DIY Shabby Chic Armoire

Distressed furniture pieces will add an antique or shabby chic feel to any room in your home. While a number of furniture stores sell shabby chic furniture pieces, it may prove to be more affordable and rewarding to distress an armoire yourself before adding it to the family room as an entertainment center or including it in your bedroom decor as additional closet space.

Acrylic primer
Base paint shade
Wax candle
Top paint shade
Sandpaper
Paint brushes or rollers
Varnish

Instructions

- 1
  Apply two coats of acrylic primer to the armoire with a paint brush or roller. Allow each coat to dry completely.
- 2
  Paint the armoire in the base shade of your choice. A shade of white or ivory will give the armoire a Victorian feel, while deep brown tones will give the armoire the look of natural wood. Let the paint dry overnight, then apply another coat. Allow the second coat to dry overnight as well.
- 3
  Rub a wax candle anywhere on the armoire where you want to give the furniture a distressed look.
- 4
  Apply a top paint coat on each section accented with wax the day after putting the wax on the armoire. Let the paint dry thoroughly.
- 5
  Rub sandpaper vigorously across the lumps of wax to expose the base coat of paint. The candle wax will allow the paint to come off easily.
- 6
  Coat the armoire with a coat or two of flat varnish to protect the furniture and keep the paint effect intact.

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