How to Finish Furniture With a French Antiqued Look

Paint the furniture all over with a coat of dark brown paint, finishing each brush stroke in the same direction. Allow the paint to dry completely, then "key" it lightly with sandpaper to provide a roughened surface for the next coat of paint to adhere to. Rub the sandpaper with the grain of the wood rather than across it, and scratch the surface of the paint rather than removing it.

Rub a wax candle over the edges and corners of the furniture. Apply a coat of pale gray paint, and allow it to dry completely. Key the paint, and apply a second coat of gray. Leave to dry.

Sand off a little paint on the edges and corners of the furniture. The wax should flake off readily, revealing the brown paint underneath.

Choose several areas on the top and sides of the piece of furniture. Paint these areas with a layer of oil-based varnish. Leave to dry for one to two hours until still slightly tacky. Paint on a layer of water-based varnish. The water-based varnish will dry faster than the oil-based varnish, causing the paint to divide in an attractive cracked finish.

Rub antique stain on a soft cloth into the cracks to emphasize them. Remove any excess with the back of the cloth.

Apply a layer of clear matte varnish to the whole piece of furniture, and leave to dry.