before:
supplies:
some wide nylon / synthetic brushes
1 large piece of fine-grain sandpaper
1 large piece of medium-grain sandpaper
various rags and cloths
1 large bowl
small can of white primer (i used a latex-based primer)
small can white semi-gloss paint
small bottle of brown acrylic paint
small can of paste wax
- with the fine-grain sandpaper, sand down the wood until smooth and wipe away the dust with a damp towel. let dry completely.
- apply 1 coat of primer onto the wood with a paint brush, just as you would with paint, and let it dry for at least 4 hours.
- before you apply the paint, lightly sand down the primer with the fine sandpaper until smooth. wipe away dust with a damp towel.
- apply 1 coat of white paint and let dry overnight.
- before applying the second coat of paint, lightly sand down the paint with the fine-grain sandpaper again until smooth. wipe away dust with a damp towel.
- apply another coat of white paint and let dry overnight.
- with a piece of medium-grain sandpaper, distress corners, edges and sections of the furniture until the wood from underneath the paint is exposed. wipe away dust with a damp towel.
- in a large bowl, squeeze out a quarter-sized dollop of brown (e.g. - burnt sienna) acrylic paint and dilute it with a couple cups of water.
- dip a cotton rag into the solution and squeeze out the excess before applying it to the dresser. this step discolors the white paint a bit to make it look more distressed. it also darkens some of the exposed wood. let it dry completely for an hour.
- finish the dresser with 1 coat of wax paste. apply the paste with a cloth and let dry for 10 to 15 minutes before buffing. this adds protection and a hint of sheen to your finished piece.
after:
