Do-It-Yourself Faux Finishing & Antiquing

Faux Finishing

• 1

  Prepare to paint the walls by washing them with soapy water and a sponge. Scrape off any peeling paint and fill holes with spackling paste. Place a drop cloth on the floor to catch paint drips and tape off baseboards.

• 2

  Use a paint roller to apply a coat of primer to the walls. Primer helps the base coat adhere to the wall, thus increasing its durability. Allow the recommended drying time.

• 3

  Apply the matte finish base coat using a clean paint roller. The base color should be brighter than the glaze so it is visible under the top coat. Allow the base coat to completely dry.

• 4

  Create a textured look by using a sea sponge to apply the latex glaze over the base coat. You can also use a paint brush to make random criss-cross strokes. Eliminate any harsh lines by lightly brushing a clean brush over the glaze.

• 5

  Make a more subtle look by using a cotton rag to apply the glaze. Crumble the rag in your hand and apply the glaze to the rag with a paint brush. Sweep the rag on the wall using random circular or wiping motions.

Antiquing

• 6

  Clean the piece of furniture you want to antique. If antiquing wood, sand the surface to create a smooth and clean finish.

• 7

  Apply a base coat of a flat latex paint to the wood furniture. After the paint dries, use a cloth to add a layer of paste wax over the paint. If antiquing metal furniture, skip the base coat and apply the paste wax directly on the metal.

• 8

  Paint wood furniture with a wood glaze. Use spray latex paint on metal furniture.

• 9

  Use sandpaper to make scratches in the paint, which will reveal the base color on wood furniture or the original surface on metal furniture. The paste wax will make removing the paint easier.