Painting Furniture With a Vintage Effect

Apply paint stripper to all woodem areas of the furniture. Check the manufacturer’s guidelines on how long you let the stripper sit on the wood. Remove the original paint by scraping away the paint and wiping off the residue with a soft cloth. Gently sand the wood.

Paint one coat of the flat paint on the piece. Work your way from the top to the bottom. Apply a second coat, if you want a deeper or darker undercoating. Let the piece sit for up to 24 hours or overnight until the last coat dries.

Buff the wood with paste wax applied with an old rag. Home Decor Exchange recommends covering the entire piece with the paste wax, as it gives you more areas for distressing. If you prefer less of a vintage look, only apply paste wax on the top and edges.

Cover the paste wax with a new paint color in a satin finish. Paint the furniture in the same direction as the wood’s natural grain. Apply an even coating and let dry. Some of the bottom paint color may show through, but if you want more coverage, apply a second coat.

Rub the sandpaper over the edges and corners of the piece, as well as on any raised or decorative areas. Follow the natural grain of the wood as you rub. Focus your sanding on areas that typically show distress, including the areas around handles and on the legs of the piece.