Antiquing a Hutch

Remove all the hardware from the hutch and wash it with a rag and TSP solution mixed according the package instructions. Rinse the cleaner off the wood and let it dry thoroughly.

Rub paint onto the surface using a rag; this gives an uneven, worn look to the furniture. Use an off-white, matte latex paint. Reserve 1 tbsp. of the paint for a later step. Try an antique white or ivory color. Allow the paint to dry according to the manufacturer's instructions. This varies depending on the maker, but if in doubt, wait 24 hours.

Sand the paint with 60-grit sandpaper to roughen the surface and scratch the paint. This gives it a distressed look. Focus on where the hutch would naturally show wear, such as corners that stick out and any lips or overhangs. You can also distress the hutch by scraping the surface with a chisel or beating it with a chain.

Mix the reserved 1 tbsp. latex paint with 1 pint of acrylic glaze to tint it. Apply the glaze to the hutch using a bristle brush. If you want to color the hutch, add a tube of pigment to the glaze. For a natural, aged look, try yellow ochre or raw umber. These are natural colors that were available even for homemade paint in the past. Leave the glaze on for 10 minutes to dry.

Rub the glaze with fine, No. 0000 steel wool. This removes some of the luster from the glaze. Don't worry about rubbing the steel wool evenly over the surface; variations add to the antiqued look.