How to Paint Furniture to Make It Look Antique

Making furniture look antique is easy. Read on...

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Furniture piece
• Primer
• At least two colors of paint
• 60 grit sand paper
• 120 grit sandpaper

1. Find the piece of furniture you want to look old.

2. Apply primer to the entire piece. I suggest Zinsser Bullseye 123 primer, it sticks to anything. Allow to dry at least an hour. Overnight is better.

3. Apply the first coat of paint. Use latex for easier application, easier clean up and faster drying time. Behr Paint from Home Depot is ranked highest in customer satisfaction by J.D. Power and Associates. Allow to dry at least 4 hours, overnight is better.

4. Apply the top coat of paint. Allow this coat to dry for at least 2 days.

5. Now it is time to make it look old. All old furniture has wear places on it from years of use. Most old furniture also has several layers of paint. Take the 60 grit sandpaper and LIGHTLY sand in places that would show wear. For example; the arm rest of a chair. It would have wear on the entire arm rest, but more so on the end where hands gripped it getting up and down over the years. Use the 60 grit to expose the paint under the top coat. Be careful not to sand too deep or too hard. We want this to be smooth when complete.

6. Now take the 120 grit paper and sand over the same spots. This will make the surface very smooth as though from wear.

7. Continue to do this everywhere the piece of furniture would show wear. If you were still working on the rocking chair, the seat would have wear as well as parts of the backrest. The best way to decide wear places is to use the piece and watch where you connect! very simple.

8. For an added look, use at least three different items to scar the furniture before beginning the paint process. I use:
   
   A short section of heavy chain about 12 inches long. (Strike the piece with the chain, it will make irregular roundish indentations.)
   
   A two by two piece of oak. (Use the edges and corners of the board to scar the furniture surface.)
   
   Fencing pliers. (Use the point end to make little holes all in the furniture. It gives it a look like bugs have been eating at the wood. Also, use the pointed end to make long irregular scars like scratches.)
   
   Space your marks out and don't over do it. Sometimes it is best to make some marks and then walk off for awhile. Appoach sanding the same way. You can always scar and sand more!

9. Enjoy your project. Don't do it when you have a time limit or are in a hurry. Relaxing during projects can bring happiness and lower stress levels.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure paint is dry before sanding. If not, it can ball up and make a pit in the paint causing it not to look worn with time.
• Humidity levels really affect drying time for paint. Normal levels are from forty to sixty percent. At seventy percent or more paint has a really hard time drying.
• The Zinsar primer is a water based clean up product. However, it really sticks after it dries alittle. Try not to get it on your hands. If you do, use GoJo or a similar pumice hand cleaner to remove the paint from you hands. Do not use paint thinner or other harsh chemicals because they absorb into the skin and into your system!

Resources

• Home Depot
• Behr Paints
• Zinsser Primer
• J. D. Power and Associates

[Maranatha80]

on 1/25/2009 Great info! This is such a cool idea :).

[chenderson00]

on 1/9/2009 Oh, I love it! I have a special love for restoring old furniture! 5*s