How to Make Kitchen Cabinets Looked Stressed

A painting technique called antiquing makes your wood furniture or cabinets look vintage or stressed. It is not difficult to do this technique and it takes little time or effort. Antiquing the furniture softens painted finishes and results in an aged look that coordinates well with shabby chic, rustic, country or casual styles. Acrylic paint and glue are necessary in creating this look and they are both much less expensive than the crackle kits you find in retail paint or home supply stores.

Screwdriver
Feather duster or soft, lint-free cleaning cloth
Oil soap and sponge
Acrylic paint
School glue
Paintbrush
Fine-grit sandpaper (optional)

Instructions

- 1
  Remove the doors of your kitchen cabinets and the hardware with a screwdriver. This makes it less difficult to reach and enables you to put the doors onto a worktable.
- 2
  Dust the cabinets thoroughly with a feather duster or soft, lint-free cloth. Wash the doors with a mild oil soap made for cleaning wood cabinets or the normal way you clean the finish. This removes any sticky or greasy residue and any soil or stains. It helps the paint adhere to the surface.
- 3
  Paint the wood surfaces with the acrylic base coat and allow it to dry thoroughly.
- 4
  Spread a layer of the school glue onto the surface of the wood with a clean paintbrush. Do not allow it to dry. Paint the second paint choice directly on top of the glue. As it dries, the paint will crack and take on the appearance of distressed wood.
- 5
  Add another coat of school glue once the second coat of paint is thoroughly dry. This seals the finish.
- 6
  Replace the cabinet doors and hardware.

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