How to Make Furniture Look Shabby Antique With Paint

Rub the piece of furniture all over with medium grade sand paper. If the piece is already painted, rub it lightly to roughen the surface so it is ready for the next coat. If the furniture is not painted, sand it with medium sandpaper followed by fine sandpaper to remove any traces of wax or polish.

Wipe the furniture down with a damp sponge to remove any dust or debris that might stick to the paint. Dry thoroughly with a soft cloth.

Paint the furniture with your chosen paint color, finishing each brush stroke in the same direction. Allow to dry completely.

Paint the furniture with a thin coat of oil-based varnish. Wait for one to two hours, until the varnish has more or less dried but is still slightly tacky.

Paint on a thick coat of water-based varnish, and wait until it dries completely. As the water-based varnish dries, it will pull the tacky oil-based varnish into an attractive crackle pattern, which replicates the aged finish on antique furniture.

Rub the furniture with a soft cloth and a little antique stain. The stain will penetrate the gaps in the crackle glaze and emphasize the pattern. Rub away any excess stain with a soft cloth, and apply a coat of clear matte varnish to seal the stain. Allow to dry completely.

Distress the furniture to your liking, concentrating on areas of wear such as corners and edges. Rub fine sandpaper along corners to lift a little of the paint and show the bare wood underneath. Throw handfuls of gravel at the furniture to dent the surface, or hit it with a light chain to leave indentations.