doubt l will ever flip furniture for profit but l love making over what l already own for my own enjoyment.
I started perusal flippers at the end of chalk paint popularity as new paints were coming in, so my experience is mostly with the newer paints and I really love them. I’d never been a fan of the distressed farmhouse look, so the sleeker look you get from the newer paints was a better fit for me anyway. Love all your content and how you’ve branched out lately. ❤
Love this article. I want to thank you for your approach in acknowledging that people have different styles. You are the chalk paint GOAT! I’ve followed you since before the pandemic and I’ve loved seeing your style change. I’m in Canada so we have access to different paints but like you my style has evolved to a more modern look. I love fusion mineral paint because like many of the paints you mentioned it doesn’t need a top coat. Thanks for your amazing content! I’m always learning so much from you!
0:06 I started with Dixie Belle chalk paint and it was a game changer for me. Simple, great colors, and it was a terrific beginner product. Then, I started trying newer brands and fell in love with Mélange paint. Their deep rich colors made some striking pieces for me! Lately, I’ve been using Wise Owl paint and feel the same as you Christina! Sleek, professional look. I almost never paint with a brush now. Spraying is the way to go ❤ 😊
Hi, I’m perusal your articles from Hungary. I’m flipping furniture here and unfortunately a lot of brands are not available in Europe (Dixie Belle, Sherwin Williams deco paints, Lilly Moon…). I’m using everything I can get my hands on. It would be great to try these, but ultimately the trend is the same, people want new looking furniture here as well. Love your articles ❤️❤️
It’ all comes down to, the right product for the project. It depends on the client, their budget, the esthetic they are requesting, and the condition of the piece. My in-stock pieces tend to be in good condition, whereas some of the pieces clients bring to me are in rough (I mean really rough!) condition and using a chalk style paint helps hide those imperfections that don’t add “character” to the final look.
I never used chalk paint just because you could distress. I’ve only done one farmhouse piece. I love a great, buttery smooth finish. I get that with chalk paint and Silk. DIxie Belle’s chalk mineral paint is my go to even if you have to use a top coat to seal. I’m not a wax girl but it’s always an option. Therefore, having choices is good but I’ll always love the easy, smooth, and blend-able chalk mineral paint. It goes well beyond the distressed and farmhouse look.
I started with Annie Sloan. Then switched to Melange and Fusion. Just purchased some Annie Sloan again and struggling with it now because I want it to behave more like Melange and Fusion and I find it takes more work to get the finish I want. I’m making it work and saving for specific projects. I think there is a place for each.
In former times I used chalk paint as well. But last year I saw articles from Julie’s Designs… And she used Fusion Mineral Paint. Luckily I found an online shop over here in Germany that sells this brand. I tryed the fusion paint and I am so happy with the results. I love love love Fusion and bought lots of different colors yet.
Yes it is for me anyway. I use Benjamin moore advance for furniture. It’s a beautiful durable self levelling pearl finish that doesn’t require a top coat. Mine you if I am doing a dresser or table, etc. I will add a coat of wax for extra protection. If I want to ensure better levelling I will add flotrol to my paint.
Chalk Paint such as Dixie Belle, Wise Owl etc have not gone out of style. They are specifically formulated for furniture, easy to apply and durable. I CRINGE when I hear people talking about using big store paint for their furniture. The Dixie Belle Satin Paint “all in one” is a Primer, Paint, Top Coat all in one. You said you didn’t have to prime your daughter’s dresser that you painted with Silk. That’s because it HAS a Primer in it. It’s great for kitchens and bathroom cabinets. Each kind of paint has specific uses, chalk paint can be blended for beautiful unique finishes whereas all in one paints cannot. Also, most people who are refinishing furniture don’t have a set up to spray furniture and the expense of a setup and sprayer. Thus would have been a better article if you had focused on the advantages of each kind of paint instead of calling your article ” Is Chalk Paint Over?” The simple answer is absolutely not. 😮😂
I’m old enough to remember when the original shabby chic distressed style came out, and I loved it back in the day. I’m so over the distressed chalk paint now on everything…furniture, candlesticks, picture frames, knickknacks of every kind. I get that it’s easy to use, and a great way to do a quick flip to make a fast buck, but the trend is so over saturated. I actually don’t love pained furniture that much…..noting compares to the beautiful wood patina of a real antique French farm table. If I buy a piece of pained furniture I would go for the type you are doing now that are spray pained.
