Athenian Black Annie Sloan Chalk Paint®

Athenian Black in Your Space

If we had to choose just one colour to paint with for the rest of time, it would be this one. Athenian Black is our absolute favourite black in the entire Annie Sloan range — and not because it is simply the darkest. It is our favourite because it is alive in a way that flat blacks never are. It shifts with the light, it breathes with the piece, and it gives furniture a quality of quiet, considered drama that makes you stop and look every single time you walk past.

It is the black of ancient Greek pottery and the black of the most beautiful lacquered furniture — a colour that has been used to make beautiful things for thousands of years and has lost none of its power. On a piece of furniture it is transformative in the most complete and considered way.

Colour Companions

Warm & Classic

• Original — warm and softly creamy, alongside Athenian Black it creates a combination of real classic conviction and considered, striking contrast
• Country Grey — warm and quietly earthy, it gives Athenian Black a softness and a quality of gathered, unhurried ease

Soft & Luminous

• Tilton — pale and quietly luminous, layered over Athenian Black it creates a finish of real depth and considered, atmospheric beauty — a combination that rewards every shift in the light

Gilded & Luxurious

• Annie Sloan Gold Leaf — the most considered and most beautiful companion for Athenian Black — the gold catching in the light against the depth of the black creates a finish of real, gathered luxury and considered, editorial beauty that is genuinely impossible to ignore

Finishing Touches

• Clear Wax — preserves the full depth and authority of Athenian Black exactly as it is
• Dark Wax — deepens Athenian Black into something even richer and more atmospheric
• Gold Wax — brushed lightly over Athenian Black it creates a finish of real, gathered warmth and considered, luxurious depth

How to Apply

Athenian Black covers beautifully in two coats, its deep, considered authority building with each layer into a finish of real presence and quiet weight. Its depth intensifies as it dries — always let each coat dry fully before assessing coverage.

The Chalk Paint® Difference

Annie Sloan invented Chalk Paint® in 1990 and it changed furniture painting forever. The formula is water-based, ultra-low VOC (2.2g/l), and virtually odour-free — and it bonds to almost any surface without the stripping, sanding, or priming that traditional paints demand. One tin, one brush, and you're ready to go.

It works on timber, metal, concrete, brick, laminate, and plastic. Indoors or out. Smooth and matte or heavily textured. The finish is entirely yours to decide.

Before You Begin

Give your tin a good stir — no shaking needed. Load your brush and work in smooth, even strokes. One coat often surprises you with how much it covers; a second coat gives you full, solid opacity. Always let each coat dry completely before continuing.

Making It Your Own

• Build up thick layers for a sculptural, impasto effect, then seal with wax
• Sand back lightly once dry to reveal what's underneath and create genuine, earned wear
• Add a little water to thin the paint into a translucent wash that lets the wood grain breathe through
• Blend colours directly on the piece — Chalk Paint® mixes beautifully for completely custom results

Sealing & Protection

Annie Sloan Clear Wax is the classic finish — it protects and adds a subtle, natural sheen. Dark Wax settles into mouldings and edges for depth and shadow. For outdoor pieces or high-traffic surfaces, Annie Sloan Lacquer gives a harder, weather-resistant finish.

A Few Questions We Hear Often

Will it work outside?
Yes — seal it with Annie Sloan Lacquer and it will handle the elements beautifully.

Does it have to be sealed?
Not always. Decorative pieces that won't see daily wear can be left as they are. For anything that gets touched, wiped, or sat on regularly, wax or lacquer will protect your work.

Can I mix my own colours?
Absolutely — it's one of the great joys of Chalk Paint®. Mix directly in the tin or on the piece itself.

Which brush should I use?
Annie Sloan's Flat Brush gives a smooth, even finish. Her Round Brush is ideal for working paint into carved details and creating texture.

How much do I need?
One litre covers approximately 13 square metres. The 120ml size is perfect for smaller pieces, testing colours, and mixing experiments.