How to Antique a Chair

Antiquing a piece of furniture gives it an aged, vintage or distressed appearance that looks as if it is a result of the aging process. This faux painting technique helps the furnishings to coordinate with a country, casual or rustic style of decorating. Aging the appearance of a wood chair requires only a few basic supplies and little time or effort. The technique is so uncomplicated you may decide to try your hand at larger pieces of furniture to give your home a true shabby chic ambiance.

Feather duster
Painter's or masking tape
Small paintbrushes
2 acrylic paint colors (base coat and secondary color)
White school glue
Fine-grit sandpaper (optional)

Instructions

- 1
  Dust the chair with a feather duster. This ensures the paint will stick well to the wood surface.
- 2
  Cover any edges near upholstery or other materials on the chair with painter's or masking tape.
- 3
  Paint the wood surfaces of your chair with the base color. This is the color you want to show through the cracks in the finish. For instance, you can use a brown color that is near the color of the wood for the base color and a tan color as your secondary color. Brown cracks will develop in the paint to give it an aged look. Any color combination is fine; simply select colors that coordinate with the room the chair is in.
- 4
  Allow the base color to dry thoroughly.
- 5
  Apply a layer of school glue with a clean paintbrush. If you want wide cracks in the finish, use a thick layer of glue. For a crackle effect with fine lines, use a thinner coat of glue. Do not allow the layer of glue to dry. Apply the second color of paint directly onto the glue while it is sticky.
- 6
  Allow the second coat of paint to dry thoroughly. You can see it cracking as the paint dries.
- 7
  Paint a final coat of glue over the finish. This protects the antique effect and seals the finish. Allow it to dry completely before using the chair.

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