Country Grey Annie Sloan Chalk Paint®

Country Grey in Your Space

Country Grey is the neutral that never gets it wrong. Cool and soft, made with raw umber pigment, it carries a quiet earthiness that keeps it from ever feeling cold or clinical — a grey that feels genuinely natural rather than simply absent of colour. It is the classic choice for painted furniture for exactly that reason. It works without effort, sits without imposing, and makes everything around it feel more resolved.

It is also one of the great foil colours in the palette. Alongside stronger, more saturated colours it provides the breathing room that makes them sing. Alongside other neutrals it adds a layer of cool, considered depth that lifts the whole scheme. Country Grey is the colour that experienced painters reach for instinctively — the one that always earns its place.

Colour Companions

Warm & Creamy

• Original — warm and traditionally creamy, alongside Country Grey it creates a pairing that feels quietly classic and full of gentle, considered character
• Antoinette — delicate and softly pink, it finds a beautiful ease with Country Grey that feels fresh, feminine, and full of light

Deep & Earthy

• Honfleur — dark and richly earthy, it creates a pairing with Country Grey that feels grounded, considered, and full of quiet depth
• Olive — muted and organic, alongside Country Grey it creates a scheme that feels natural, layered, and completely resolved

Finishing Touches

• Clear Wax — the natural finish for Country Grey, it protects while preserving the cool, soft quality of the colour completely
• Dark Wax — worked into details and edges, it deepens the earthy undertone of Country Grey and adds a quiet, considered patina

When You Want to Mix

Country Grey cools and softens any colour it is added to — use it when you want a shade that feels quieter and more considered without losing its original depth and character.

How to Apply

Country Grey builds beautifully in two coats, each layer deepening the cool, soft quality that makes this colour so enduringly useful. It is also an excellent base coat under lighter colours — a layer of Country Grey beneath Old White or Pure gives a crisper, more resolved finish with fewer coats.

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.