I mostly did wood refinishing, not painting, so I’ve never used chalk paint. However the low VOC & easy cleanup is theoretically appealing. I’ve bought Fusion mineral paint @ a local store & if I ever try spraying, will probably stick with that. I’ve also bought Behr because its cheap & @ BBS’s, but the warnings are scary. So it’s only brushes & rollers.
I actually did use Beyond paint on my very first project however it is chipping a lot!! I am not sure what I did wrong, and now I am hesitant to use it again. Maybe too many coats or maybe I should have tried spraying it. I just got the spray gun and waiting for warm weather so I can use it outside. Any suggestions for protecting the area on the bottom where the vacuum hits. I feel like it needs bumpers lol
No, absolutely not! It’s so versatile and easy to use for beginner’s and DIY’ers. I have done many pieces in my house because they can be done indoors in just a day or two, without a huge investment in supplies. And personally, I love the texture. But, I do see the design trends changing for a more modern, sleek, factory finished look and for furniture flippers, and those who have a dedicated paint studio with expensive sanders and sprayers, etc., that is a growing and lucrative market.
Let me say that I have enjoyed perusal many of your articles over the past few years. I have always found your content to be helpful and accurate, until this article. For example, chalk paint has been around much longer than 10 years and so has its popularity. In fact, it was used in the 1990’s, mostly in the USA and Europe, to create that distressed look with “shabby chic” furniture and accessories. Another fact is Annie Sloan introduced her chalk paint in 1990. The distressed look is still quite popular; however, the style termed shabby chic has evolved since the 90s. More recently, shabby chic merged with rustic and vintage design elements. The result of this marriage brought us the American Farmhouse style and even more recently, we now have Modern Farmhouse style with cleaner, more simplistic features. Whether your style is Farmhouse or Modern Farmhouse, the common elements are “home-grown” and “rustic,” just one is less rustic than the other. Regardless, both looks can be easily achieved using chalk paint. In my opinion, it’s a matter of the application and technique used to create the look/style you want. For farmhouse use a brush, for modern farmhouse, use a sprayer. Chalk paint is simply an acrylic based product with a chalk-like additive. This additive contains properties which, most of the time, provides excellent adhesion to a variety of substrates without the need for sanding and priming. What’s more, you end up with a newly painted piece that has that very on-trend matte finish (before wax or topcoat is applied).
Hi Christina, I love your website and you have inspired many of my own furniture flips. I have not mastered the paint sprayer and I started many project with a sprayer only to abandon it or start over with a paint brush and roller. I have the same sprayer that you use in this article but I get a lot of overspray and a very bumpy orange peel finish that does not dry down. I have bought the wagner paint tent but there is usually more paint on the tent than the furniture. If you have any suggestions it would be really appreciated. I have placed my sprayer in the garbage bin twice, only to fish it out and commit to trying again.
Yes, so many versions of “chalk paint” are out there, but, they all have different formulas and none like the original Annie Sloan paint. Read their scary labels. Chalk style paint isn’t going out of style, and what we paint is not always “distressed”, farm house, old fashioned, or passé. I love two paints, Annie Sloan and DIY, period! You do you…I’ll do me. P.S. i love your work.😊 jo
Although I never liked chalk paint so I never tried it & it seems I can see there is always so much more we can learn about paint especially from Christina because she has been at this for so many years now the farmhouse look was never mine either in summary, I so do love paint!, painting is such a joy to me : it’s all about the before & after & the instant gratification one gets for me just in my best efforts to lift my space out of the doldrumbs, it has been a satisfying hobby for many years and quick fix that never fails. I think that people whether like myself or people like Christina should look at it as an artist would 😊. I will never be a portrait painter (so sad😭) but I can stand ll pick up a paint brush or roller & jump in ❤
I actually used DIY paint and dry brushed with Fusion paint. Put a IOD transfer on the dresser and did a finish with Dixybell matte finished. The piece turned out amazing. I paint for myself and don’t intend to sell. I love perusal your articles I have learned so much. Wish we had facebook market years ago. I would have furnished my whole home and refinished pieces as well. Smaller projects I use chalk paint as well.
