How to Paint Furniture With a Vintage Look

Remove cushions and hardware, such as handles, knobs or hinges. Set the piece of furniture in a well-ventilated area, on a drop cloth.

Sand the furniture surfaces with a hand sander and fine-grit sandpaper. Vacuum away the dust, and wipe the furniture with a damp rag to remove all remaining dust and debris.

Paint the furniture with a base coat of a satin-finish latex paint. This first layer will be the undercoat, not the dominant color.

Wipe random areas of the furniture with a damp rag to remove small areas of paint and reveal the wood underneath. Do this immediately, while the paint is still wet. Wipe small patches of paint off corners, legs or any place that would be more naturally worn from use. For a chair, the arms would wear faster; for a desk, the writing surface would be more worn. Let the rest of the paint dry according to the manufacturer's recommendations.

Brush on a crackle paint medium in a thick layer over the entire piece. Make all the brush strokes in the same direction. Wait the amount of time according to the manufacturer's directions before adding the top coat of paint.

Brush the top coat of latex paint in the dominant color onto the piece. When painting over crackle medium, make the brush strokes go in the same direction, and only brush over it with one stroke. Going back and forth, or trying to brush over a previous coat, will result in a messy job.

Let the top coat dry. As it dries, the paint will crack and you'll see the undercoat in the accent color through the spaces.

Sand the piece with a medium-grit sandpaper in a few places for a worn appearance. Wipe away the dust with a damp cloth.

Mix 1 part raw umber with 5 parts glaze. Pour a small puddle of tinted glaze in a tray and dab at it with a damp rag, then rub it on the furniture firmly in circular motions to make a very thin, uneven layer. Tinted glaze gives it a slightly discolored look, as though lightly yellowed with age.