Antiquing Paint Technique on Thrift Store Furniture

I received materials from Wise Owl Paint to complete this project and give my honest opinion. All opinions and views on the Wise Owl Paint and products I used are my own.

Hey, friends! Happy Wednesday! It’s been somewhat chaotic around here, what with birthdays, various activities and the constant wishing for Spring so we can all go outside to play. Is anyone else feeling it? Spring Fever? Ugh. You know what they say. If life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Or if you’re a DIY fanatic, they say if you’re trapped inside, rescue and refinish furniture. Catchy, no?


So, I picked up this cute little table many moons ago at Homegoods on clearance for $25. Despite being the cracked drawer, I loved the lines and the painted details. After a mediocre patch-job on the drawer, we lived with the imperfections.  It was a perfect fit for the foyer, and it lived there for about 4-5 years. Until… 

Unfortunately, during one of our annual Halloween parties, a drink was placed on it ruined the finish on the top of the table. I’m not sure who was drinking turpentine because I know that isn’t what we were serving, but there you have it! Just like that, the table was relegated to someplace a little less in view. 

Although I’ve replaced the table with another in the foyer, I’ve missed my little table. Fast forward to today. When I was chosen to participate in the February Create and Share, hosted by the lovely and talented Stephanie of Casa Watkins, along with some of my favorite bloggers, I was super excited – I had the perfect project lined up and the time to bring my little table back to where it belongs.. in the spotlight!

I knew I had to repair the drawer and also the top of the table. I was a bit torn on the finish. After working with chalk-style paint on a recent project, I decided it would be perfect for the job. Chalky-type paint’s forgiving and no-prep nature make it a snap to work with. I also decided on an antiquing glaze as well, to bring out the detail in the woodwork. With a plan, it was time to get started! 

After filling the blemishes in the finish and the crack in the drawer, everything got a good sanding. Following that the table received two coats of Wise Owl Synthesis Paint, in Sea Salt, using their ClingOn medium-sized flat brush for all but the small details. For the details, I used a small brush that allowed me to get into all of the grooves. 

Wise Owl ClingOn Brush and Synthesis Chalk Paint in Sea Salt

Wise Owl Synthesis Chalk Paint in Sea Salt

The paint was true-to-color. It went on smoothly, had good coverage and a short dry time. Here is the table after the first coat.

And here I am, applying the second coat. I did my hair just for you! Not really.  

After allowing the paint to cure for 24 hours, I gave the entire table a light sanding using a sanding block, just enough to take the roughness of the paint off and smooth out the surface.


To add an antiqued look, I used Wise Owl Glaze in Black Walnut.

Apply the glaze with a brush or sponge. I opted for a brush to allow me to get into those detail areas that would have been difficult to reach with a sponge. 

I worked in small areas, applied the glaze, then removed the excess with a lint-free cloth. I used a very light hand to allow for quite a bit of antiquing, and I let the glaze settle into the grooves.

The glaze has a speedy drying time (2 hours), so you need to work quickly to avoid smearing and to ensure proper overlap between sections. Despite knowing the drying time, I was working off of my prior knowledge of glaze (duh) and, therefore, had a few areas that I didn’t get to quickly enough, which resulted in a bit of smearing. Fortunately, I was able to sand some of it out at the end.

This glaze provides a durable finish itself, but if your piece sees a lot of heavy use, I would recommend applying a poly after 24 hours to protect it.

All in all, I am so pleased with how my little table turned out, and even more excited with how the table looks in its new home! Having it back relieves my spring fever! Just a bit. How about you? How do you get through those last long days of winter? 

Please stop by and visit my friends at the links below for more Wise Owl Synthesis Paint ideas! 

Pin for later: Aging furniture with Paint and Glaze