I still use chalk paint because it’s so easy. I’m very impatient and want it to dry fast….i have cats that are super curious 🐱😳🐱 I don’t distress all chalk paint projects and they’ve turned out pretty good and lasted. I love white and pink is my favourite colour!! Wicker is a fav of my one it’s easy to spray paint and change the colour. I love your furniture anyway you paint the pieces. Very beautiful. I love your articles lots of info🐱
As a DIYer I first started with solvent-based enamel paint, then I changed my go-to paint to water-based enamel. Over the years I discovered chalk paint and loved and used it a lot (without any distressing). But nowadays I prefer 2in1 water-based enamel paint. I don’t need a top layer, it’s durable and beautiful despite the jumping of the two cats.:)
Great article, Christine! My last couple of projects I used sprayed chalk paint with a Minwax polycrylic satin or flat finish top coat(s). It works well but with all the different layers it is time-consuming. Anyway, I have two questions for you. Have you tried Annie Sloan’s satin paint? That has a topcoat built in. I’ve been tempted to try it, as it would free me from having to do 2 to 3 sprays of a finishing coat. Also, have you ever tried Heirloom Traditions all-in-one paint? It is supposed to be great for kitchen cabinets.
Yes I think chalk paint is mostly done. Im not a fan of chalk paint. I am into beyond paint and Valspar oil based enamel cabinet and door paint now. I will look into the new sherwin williams cabinet and door paint though. We are redoing our kitchen cabinets this year. I don’t like distressed furniture.
I started painting and refinishing furniture over 45 years ago. Back then milk paint was the “new” thing. When Annie Sloan first came to the USA I too drove many miles to get it. Still love her paint, especially for blending! Love that the industry keeps coming out with more different products. Thank you for all of your informative articles!
My favorite paint brands are Fusion and Melange but for me, they are not as easily assessable as chalk paint which I can pick up in my local hardware store. And I like that I can get it in virtually any color. My style is sleek and modern and I find that chalk still works well. All in ones are great but I still feel the need for an extra layer of top coat so the extra step for chalk paint does not bother me.
Hi Christina, Thank you for sharing all of your knowledge!! I would like to strip and refinish a vintage bed frame (made into a bench) and am concerned the original paint might be lead paint. Testing recommends getting a 4″x4″ sample. Any ideas? Is there a tool that you’d recommend? I have tried 2 little spots with a utility knife and the paint kind of disintegrates, so definitely don’t want to do that. Thank you! Pam
Hello fm Athens,Greece Although the market here is not as huge as it is in the States,i stopped using chalk paint abt 2 years ago. I painted my kitchen cabinets using primer, mineral paint and a very good water based sealer from Kraft. For me even when i used chalk paint always 3 steps Primer,paint seal.
I get migraines from strong smells so any non vocal paint I can find us what I am going to use. I can’t even use chalk paints if the formula has latex in it, too stinky. I need natural pigment paints so I don’t get sick. Everyone should support paints that aren’t toxic to us just think about that. When you use a latex or acrylic paint there are so many chemicals in them and as you use them and as they cure you are breathing those toxins in and so are your children.
