Shabby Chic Paint Technique

** This article was previously published on Examiner.

People pay A LOT of money for Shabby Chic furniture, but it is a process you can do yourself at home to save money. If you are not familiar with the Shabby Chic furniture, it is defined by Wikipedia as:

“A form of interior design where furniture and furnishings are either chosen for their and signs of wear and tear or new items are distressed to achieve the appearance of an antique.”

This does NOT mean that the furniture looks old and worn out! Shabby Chic furniture is actually very delicate and warm, with a touch of country charm. Whether you are looking to refinish a wood chair, a wood desk, a wood dresser, table, etc. you can turn it into a unique Shabby Chic furniture piece right at home. Follow the steps listed below to achieve a DIY ‘Shabby Chic’ paint technique:

Shabby Chic paint technique STEP 1 –

Paint the piece of furniture with a coat of paint (color of your choosing). This paint will do two things. It will act as a primer, AND it will give the illusion that the piece was painted this color originally. Allow it to dry completely.

Shabby Chic paint technique STEP 2 –

Take a white (unscented) candle and rub it along the edges and around corners. The candle will give it the distressed look, so you will rub the candle wherever you want the furniture to look ‘aged’. The more area you cover with the candle, the more distressed the piece will look.

Shabby Chic paint technique STEP 3 –

Gently wipe away any loose wax pieces or flakes with a soft, dry cloth.

Shabby Chic paint technique STEP 4 –

Paint the piece of furniture with the main color. It may seem odd, but the main color will not adhere to the wax, and that is what you want. If the main color does not appear dark enough, give it a second coat. Allow the paint to dry completely.

Shabby Chic paint technique STEP 5 –

Now that the furniture is completely dry, rub away the excess wax. Use a soft cloth that is slightly dampened with warm water.

If you would like to embellish your Shabby Chic furniture even further, you could add hand drawn roses, a seat cushion, or anything with a Victorian or English Garden flair. However, your Shabby Chic piece will be just fine as is, after following the DIY Shabby Chic paint technique steps.

Want more decorative painting tips? Read these related articles:

Suede Paint Technique

A Simple Guide to Sponge Painting

How to Lime Wash Walls

SOURCE:

Personal knowledge and experience

http://www.examiner.com/interior-improvement-in-columbus/diy-shabby-chic-paint-technique

http://http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shabby_chic