How to fake the look of antique furniture using common household supplies.
A piece of furniture that's worn and weathered is a prize catch. One of the reasons: it blends beautifully with highly polished contemporary pieces, yet has character and stands out as the poetic element in a room. But antique armoires are scarce, expensive and often not deep enough to hold a TV or stereo equipment. A solution: buy a new armoire and use our aging technique to give it character. All it takes is candle wax, paint and sandpaper to create a collectible.
Cost: $50-$65
Time: 36 hours (including 30 hours drying time)
Materials and Tools
- Acrylic primer
- Base paint colour (used here, Benjamin Moore 1112 latex, for a natural pine look)
- Wax candle
- Top paint colour (used here, Homestead House Coal Black latex)
- 600-grit sandpaper
- Roller or paintbrushes
- Varnish (optional)
Step 1
Apply two coats of primer to the surface. Let dry and apply two coats of base colour. Let each coat dry overnight.
Step 2
Rub the wax candle on the surface of the wood wherever you would like it to appear distressed.
Step 3
The next day, apply top colour evenly and leave to dry thoroughly.
Step 4
Using the sandpaper, rub off the paint to expose the first colour underneath. The wax residue will enable the paint to come off easily, allowing the coat of pine-coloured paint to show through.
Step 5
Apply two coats of flat varnish for additional protection.
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