Painting Furniture in an Antique Style

1. Find a space to work in. You’ll need a space big enough for your furniture and it needs to be well-ventilated. A garage works well, just make sure you keep the door open to get fresh air. Lay down a tarp or newspaper before you get started for easier cleanup later.

2. Unscrew any knobs, hinges, or pulls from the furniture and set aside. It’s easier to paint without them.

3. Start by sanding the furniture in the direction of the grain. Coarse grit sandpaper will create a more distressed surface than a fine grit. The more distressed the piece is, the older it will look. If you’re working with a large piece of furniture like an armoire or a dresser, use an electric sander to save time.