Ways to Make Fake Wood Look Shabby Chic

Preparation

• Painting on fake wood requires a little more preparation than painting on bare, untreated wood. A good sanding with a fine-grit sanding block scuffs up the glossy coating protecting the faux woodgrain paper, making it more readily able to accept primer. Without sanding, the primer will likely peel right off. A basic white latex primer over the entire surface sets the furniture up for its new shabby chic paint job.

Shabby Chic Paint Finish

• Priming the faux wood with a basic white or French vanilla white latex serves as the basis for the shabby chic finish. Once the original faux wood is thoroughly covered with primer and the primer dries, apply your chosen shabby chic shade of paint: antique white, bright white, baby blue, pale yellow or even a slightly gray paint. Stop here if you like the look, or step it up with additional color washes.

Color Wash

• Some shabby chic finishes have a bit of a color wash, or layered color, effect. To create this look, choose a second color to go over your first; for instance, a matte white over pale gray or baby blue, or pale yellow over blue or white. Apply the paint with a stiff-bristled brush or steel wool using a minimal amount of paint for a strie effect, or mix a little water with the second color, brush it over the project and rub most of the paint off with a dry rag for a color glazing effect. Using a dark color or yellow for the watery topcoat adds to the look of age on the piece.

Distressing

• Part of the shabby chic look is a bit of wear. Sand away some of the paint in certain areas that would normally become worn over time, such as the edges of a desk. For an even more effective look, paint on multiple layers of paint using a different color each time, rubbing candle wax on between paint coats once each layer dries. Sanding through the layers and wax reveals other colors underneath, adding the effect of age to the piece. Whacking the furniture with various parts of a hammer, or a sack full of nuts and bolts, also distresses the piece a bit, but it may be difficult to notice the effects depending on the hardness of the material under the fake wood veneer.