Jolie Paint Review: Is It Better Than Chalk Paint?

Back in April 2019, I reviewed a brand new paint to me, Jolie. After I saw an ad on Instagram, I reached out to Jolie, and they sent me all the products so I could try it out. (This is not a sponsored post.)

Product List

Products Used: Jolie Paint (Swedish Grey), $39.95

Jolie Signature Paint Brush (Small), $32.95

Jolie Finishing Wax (Clear), $24.95

Jolie Wax Brush (Pointed), $41.95

The Project

For this project, I decided to paint my bed, which was a dark finished wood that I wanted to give a lighter feel to. I painted the whole bed in Swedish Gray and finished with Jolie’s clear wax.

Jolie Paint is a water-based, non-toxic, and quick-drying paint for furniture, cabinetry, floors, walls, and home accessories. There is no need to prime or sand before applying this paint just like with chalk paint.

From the label: “Jolie paint is water-based, non-toxic, and quick-drying paint for furniture, floors, walls, and accessories. In most cases it adheres to any surface including wood, matte plastics, stone, brick, concrete, and metal.”

I went with Jolie’s “basic finish,” which “embodies a classic hand-painted look with a soft texture. Apply Jolie paint loosely leaving subtle brush strokes behind.” Some people like smooth factory finish, but if you follow my work, you know that I adore this look. I like my hand-painted furniture to LOOK like it’s hand-painted.

Prep

The prep is simple. Wipe down with a gentle cleaner, then water, and then let the whole piece dry. Dust it off really well before you get started.  

To prep the paint, turn the can upside down and shake. Make sure the lid is tight and sealed. Open with paint tool and then take paint stick and seal, getting all the stuff up from the bottom.

You can thin this paint down with water if you want to but they recommend doing it outside of the can so you don’t contaminate it. I painted out of the can because that’s how I roll.

Paint

I used their small signature brush to paint, dipping it in and getting a little bit of paint at a time. I started on the headboard of my bed, using small strokes in every direction, and getting into little crevices first. I applied a second coat after waiting 30 minutes. I put it on in exactly the same way. There is some texture, but it’s not too thick, and it spreads out well. I applied three coats because the bed’s original finish was dark, and this paint is so light. Depending on the project, you would be able to get away with two coats. The can says it will cover approximately 150 square feet.

Wax

I sealed my piece with their finishing wax. It’s a protective clear coat. I used the Jolie wax brush to get a fair amount wax on my brush, and I worked it in one section at a time, approximately two to three square feet, applying a thin coat onto the painted surface. I made sure to work the wax well into textured brushwork and detailed areas. Then, I wiped away excess wax with a clean lint-free cloth. After I finished the whole piece in sections, I went back over with big sweeping motions in another light layer. Then I wiped off one more time. Jolie recommends two full coats. The wax will fully cure and harden in two weeks.

Review

I had such a great experience using Jolie paint for the first time. The consistency of the paint is really nice, and it doesn’t have a strong odor, which is great for painting indoors. It went on smoothly and gave a nice, soft texture, with awesome coverage. A little bit of paint goes a long way. Yes, it’s a premium paint, so the price isn’t as great as others I’ve tried, but I used half a can of paint for this project, doing three coats on a big piece. Most of the time you’ll only have to use two.

I love the wax because it doesn’t feel sticky at all and was so easy to use. I could see where I was putting it on, and there was no streaking. The wax is odor-free, unlike other waxes I’ve worked with. Like the paint, the wax goes a long way. I only used about 1/8 of the container per coat.

I was surprised how much I loved the Jolie brushes, too. They may become my new favorite over the Purdy brushes I usually use. The paint brush didn’t shed at all and held the paint well, making application so smooth and easy. The wax brush was amazing, too. It shed a little, but the wax went on smoothly and evenly.

Final thoughts on Jolie paint: I REALLY, REALLY LOVE IT. Overall, I totally recommend this premium paint that lives up to it’s price.