French Linen Annie Sloan Chalk Paint®

French Linen in Your Space

French Linen is the colour of cloth that has been washed and dried in open air a hundred times — cool, quiet, and full of an understated elegance that feels entirely effortless. It is not a warm grey or a cold one. It sits in the considered space between, carrying the soft, natural quality of aged linen in a way that feels both completely contemporary and timelessly classic.

It is a neutral that works harder than it looks. Alongside golds it becomes something quietly opulent, the cool of the grey making the warmth of the metal feel richer and more present. Alongside rich, saturated colours it provides the breathing room that makes them feel more vivid and more alive. French Linen is the colour that makes everything around it look better.

Colour Companions

Soft & Romantic

• Antoinette — delicate and softly pink, alongside French Linen it creates a pairing that feels gently feminine and full of quiet, considered charm
• Paloma — warm and complex, it finds a beautiful tonal ease with French Linen that feels layered, sophisticated, and completely resolved
• Versailles — soft and yellow-green, alongside French Linen it creates a pairing that feels quietly French and full of gentle, aged character

Cool & Fresh

• Duck Egg Blue — chalky and softly blue-green, it finds a natural ease with French Linen that feels calm, considered, and full of gentle light

Deep & Dramatic

• Burgundy — rich and deeply saturated, it creates a striking contrast with French Linen that feels opulent, considered, and full of quiet conviction

Finishing Touches

• Clear Wax — the natural finish for French Linen, it protects while preserving the cool, linen-like quality of the colour completely
• Dark Wax — worked into details and edges, it deepens the natural, earthy quality of French Linen and adds a beautiful, considered patina

When You Want to Mix

French Linen cools and quietens any colour it is added to — use it when you want a shade that feels more restrained and natural without losing its original depth and character.

How to Apply

French Linen builds beautifully in two coats, each layer deepening the cool, natural quality that makes this colour so enduringly useful. Alongside gold leaf or gilding wax it becomes something genuinely special — the cool grey and the warm gold finding a resolution that feels completely and quietly luxurious.

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.