Painting Furniture to Look Victorian & Distressed

Victorian furniture, produced from the mid-19th century through the first years of the 20th century, was known for heavily ornamented, sturdy, Gothic-influenced construction. Pieces were typically made of ash, black walnut, maple, oak, rose or butternut wood with glass or wood hardware. Though much Victorian furniture was finished with dark wood stain, more casual pieces were painted with milk paint, a type of powdered paint made with earth pigments. You can purchase authentic milk paint from large paint stores and online retailers, or use furniture paints in earth-toned colors for a similar look.

Sponge
Liquid soap
Chains
Hammer
Two contrasting colors of paint
Natural bristle brush
Petroleum jelly
100-grit sandpaper
Oil-based varnish

Instructions

- 1
  Wash the furniture with soapy water, using a sponge. Allow the wood to dry before proceeding.
- 2
  Dent the furniture with chains and a hammer in a few spots where it would naturally become distressed over time, such as the edges.
- 3
  Mix a light-colored, powdered milk paint with water until it achieves the consistency of canned paint. Some classic Victorian base coat colors include cream, white, gold-yellow and brick red. Paint the entire piece of furniture, using a natural bristle brush. Allow the paint to dry thoroughly before proceeding.
- 4
  Apply a thin coat of petroleum jelly where the furniture would naturally wear out over time, such as the edges and raised areas of carvings. This will prevent the top coat of paint from adhering to the furniture, creating the look of paint wearing down to reveal the underlying coat.
- 5
  Mix and paint a thin coat of dark paint. Some classic top coat colors include black, chocolate brown and deep green. Allow the top coat to dry before proceeding.
- 6
  Sand the corners and edges of the furniture piece to reveal bare wood in certain areas that would receive heavy wear.
- 7
  Finish the furniture with a thin coat of oil-based varnish.

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