How to Get That Grubby Texture on Primitive Furniture

Prep your furniture for sanding. If the furniture has a painted, lacquered or stained finish, remove it completely by sanding down to the bare wood surface, using medium-grit sandpaper followed by fine grit. Use a tack cloth to remove all sawdust and debris, leaving behind a smooth, clean surface.

Move your furniture to a dry, airy, safe painting location to have an open-air surface and avoid inhaling paint fumes and dust from the furniture. Remove drawers and hardware. Set down a paint tarp if you're going to be prepping and painting on carpeting, tile or wood.

Paint the entire base surface. Use a thin layer of black paint if you want the black to show through for a primitive appearance. Paint in long, smooth strokes and avoid drips. One coat of black should be enough to cover the underlying wood. Allow the paint to dry completely, preferably overnight.

Apply your desired color. If you want to go for a really grubby look, add a cup of fine sand and ground cinnamon to your paint mixture and mix thoroughly with a stir stick. Apply two coats to completely cover the black surface. Allow to dry completely – typically 24 to 48 hours. Make sure the finished texture is not sticky or tacky.

Begin to add a grubby texture to the piece. Lightly sand the entire piece and focus on hand sanding corners and edges to allow the black underneath to slightly show through. If you didn't apply a black base coat, you can add a grungy look by taking a rag and dipping it lightly in the brown paint. Pat off excess brown paint by dabbing onto a paper plate. With a light amount on the rag, slowly rub the brown into the areas where you sanded to grunge the sides. Repeat this look in various areas on the furniture to make the grungy look stand out.