Using a soft furniture wax, give the entire piece a good clear coat when you are happy with the look. The second coat should also be applied in a thin layer. In our example, we nicked the corners on several drawers for a natural look. You can't buy character, but you can fake it with an antique paint finish. Also, if you are working with a piece of unpainted wood furniture, you may opt to use a different color for your second coat, so that more layers show through when you distress the wood. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Then afterward rub on a dark tinted wax over the whole piece, especially the details and beveled edges. Finish it off with a final clear coat for extra protection. Try to distress areas where a piece of furniture naturally experiences such damage. Avoid the temptation to sand excessively. Lightly sand the object you want to distress. 3. Wipe away the dark wax so that it is mostly left in the cracks and crevices of the piece. Here's what you do: Sand off the paint and finish on the wood surfaces of the piece of furniture you're working on [source: Bach ]. Just make sure your furniture is dry before you start painting. Look for a wood furniture piece with lines you love and that will look good in your space. Follow me to see more tips on painting furniture and repurposing old things to a new life. 3 Ways to Get an Antiqued Look When Painting Furniture, 7 Ways To Add Character To Your Painted Furniture. This paint requires no sanding or priming and it's awesome! Don't worry if the coloring overlaps onto surrounding paint. This next step is where the magic happens. Remove the piece's doors and hardware. Check out our guide to find out how to make a used piece of furniture look rustic using Real Milk Paint. Step 1. Lauren Thomann is a freelance writer and business owner who covers DIY projects and home renovation on The Spruce. Our gallery of furniture painting ideas serves up 28 clever ways to give new life to old furniture. How To Make New Furniture Look Old Step 1. Next, coat the entire piece of furniture with a thin layer of your selected paint. The one that is probably easiest for you is one that you already have some experience with. Have you ever bought something new but wished it looked antique? Using a chip brush, paint the entire exterior with a light base-coat color in a flat finish. Step 3. Get DIY project ideas and easy-to-follow crafts to help you spruce up your space. The finish won't look natural if you attempt to create an overly distressed look. Paint the entire piece in the base coat color you've selected. The goal is to get down to the raw surface of the wood so that the coloring agent can penetrate. Once that first coat is completely dry, you can add your second coat with the other color. This chair has been painted many times over the course of its life. Wipe away the dark wax so that it is mostly left in the cracks and crevices of the piece. Finally, soak a rag in coloring agent and buff it into the edges. The best way to apply the coloring agent is with a clean rag. This method would require that you finish your piece with a final clear coat. Chalk paint can be used to paint almost anything — walls, kitchen cabinets, metal, wood, and even fabric — but the most common use is to give new life to old furniture or to make newer pieces look old. To give the drawer pulls a fresh look, start with a coat of primer, followed by a coat of spray paint, and ending with one or two coats of clear sealer. So, instead of wiping on dark wax, you would apply a glaze mixture that is half dark or black paint and half glaze mixture with a few drops of water added to thin it. Next, take a 220-grit sanding block and lightly sand to remove a little more of the top layer of paint near the edges. 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