Hi Christina! This is my first time perusal you on YouTube and I really liked the chalk paint article! Have you heard of, or tried, Heirloom All-in-One paint? I have friends who have painted cabinets, countertops, and leather furniture! If you have tried it I’d like to know your opinion. Thanks! Sandy
I started with chalk paint as everyone does but since my business as grown over the years ans the time for each projects is shorter, I decided to save time with paint that don’t need topcoat. Having a spray booth makes it simplier to shoot top coat but the cost of it, plus the paint pushed me to go with paints like advance by Benjamin Moore or Emerald by Sherwin Williams. But sometimes, I still find myself working on a piece with chalkpaint just so I can go back to the finish that it has.
I have always been a diyer, way before I started my small business, so I have never been ‘afraid’ to repaint something I liked but the color was not right. My 1st experience with chalk paint and more importantly the wax was so terrible that it was instant hate. I cleaned the piece well with my usual dawn soap and warm water, let it dry and started painting. My paint started bubbling up and would not stick so I did a quick scuff sand and that wax just gummed up my sandpaper. I was at a loss. I did some research and learned about chalk paint and wax. I had to decide if I really loved that piece to go through using mineral spirits to remove the wax, then sand, then clean. I did not. I donated it. When I opened my little store, I would get ladies that would ask if I planned on carrying a paint line and I would reply with a probably not as I am not a fan of chalk paint and both our local hardware stores carry paint. Then I had a customer that shared my aversion to chalk paint, come in all excited about a brand called Rethunk Junk and asked if I would look into it. One of the best decisions I made for my little store. Suzette
I’ve been using chalk paint for years and depending on the project I will continue to use it …. But, my go to paint is DIY paint.. it’s a clay base paint that’s organic .. it’s a paint that Debi’s Design Diary – DIY a go go has created. It’s really pigmented and blends beautifully..she also has come out with another brand called Painterly .. she has a YouTube website showing all kinds of ways to use the paints because it’s not only for furniture. Love your work and all the knowledge you share. 🤗
I have been refinishing since 2017 and I still use Chalk Paints and I also use Mineral Paint. I was NEVER a fan of farmhouse or distressing and always went for the smooth finish with chalk paint, so calling Chalk Paint farmhouse or distressing paint feels unfair. It may do it better than Mineral/All-in-One paints, but it also does smooth finishes beautifully. Also, depending on your material, you absolutely still need to prime when using light colors. I have put multiple all in ones to the test and they still bled over time when used over unsealed wood. I also seal everything I am selling, even if the paint has a built in top coat, because it is the equivalent of 1 coat and I pretty much always do at least 2 coats of a sealer because I take pride in my work and want to know it is durable and will last for years in homes with kids and pets. My go to products are still Dixie Belle Chalk and Silk paint, Annie Sloan Chalk and Satin paint. For top coats, I am either reaching for Annie Sloan clear wax or a polycrylic.
I have always done my own painting whether it be walls or furniture through the years. But discovering chalk painting is so awesome. I cannot believe how easy it is and how wonderful it looks after painting a piece a furniture. Thanks so much Annie for creating such a wonderful paint for those of us who just need a quick fix on whatever we need to paint. Happy New Year
Perfect timing! I want to paint the front door and the (hideous) faux shutters on the front of our home. Eventually the shutters will be removed, but a full renovation of the facade of our home is years away…and the awful, nondescript, faded green of the shutters has got to go! I’m also going to paint the cheap, pink-beige builder’s grade tile that was installed around the house. I have ASCP, I have your stencils, and as soon as I can get to my local stockist, I will have the lacquer! Thank you, Annie and team, for the continuous inspiration.
Hello Annie! I recently discovered chalk paint and fell in love with it. I used it everywhere inside (kitchen, rooms). Following this tutorial I would like to ask you if I could use chalk pain and seal with this lacquer on some very old shutters (made in 1800) that have many coats of paint on them? I mention that I live in Romanina where the winters are cold and the summers are very hot. Can you give me some tips and tricks? Thank you very much
The fact that her brush is turning blue while she is painting the varnish is not good. This means the paint has not adhered properly to the surface. She could put 100 coats of varnish on there and it will still chip and the paint finish will fail because it’s has nothing adhering it to the surface. Annie is essentially putting lip gloss in a pig at this point.