How to Make Mission Style Furniture Look French

Mission to French Country

• 1

  Distress the piece by banging it with a brick, gouging with a screwdriver, hitting it with a heavy chain and/or sanding aggressively at the edges. Do not damage the construction; the point is to make the furniture look as though it's survived many generations of use.

• 2

  Sand down all the distressed points with fine-grit paper until there are no rough edges. The overall look should be worn but charming.

• 3

  Whitewash the piece with a pickling stain. Follow the manufacturer's directions for your brand.

• 4

  Reupholster cushions with a fabric in the French country style. Toile, botanical prints or florals are a few options to consider. Look for fabrics in soft shades of blue, yellow and cream for a generic country appeal, or choose green, red, lavender and olive black for Provencal style.

Mission to Rococo

• 5

  Select decorative wood trims and plaques with a design indicative of the ornate Rococo era. Shells, cherubs, branches, monkeys and flowers are some common motifs of the style. Choose several pieces in one motif.

• 6

  Arrange the trims on your Mission furniture piece. Use painter's tape to keep them in place until you decide the final placement. Try to create curves, asymmetry and a sense of movement with the decorative pieces.

• 7

  Remove one piece of trim and apply a layer of wood glue to the back. Clamp the trim in place until the glue dries. Repeat the process until all the decorative pieces are secured.

• 8

  Paint the chair in a glossy black paint to imitate the black lacquer finishes that were popular during the Rococo period. Apply a gilt, bronze or gold finish to the decorative trims.

• 9

  Reupholster cushions with fabric that resembles petit point tapestry. Patterns that enhance your motif or colors are also good choices.