Painting Antique Bedroom Furniture

Wash the furniture using trisodium phosphate to remove any surface buildup and dirt. Rinse and dry thoroughly.

Fill in any holes or cracks with wood filler and a putty knife. Let the putty dry according to package instructions. Sand the surface lightly with 150-grit sandpaper so the patched area blends with the rest of the wood. Dust with a tack cloth.

Apply a primer to the furniture using a sponge roller or paintbrush. Use an adhesion primer. Allow the primer to cure according to package instructions. Add a second coat of primer if you are painting over stained wood. This ensures the stain does not bleed through and discolor the paint.

Paint a flat, white paint over the wood's surface, using a rag. The rag gives the paint a rough, uneven texture often found in antiques. Allow the paint to cure. Apply a second coat.

Rough up the wood's surface using a chisel, file or sandpaper to give it a distressed look. Focus on areas that would naturally be damaged over time, such as corners, lips and around drawer pulls. Avoid doing too much damage. Take a step back to survey your work, then continue if you think it needs more.

Wipe the furniture with a tack cloth to remove any dust from the distressing process.

Mix 1 tbsp. of the white paint with 1 pt. of acrylic glaze. Add a tube of pigment to the mixture and stir well with a wooden stir stick. Paint pigment, in colors such as amber yellow, is commonly seen on antique furniture.

Paint the glaze on the furniture using a bristle paintbrush. Allow it to dry for 10 minutes before proceeding.

Rub fine, 0000 steel wool over the glazed surface to take away some of the shine and give it an uneven texture. Work in a circular motion and rub the entire surface.