Painting French Provincial Wood Furniture

French Provincial interior design reflects the decor and furnishings of homes built during the 17th and 18th centuries in the provinces of France. The people who lived in the French countryside usually were not as wealthy as their city counterparts. Rural homes were furnished with less ornate, functional furniture that became worn with use. Achieving the French Provincial look on wood furniture is accomplished through special painting techniques, a few supplies and elbow grease.

Disposable plastic drop cloths
Fine-textured sandpaper
Oil-based primer/paint for furniture
Paintbrushes
Screwdriver
Hammer
Chip brush
Premixed glaze
Clean, damp cloth

Instructions

- 1
  Cover the floor with plastic drop cloths underneath the furniture you will paint.
- 2
  Sand the furniture with a fine-textured sandpaper, removing chipping paint or varnish and smoothing rough areas.
- 3
  Apply a white, oil-based primer/paint -- this is one product that contains both primer and paint -- with a paintbrush, covering the furniture completely. Allow the furniture to dry and apply a second coat.
- 4
  Distress the furniture by sanding in areas where worn paint would naturally appear over time, such as the edges, feet and around the handles. Use a screwdriver and hammer to roughen up the surface of the furniture with heavier distressing.
- 5
  Use a chip brush to paint the furniture with a premixed, white-tinted glaze. Wipe the wet glaze with a dampened cloth, leaving a small amount of glaze, giving the furniture an antiqued appearance. Allow to dry.

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