How to use Chalk Paint® Lacquer by Annie Sloan

Learn how to use Chalk Paint® Lacquer by Annie Sloan over Chalk Paint®! Use a Sponge Roller or Flat Brush depending on your preference and make sure to stir thoroughly before use. Then apply when you're ready!

Chalk Paint® Lacquer is water-based, water resistant and has UV protection in it, meaning colours will not fade in the sun. It comes in a choice of Matt or Gloss. In this video, Annie will discuss the uses of both finishes.

You should apply two coats of Chalk Paint® Lacquer to ensure the whole surface is covered and for maximum durability. Although touch dry within hours, Lacquer will take up to 2 weeks to reach its full hardness, so be relatively gentle with it before then.

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.

Annie Sloan invented her revolutionary furniture paint, Chalk Paint®, in 1990 and hasn’t stopped refining and improving her formula since. There's no need for priming or sanding. Chalk Paint® is as easy to use as opening the tin, dipping your brush, and applying paint to furniture! Annie wanted to create one paint that could achieve several different techniques and finishes – from creating a textured chippy look to achieving a smooth modern finish, or even creating a wash. Annie's paint has minimal VOCs and is very easy to work with.

[TheReclaimedHeirloom]

Thanks Annie! Great tutorial!! 🎨I love using your Clear Matt Lacquer, it gave a nice finish on my last table top project!!! 🎨

[lyndseyanne]

My experience was definitely not this fun or easy. Id like to see a video on tips or things that might go wrong. As i was painting my cabinet the paint would drag almost immediately. Very much like using gloss paint on a hot day (it was not a hot day and i used matt). It also bobbled up and i have some cloudy areas too to go with the lines. I was so fed up of getting lint in my wax i thought id go for the safe option but it was an utter nightmare. Not like ive never varnished anything before.

[StudioJanet]

Great product Annie! I have used it on painted slate signs for outdoors, vinyl floorcloths, glass ball painted ornaments and my art canvas paintings! Thank you for always seeming to know what we artists need. Janet x

[angaramacrafts]

Hi Annie!
I purchased the matt finish to put on a child's chair for our new grand baby girl. I painted it white and then stenciled her name on it and added some decorative curves and bees with the colors Henrieta and English Yellow, Annie Sloan paints.
So thrilled with the quality! Can't wait to finish it off! (Your paint worked extremely well with mesh stensils!!)
Thanks for the great tips!!!
ang. 👩‍🦳 Olympia, Wasgington 🇺🇸USA

[sallysmallwood]

Love your lacquers, Annie! Just finished painting and lacquering the window sills in our bedroom, and now am doing the kitchen! Thank you for great products and for making these encouraging, easy-to-follow tutorials.

[susanback]

So glad I found you! I was watching an American lady but she didn't exactly tell me what I wanted to know. You did! I'm using chalk paint for the first time and really didn't know what I was doing. I've only recently discovered it.
I sanded my first project and it looks awfu, maybe the wax will improve the finish 🤞🏻
I have, however, just started a large chest of drawers and it's going so much better. I'm a carpenters daughter and to NOT prep 'properly' just went against every cell in my body... Lesson learned! Thank you for your crystal clear tutorials. I'm hoping to do the kitchen cabinets in the not to distant future! 😉

[janicebradford]

I can’t wait to try some of your paint. I can listen to you all day. Lovely voice and even lovelier paint.

[michelleforbes]

Lovely work Annie. I am thinking about painting my Kitchen units, but they are not solid wood. They are MDF wrapped Vinyl. Pretty standard for alot of Kitchen units I suspect. Can I use chalk paint on them, and if so should they receive any special prep before painting?

[christinedavid]

Hi Annie I meant why are the lacquers not in 1 litre tins like the paints can the tins be bigger ?

[stevieculley]

Hi Annie, am a beginner and love what your chalk paint can do, I would like to know can l use chalk paint lacquer on top of clear wax or would have to sand wax off first?
Stevie 🙂

[shibbu]

Hello Annie, Love your paint and work. Can we use chalk paint on decolam sheet covered furniture like beds, tables, kitchen cabinets. Thank you.

[carmencardashian]

I wonder if u could mix the lacquer straight into the chalk paint and apply on furniture..it would save time I think..but who knows ..

[ioannastalitsa]

Hey Annie! Love your paint. I would like to ask you a question. Im currently painting my kitchen cupboards with olive green chalk paint. I have both wax and matt lacquer and I decided to go with the lacquer for more protection. I applied 2 coats with a roller and clouds appeared on the surface and it doesnt look great. Dont know what i have done wrong. Do you meant to add water in the lacquer?

[shreyaaggarwal]

Hi Annie,
I used the matte lacquer over my chalk painted furniture . However it got completely ruined as the paint curdled when I applied the lacquer . What could have gone wrong 😭

[spanishwithhispanichorizons]

thanks. Can you lacquer also with this product acrylic paintings that I want to keep outdoors?

[diannamckellar]

If you use Annie’s high gloss lacquer and it has been more than 24 hours since application, do you have to sand before applying a second coat?

[JazzManMilan]

I love your products. What about a hi gloss finish?

[ked]

For kitchen cabinets... would the gloss be easier to keep clean than the Matt? I'm thinking of a how cabinets get smudgy around the handles and knobs -- does one finish clean up better than the other?

[marlenepolicastro]

Hi Annie - quick question. I think the Lacquer in the gloss finish would be fantastic in the bowl of my birdbath in the garden, helping me to keep it clean. Is it SAFE for wildlife? Appreciate it!

[marim]

Please, I would like to know if I can use this lacquer on top of the chalk paint and wax? Thank you for helping me.