Table of Contents
Prepare Your Space. Start by laying down drop cloths and preparing the area. Sand and Clean the Piece. Sand the surface of the piece. Paint the Piece. Apply Wax and Top Layer of Paint (Optional) Distress the Piece with Sandpaper and Steel Wool. Apply a Stain (Optional) Protect the Finished Piece with Polyurethane.
How do you make dark wood shabby chic?
How to Shabby Chic Dark Wood Furniture Step-by-Step Clean furniture thoroughly. Prime with 2 coats of BOSS. Paint with 2 coats of white or muted color. Highlight details by dry brushing white paint or waxing. Distress (optional) Seal with 2 coats of clear coat or wax.
How do you make dark furniture lighter?
How to Lighten Up Space Around Dark Furniture Enhance with drapery or accessories. Let your wall color speak. Focus on your ceiling color. Ambient lighting. Illuminate with natural light. Embellish the space with artificial foliage. Dress your shelves to bring some contrast. Coloring room accessories with bright shades.
What kind of sandpaper do you use to distress furniture?
Step 3) Distressing Once your final paint coat is dry, you can start distressing it with fine-grit sandpaper. You can start with 180 grit sandpaper to see how you like the look, but feel free to experiment with other grits. The higher the number, the finer the sandpaper.
What is chalk painting furniture?
Chalk Paint® is a decorative furniture paint specifically designed by Annie Sloan to be easy to use, quick, and reliable. Chalk Paint® very rarely requires any preparation, such as sanding or priming, and can be used indoors or outside, on just about any surface.
How do you make wood look old with vinegar?
Iron vinegar on cedar – cheap, easy and fast! Soak some steel wool in white vinegar for a few hours or a few days – the longer it steeps, the darker the aged effect will be. Use 0000 steel wool (shown here) so it breaks down even faster in the vinegar.
How do you make new wood look beat up?
This technique is subtle, so it’s done after sanding. Place a wire brush at an angle on the board and run it with the grain. This will dig out the softer wood between the grain and give the surface more texture, which really helps make new wood look old. Wire brushing is more effective on soft woods such as pine.
How do you change dark wood to light?
Wipe away sawdust from the wood using tack cloths. Apply a light color of gel stain to the wood using a natural brush. Immediately wipe the gel off the wood using rags. Wash the light gel stain from the brush using mineral spirits. Let the light color of gel stain dry for four hours.
How do you whitewash dark wood?
The Best Way to Whitewash Wood Stain the wood (or leave it raw for a light finish). Mix 2 parts white paint (flat latex or matte acrylic both work fine) with 1 part water. Brush on the water/paint mixture in the direction of the wood grain. Use a clean rag to wipe off the paint in the direction of the wood grain.
How do you lighten antique furniture?
To do this, mix 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water in a bowl and apply this mixture using a new paint brush (or cleaned out paint brush) all over the areas the bleach was applied. You’ll also notice after applying the bleach, that the piece of furniture may feel rough again.
How can I change the color of my wood furniture?
Method 1: Change Wood Color with a New Stain Remove the existing finish completely by sanding or stripping. Determine the wood species. Determine the undertone of the wood stains you are considering. Choose a wood stain that will either complement or counteract the existing undertone to get the look you want.
How do you lighten dark wood stain?
If the wood is too dark, soak a clean cloth in turpentine or mineral spirits and rub the wood firmly and evenly along the grain. This will lighten the stain but not remove it.
Can you distress already stained wood?
Go with stain if you want the really rustic look. Go with paint if your design style is more modern. I stained the wood first, then used paint to create the distressed marks. You can really change up the look by using a few different paint colors to distress.
Do you have to use chalk paint to distress?
TECHNIQUE. If you are going for a distressed look or antiqued finish, chalk paint works really well for that. You can distress with latex too, but chalk paint has a matte finish that is just a little more conducive to creating the aged look. If you want a modern sleek look go with latex.
Does chalk paint scratch easily?
When chalk paint isn’t properly protected and sealed it can chip and scratch pretty easily. So what’s the best way to keep chalk paint from scratching? Applying a liquid topcoat is the best way to keep chalk painted surfaces from scratching.
How do you make wood look distressed?
Liquids: White vinegar, stains, and paints are three types of fluids you may want to use for faux-aging wood. Vinegar creates a silvery-gray appearance. Stains darken the wood and highlight mechanically distressed areas. Paints can be applied in two coats, then sanded down for a weathered effect.
How do you darken wood naturally?
You can darken wood without using commercial stains. You can use natural products like vinegar or apple cider with steel wool pads or rusty nails. A combination of any of these can create a strong, effective yet non-toxic stain that’s good for the environment.
How do you distress furniture with vinegar and chalk paint?
Fill a spray bottle with vinegar and a smaller portion of water. After you have painted and allowed the furniture to dry, spray on the vinegar solution. Use a rag (or something a bit more abrasive) to rub the furniture and to remove some of the paint.
