Allow the wax to dry and cure according to instructions before you use the piece. If your furniture piece has multiple layers of caked-on paint that you don't want to show through, you can opt to strip the entire piece down to the bare wood. In our example, we nicked the corners on several drawers for a natural look. Avoid the temptation to sand excessively. Sand just enough to remove any sheen, which will help the paint stick. The second most popular technique to antique furniture is using dark wax over a painted piece. The finish is cracking, peeling and unstable. If you wish, you can also use a butter knife or other tool to scrape some areas to add more character. If glazing sounds like a good option for you, check out this article for more details: How to Glaze Cabinets Correctly. Get DIY project ideas and easy-to-follow crafts to help you spruce up your space. Here are 3 of the most common ways: This process involves doing the basic painting process of priming your piece, then painting with your choice of color. Once that first coat is completely dry, you can add your second coat with the other color. Admittedly, I don’t do many modern pieces. For a final touch, rub a coat of paste wax into the wood with extra-fine steel wool. Go in the direction of the grain, but you don't need to be too fussy about the brushstrokes. Using a 150-grit sanding block, buff down the edges so that the dark areas start to peek through. You’ll be surprised by how easy it is to make a new coffee table look farm fresh with the right paint scheme. Paint the furniture. Painting Gloves: Non-Latex gloves for keeping your skin free from paint. The painting technique described here can be applied to wood, laminate, or any furniture you want to look aged. The second coat should also be applied in a thin layer. Remember that with glaze, it dries VERY quickly so you need to work fast to wipe away the excess glaze. Using a chip brush, paint the entire exterior with a light base-coat color in a flat finish. If you wait too long, you may have to go back and sand away the glaze and go over it again. Here's what you do: Sand off the paint and finish on the wood surfaces of the piece of furniture you're working on [source: Bach ]. Step 2. Step 3. How to Paint Wood Furniture With an Aged Look Step 1. First, remove all hardware and mask off any areas that you don't want to paint, using painter's tape. Wipe away the dark wax so that it is mostly left in the cracks and crevices of the piece. Then afterward rub on a dark tinted wax over the whole piece, especially the details and beveled edges. Step 3. 3 Ways to Get an Antiqued Look When Painting Furniture, 7 Ways To Add Character To Your Painted Furniture. The final step is to use a 220-grit sanding block to very lightly sand the entire piece. This paint requires no sanding or priming and it's awesome! All you need is some paint, sandpaper, and a free afternoon to transform your furniture. The milk paint I used is called Old Barn Milk Paint. Paint Technique: Antiquing Furniture Prep Furniture. There are a few different techniques you can use to give your painted furniture piece an antique look. If the object already has a finish (previously painted or varnished),... 2. Let the first coat dry for 24 hours before proceeding to the next step. Chalk paint or milk paint provides a similar sheen, but it may need to be sealed with a wax finish. The great thing about chalk paint is that there isn’t a huge learning curve or a … To give the drawer pulls a fresh look, start with a coat of primer, followed by a coat of spray paint, and ending with one or two coats of clear sealer. If desired, you can use a power sander to make the process a bit faster. Once the stain has dried completely, rub tung oil into the wood, and let it dry overnight. I'm a DIYer and I love all things creative! Wipe away the dark wax so that it is mostly left in the cracks and crevices of the piece. When staining over other colors, just note that they will be slightly darker. Wood tint can be used to darken anything and unlike most stains, you can paint over it. Step 1. You can do this work yourself, or have the piece "dipped and stripped" by a professional, who will submerge it in a vat of solvent to remove the paint. Brush on Caromal Colours Toner, a product you can find locally or online. It is quite easy to antique a piece of newer wood furniture and make it look distressed by using paint and stain. This week we are going to use all the techniques we have learned in the past all at once! Also, if you are working with a piece of unpainted wood furniture, you may opt to use a different color for your second coat, so that more layers show through when you distress the wood. Would I rather have the real thing? Painting furniture to look primitive or distressed is a matter of painting one color onto the piece as a base, and a second color on as an overlay. Paint your wood piece with a basecoat of flat or satin paint; satin paint is easier to work with, but flat paint results in an older look. Remember, the lighter the hand, the better this antiquing will turn out. How to Refurbish Particleboard Furniture With Paint, How To Paint a Dresser To Make It Look Like New Again, How to Paint an End Table With Chalk Paint, Sandpaper Grit: What to Know Before You Buy, 5 Methods for Repairing Orange-Peel Texture on Walls. This step is going to reveal the original finish, which in this example is white paint. 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