How to transform old furniture with chalk paint

10 Jun 2026

Chalk paints offer a simple and straightforward way to refurbish old furniture pieces, as well as achieving that ‘aged’ look on new pieces – think French Provincial-inspired!

The Karen Walker Chalk paint range wraps furniture, upcycled, and other projects, in a matte finish, lending a luscious depth to hues and diffusing light for a warm and luxurious feel. It’s also a great way to cover up any of those awful, orange-toned wooden pieces you may have lurking around your home.

This hallway table is in Karen Walker Chalk paint tinted to Resene Grain Brown and finished in Karen Walker Vintage Wax. Project by Leigh Stockton, image by Bryce Carleton.

As with any painting project, achieving the right finish comes down to the proper preparation. Accompanying instruction videos to most chalk paint products can send tremors through the bodies of even seasoned paint professionals, mostly due to the almost complete lack of any reference to the prep undertaken prior to the paints being applied.

The reality is that while you can ‘slap’ a couple of coats of a chalk paint on without a degree of surface prep, you do risk flaking, delamination and an all-round unsightly mess!

This doesn’t mean having to completely strip and old paint or varnish, but it is wise to wash and sand the surface to give the chalk paint something to stick to.

Remember when repainting, the better the prep work, the better the final result!

For these two pieces, Auckland artist Wendy used Karen Walker Chalk paint in Resene Buttery White paired with Karen Walker Soft Wax on the bare oak.

How to get the best result:

Prep

• Wash the surface with Resene Interior Paint Prep or use a mild detergent and soft, lint-free cloth. It’s important to remove layers of grime, dirt and any marks.
• Sand using 220 grit sandpaper. If the coating is in a poor state and falls apart while sanding, using a coarser grade of sandpaper, or even stripping the coating first, may be needed.

Application

• After stirring, apply a couple of liberal coats of Karen Walker Chalk Paint in your chosen colour. Brushing is recommended, but a roller (try the 100mm Easy Reach) can also be used. Note: Brushing is preferred because the brush marks add a degree of authenticity and ‘rustic-ness’ to the finish.
• Once dry, you have the option of ‘distressing’ or ‘aging’ the item by sanding through edges and/or flat surfaces in a few places to expose the layers of chalk paint and the timber beneath. (Try to avoid doing this with MDF and laminates however!)
• Once your ‘distressing’ is complete, apply a couple of layers of Karen Walker Soft Wax, which is neutral in colour or Karen Walker Vintage Wax which has a nicotine tone to help age the finish. Both waxes are designed to protect the layers beneath and reduce wear and tear.

The Karen Walker Chalk Paint range is a fun and relatively easy way to give old furniture a second life. Check out these chalky colour combos for some inspiration!

Published: 10 Jun 2026