Chalk-based paints are easy to use and environmentally friendly

Chalk it up to an easy furniture makeover. The chalk-based paint craze has officially painted the town red, and country gray, and English yellow, and Greek blue.

The furniture paint, which goes by a variety of names and brands, boils down to a few key characteristics: It’s easy to use, requires little prep and leaves a waterproof finish.

“I grew up in the Midwest and picking and refurbishing was the norm in my family,” said Bridget O’Neill of Bloom, a salvage, vintage and design shop with three locations in Southern Nevada. “About four years ago I was introduced to Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. It was named not because there is chalk in its makeup, but because of its chalky-like appearance. It will adhere to almost any service with little to no prep.”

Advertised as a nonprep-style product, the paint can be used on the furniture that hasn’t been sanded or stripped. Simply wipe the furniture down and get to work with a nylon bristle paint brush.

Depending on the type or brand of paint, a coat of sealant — with antiquing wax or varnish — may be required. Some have a built-in top coat.

“Because our paint is a chalk-based paint, we consider it to be prep-free, which means that most surfaces can be painted over without the hassle of sanding, stripping or priming,” Jodi Marshall, owner of Benson’s Home Boutique, which sells Maison Blanche paint. “It’s a simple and painless way to refurbish and transform old furniture into something new.”

Chalk-based paint is also water based, as opposed to latex or oil, which makes it more friendly to the environment and reduces fumes.

“Because there is no or very little preparation involved, most people are drawn to refurbishing with chalk-based paints because it saves time and money. But mostly, it gives new life to old furniture that most people would have been quick to throw out in the past,” Marshall said.

Fusion paint, which can be bought online but as yet there is no local retailer, boasts there is no need for a finishing or wax coat.

So, no prep, possibly no top coat. Sound too good to be true?

How many coats you’ll need to use varies, because different brands boast different stats.

Marshall suggests painting the entire piece and then allowing an hour of drying time between each of two to three coats.

“Maison Blanche paint does not contain chemical drying agents, which allows the paint to dry with minimal chalk balling and brush strokes,” she said.

O’Neill says it boils down to your technique: “With the proper brushes and a little instruction you can achieve a beautiful finish with sometimes one to two coats.”

Is it costly? Yes and no. It costs more than regular paint, but you save in primer and time, and a little paint goes a long way.

Chalk Paint by Annie Sloan costs about $39 a quart, but O’Neill says that quart can cover three to four times more surface than latex paint. She says a larger armoire can cost about $20 to paint, while a few quarts could refinish an entire kitchen.

“I think it is popular for three basic reasons: It’s chemical free, it’s beautiful colors and easy for the do-it-yourselfer to use,” O’Neill said.

And cleanup is fairly simple too. Just wash and go.

“We haven’t met anyone yet who attempted it that wasn’t able to use it,” Marshall said.