Old Ochre Annie Sloan Chalk Paint®

Old Ochre in Your Space

Old Ochre is the colour of time. It carries the quality of old French painted furniture left to age in a Parisian apartment — a cream that has deepened and faded all at once, warm and dusty and completely unself-conscious. It is not a fresh colour or a bright one. It is a colour that feels as though it has already lived a full life, and is all the more beautiful for it.

That aged quality is what makes Old Ochre so endlessly useful. It works as a neutral that carries real warmth and depth — a foil for other colours that makes everything alongside it feel more considered and more alive. Or let it stand entirely alone, sealed with Dark Wax to deepen and intensify the colour until it feels like something pulled from the walls of a Haussmann building on a grey Paris morning.

Colour Companions

Soft & Considered

• Paris Grey — quiet and understated, alongside Old Ochre it creates a pairing that feels authentically French and full of gentle, faded elegance
• Duck Egg Blue — chalky and soft, it finds a beautiful ease with Old Ochre that feels aged, layered, and completely at home

Deep & Dramatic

• Graphite — moody and full of conviction, it creates a pairing with Old Ochre that feels grounded, dramatic, and quietly sophisticated
• Old Violet — dusty and deeply personal, alongside Old Ochre it creates something that feels genuinely antique and full of quiet story

Fresh & Unexpected

• Amsterdam Green — deep and richly verdant, it creates a pairing with Old Ochre that feels painterly, considered, and full of character

Finishing Touches

• Clear Wax — preserves the soft, faded quality of Old Ochre and keeps the finish open and natural
• Dark Wax — the transformative finish for Old Ochre, it deepens and intensifies the colour until it becomes something genuinely evocative and full of Parisian character

When You Want to Mix

Old Ochre adds warmth and age to any colour it is blended with — use it when you want a shade that feels as though it has been there for decades rather than days.

How to Apply

Old Ochre builds beautifully in two coats, each layer adding to the warm, faded depth that makes this colour so distinctive. Finish with Dark Wax for the most evocative result — worked into the surface it transforms Old Ochre into something that feels genuinely and beautifully old.

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.