Antiquing a Chair With Glaze

Remove any upholstery from the chair. If this is impractical, cover the upholstery with old sheets or newspapers and tape down securely to protect it from damage.

Sand the wood on the chair with 100-grit sandpaper to remove any old paint, varnish or wood stain. Sand again with 150-grit sandpaper until the wood is smooth to the touch.

Open a container of oil-based paint in a color of your choice. Creams, browns and grays work well to replicate the natural fading of colors over time. This color will form your basecoat for the chair and will show through as you complete the antiquing process.

Stir the paint with a stirring stick. Dip the tip of a good-quality paintbrush into the paint and apply it to the wood of the chair using smooth, regular strokes. Leave the chair to dry for at least 12 hours.

Open a container of glaze, available from most hardware and craft stores, and a container of oil-based paint in a color of your choice, remembering to avoid bright, vivid colors. Mix three-parts glaze with one-part paint in a plastic container. Stir the mixture completely with a stirring stick until it is a smooth and regular consistency.

Dip the tip of a good-quality paintbrush into the glaze-paint mixture and apply thinly over your basecoat using smooth, regular strokes. Wipe off any excess glaze with a clean cloth. Leave the chair to dry for at least 12 hours.

Examine your chair carefully and decide which areas would naturally take more wear over the years. These areas commonly include the seat, arms, bottom of the legs and back of the chair. Lightly sand these areas with 150-grit sandpaper to expose the undercoat.