How to Do an Aging Effect on Painted Furniture

Antiquing

• 1

  Cover your work area with a tarp or newspaper to protect surfaces. Sand off the painted furniture's old finish. Start with 60-grit sandpaper to remove the initial top coats. Finish and smooth the wood with 220-grit sandpaper to provide a starting point for the antiquing project. Wipe off dust from the sandpaper.

• 2

  Apply a base coat of latex paint. Carefully paint all areas of the furniture in a shade a little darker than the desired color. Allow the paint to dry for about eight hours.

• 3

  Apply a thin layer of toner glaze to the furniture. Use a clean, white rag to apply the glaze evenly over the entire piece. Allow the toner glaze to dry.

• 4

  Rub the furniture with steel wool using a back-and-forth motion. The finish will become distressed and appear aged. The more rubbing and pressure you apply, the more distressed the finish will become, making it appear older.

Color Washing

• 5

  Spread a tarp or newspaper over your work area to protect surfaces. Sand off the furniture piece's old finish. Begin with 60-grit sandpaper to remove the initial layers, and end with 220-grit sandpaper to smooth the finish.

• 6

  Apply a smooth layer of polyurethane stain using a small paintbrush. Match the stain to any surrounding wood in the room in which the furniture will reside, or make the stain dark for an older appearance. Allow eight hours for the stain to dry.

• 7

  Dilute latex paint to a 1-to-8 ratio with water. Mix the paint and water well.

• 8

  Apply the diluted paint with a narrow trim paintbrush. Move the brush in the same direction on all parts of the piece. Leave spaces between the brushstrokes on the first layer. Allow the paint to dry for several hours.

• 9

  Apply a second coat of the diluted paint. Go over the unpainted areas of the first layer and lightly over the initially painted areas. Allow the second coat to dry for 24 hours before using the furniture.