How to Make Paint Look Old and Peeling Off of Wood

If you have bedroom and/or living room furniture that you want to give a worn, peeling paint look to, you can do so with a few tools and some supplies. This process is called "antiquing" or "distressing". The project requires you to scratch and gouge the painted surface. Once completed, the furniture will look as though it is decades old and has been passed from one generation to another.

Drop cloths
Rubber gloves
Paint thinner
Steel wool
Bucket
Sponge
Screwdrivers
Chain
Hammer
Wood crackle glaze
Paintbrush
Latex paint
Fine-grit sandpaper

Instructions

- 1
  Spread drop cloths over the floor in a well-ventilated area, like a detached shed or garage.
- 2
  Place your piece of furniture on top of the drop cloths.
- 3
  Put on rubber gloves. Pour some paint thinner over the wood furniture piece and abrade it with steel wool. This will clean any dirt and grime off the furniture and begin to distress the surface.
- 4
  Fill a bucket with water and rinse the wood furniture with a sponge, removing any particles as well as the residue from the paint thinner. Allow the furniture piece to air dry.
- 5
  Gouge into the remaining paint with screwdrivers. Hold a chain against the surface of the wood furniture and strike it with a hammer. Both these methods will antique the furniture piece.
- 6
  Apply a coat of wood crackle glaze to the furniture with a paintbrush going in one direction. Allow the furniture to dry for about 45 to 60 minutes or as long as recommended by the manufacturer.
- 7
  Brush on a coat of latex paint in the opposite direction using a clean paintbrush. Let the latex paint dry for two to three hours. The combination of wood crackle glaze and latex paint will cause a visible cracking and peeling effect to occur.
- 8
  Lightly sand over the furniture piece to finish the antiquing, then place in your house where desired.

How to Moisturize a Leather Sofa With Linseed

The Living Room Rules for a Sofa and a Loveseat

Living Room Furniture