How to Get an Antique Furniture Effect

With Glaze

• 1

  Prime your furniture piece with a bonding primer. This will help your future coats of paint to adhere to the furniture.

• 2

  Paint your furniture piece in the color of your choice. Add as many coats as necessary.

• 3

  Apply a drop of oil-based glaze to a thin paintbrush. Use broad strokes to paint one portion of your furniture piece at a time. For example, paint one door or drawer at a time. Work quickly to avoid having the glaze dry.

• 4

  Use a rag to wipe off the glaze. Wipe back and forth along the portion where you applied the glaze. This will help the glaze get into all of the nicks and crevices of the piece, providing a distinguished color combination between the original paint color and the crevice areas.

• 5

  Continue adding glaze to the furniture piece. Continue to wipe off the glaze. Let the glaze dry overnight.

• 6

  Add a coat of water-based varnish. The varnish will help to keep the furniture piece protected and to maintain the antique treatment.

With Distressing

• 7

  Sand your furniture piece. This will remove your old paint and give you an even level to work with to distress your piece.

• 8

  Hit the furniture piece with a hammer or chisel. Equally distribute the hits to achieve balance. This will provide character and an older look to the piece.

• 9

  Use sandpaper to level out the hits. Make sure that no splinters are protruding from the furniture piece.

• 10

  Prime the furniture piece. Follow with the desired number of paint coats in your preferred color.

• 11

  Apply polyurethane to protect and seal your furniture piece.