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How to use Frenchic paint around your home

Our advice and tips for using Frenchic paint, plus incredible chalk paint upcycling ideas

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Published: June 3, 2021 at 12:00 am

After launching in December 2014, it wasn’t long before Frenchic paints took the upcycling world by storm.

What is Frenchic paint used for?

Eco-friendly, non-toxic and available in over 60 colours, the chalk paint can be used for everything from sprucing up kitchen cabinets to transforming your UPVC door on a budget.

More decor ideas…

Good idea! For a glamorous kitchen, choose sleek handleless cabinetry with dramatic contrast trims – they come in a range of metallic finishes

The brand is now the fastest-growing chalk paint company in the UK, with more than 500 stockists internationally. So whether you’re looking to upcycle some vintage furniture or completely transform your floor, here’s our ultimate guide to Frenchic paint, including how to use it on different surfaces and a few ideas for chalk paint upcycling projects.

How much Frenchic paint do I need?

Standard tins of Frenchic paint are 750ml, and will therefore cover around 12.5 square metres per coat. You may need up to three coats of chalk paint depending on the colour of the surface you’re painting, but in lots of cases, one is enough.

‘I painted the mural using Frenchic paint,’ says Lily. ‘This room gets lots of sunlight, so I wanted it to have a nostalgic holiday feel with florals and blush pink tones.’

Lily transformed her bedroom by painting a mural using Frenchic paints. ‘This room gets lots of sunlight, so I wanted it to have a nostalgic holiday feel with florals and blush pink tones’ explains Lily

Do you need a primer with Frenchic paint?

Frenchic’s Original Artisan paint is a self-priming product, meaning that you don’t need use a traditional primer before you apply it. You will, however, need to clean the furniture down with sugar soap beforehand, and apply wax or a finishing coat to seal the paint.

Real home: 'We turned our home into Sleeping Beauty’s castle'

Sarajane’s dining room chairs are from eBay, painted in Loof by Frenchic paint

Frenchic’s Lazy Range paint is self-priming, self-levelling and self-sealing, meaning that you don’t need to prime or seal the paint,

Do you have to stir Frenchic paint?

Frenchic paints are formulated using a base binder that allows the chalk particles to stay suspended in the paint, meaning that it needs minimal to stirring, and you don’t need to add water.

Does Frenchic paint chip?

Users have suggested the Frenchic paint does not chip or peel, because it’s latex and acrylic free. Many interior enthusiasts favour Frenchic paint because of its eco-friendly ingredients – it contains zero toxins and has virtually no smell, so it’s great for use indoors.

Ways to use Frenchic paint around your home

Painting furniture and kitchen cabinets with Frenchic

To start, you’ll need to prepare the surface you plan to paint by giving it a good clean.

Use a clean, dry cloth to remove any dust and dirt that may have collected over time, then apply a sugar soap solution (one part sugar soap to four parts water) with a damp sponge. Work from the bottom of the surface to the top, and rinse thoroughly with cold water. If you’re working with kitchen cabinets, make sure to spend a bit of extra time scrubbing off any grease.

Blah print by Gayle Mansfield and barn star from Søstrene Grene,’ says Louise

Louise transformed her kitchen for less than £500 using Frenchic Cool Beans outdoor chalk paint

If your furniture has any deep scratches or dents, now is the time to fill them. Apply filler and level it out with a putty knife before lightly sanding the whole surface smooth. Remember to wipe away any dust, as rogue specks will show up in the paint.

Now, it’s time to prepare your area for painting by laying down some newspaper or old material. This will prevent any spills or drips from ruining your carpet, laminate or wooden flooring.

Home makeover: 'My home décor is my favourite pastime'

Vikki Savage spends her spare time doing-up her incredible 1930s house, and paints all her junk shop finds in Gentlemen’s Club by Frenchic, so they match

Use good quality masking tape to cover up any areas – glass panels, handles etc – that you don’t wish to paint. When you’ve covered all areas, it’s time to start painting!

Apply Original or Lazy Frenchic furniture paint to your piece of furniture, starting at the bottom and working your way up. If you’re painting on wood, or a wood-like surface, make sure you follow the grain.

Cheap paintbrushes can shed and ruin the overall effect of the makeover, so it’s worth investing in a good quality brush before you get started. Here’s our round-up of the best chalk paint brushes on the market to get you started.

This mini wardrobe was a junk shop find that Vikki painted in Dusky Blush by Frenchic. The wallpaper is called ‘Wild in my Garden’ by Photowall

Frenchic recommend using an oval brush made of both natural and synthetic bristles when using chalk paint.

Remember, chalk paint is fast drying, so work as quickly as possible to achieve an even look. Let the paint dry for at least 2 hours before giving it a second coat.

Here is a more detailed guide on how to paint furniture

Painting kitchen tiles with Frenchic

When painting ceramic tiles with Frenchic tile paint, there’s no need to prime the surface beforehand – simply clean them with sugar soap solution, allow them to dry, and apply the tile paint with a suitably sized roller or brush.

‘I painted the window frames black as they were typical uPVC white before. I wanted to create a Crittall- style window look and I’m so happy with the result! The shelf above the window was a floorboard I got from B&Q and I love being able to hang plants from it’

Ellie gave her kitchen an entirely new look by painting her window frames black and stencilling white stars onto her painted kitchen tiles

Whatever you use, try to apply the paint in the same direction – for example, if you’ve brushed the paint on in an up and down motion on one tile, don’t apply it by sweeping left to right on the next.

Let the paint dry for at least 2 hours before giving it a second coat. Remember to wash your brush or roller in between coats – if it dries, it’ll become waterproof and you’ll be unable to clean it!

Painting walls with Frenchic

Frenchic has a specialist wall paint, which has been designed for use in the same way as other traditional paints. Clean the walls thoroughly before application, and use a roller or brush to apply 2 coats. Again, chalk paint dries fast, so be sure to work quickly to achieve even results.

Image by @audrey_apple_ via @Frenchicpaint

Frenchic wall paint has a matte finish, and it’s durable enough to scrub when you’re looking to remove marks or dirt.

Painting floors with Frenchic

Frenchic’s Al Fresco Inside / Outdoor paint is a durable weatherproof and UV resistant paint, meaning it’s suitable for use on most types of indoor and outdoor flooring. It’s safe for use on wood, laminate, composites, ceramics and metal.

The way you paint your floor will depend on the material, but as a general rule, floors should be lightly sanded (unless tiled), vacuumed, and wiped completely clean before painting. You can then use a paintbrush or roller to cut in around the edges of the room, before using a large roller to cover the main part of the floor.