Faux Furniture Finishes

Faux finishes can transform an ordinary piece of furniture or accessory, or create a unique or stunning look for old pieces that need refurbishing. The same Faux treatments used for walls can be used for furniture and accessories.faux

These include: Distressed Woods, Crackle (Weathered), the Porphyry stone look (e.g. marble, tortoise shell, granite), False Wood e.g. Mahogany look, Stamping, Staining/Stenciling, Patina Finish, Rag Rolling, Dragging, Stippling, Colour Washing, Suede/Sandtone, Venetian Plaster.

Prepare surfaces:

  • Prime unfinished furniture with an acrylic latex primer to seal the wood. When painted, the wood will maintain its uniform appearance. Make sure your surfaces are dry, clean and bare.
  • Finished or painted furniture must be thoroughly sanded or stripped before stain can be applied. If this surface is to be distressed, painted or crackled, lightly sand first to have a new topcoat which the finish can bond to.

 

PATINA FINISH

A gently aged look of copper or bronze.faux

Tools and materials:

  • 2" Nylon/polyester paintbrush
  • 3/8" Roller
  • Natural Sea Sponge
  • Cheesecloth
  • Satin, acrylic basecoat paint
  • Water-based glaze in metallic copper or bronze
  • Paper plate
  • Newspaper

Instructions:

  1. With roller, apply basecoat colour on large flat surfaces, use a brush on smaller areas. Let dry for 4 hours.
  2. Pour moderate amount of glaze into a paper plate. Lightly dampen a sea sponge and dab into glaze.
  3. Dab onto newspaper to remove excess glaze from sponge. Basecoat colour should be visible from under the glaze applied.
  4. Dab sponge on surface with random motion. Avoid a regular pattern.
  5. Dip sponge in paint and continue as before until surface is satisfactory.
  6. Apply glaze unevenly to give a textured look.
  7. Optional - use cheesecloth to gently dab into drying glaze for a "soft" look.
  8. On corners, other tight areas, and furniture legs, use a small sponge.

 

DISTRESSED WOOD

This technique gives a slightly weather worn appearance to wood furniture.

Tools and materials:faux

  • Satin, acrylic basecoat paint
  • Satin, acrylic topcoat paint
  • Paste wax
  • Satin, interior, clear protector (optional)
  • Fine grit sandpaper
  • 2" nylon/polyester paintbrush
  • Cotton cloth

Instructions:

  1. Use 2" brush to apply basecoat colour.
  2. Let dry for at least 4 hours.
  3. Apply paste wax randomly to sections of the furniture with cotton cloth.
  4. Let paste wax dry for 1 hour.
  5. Apply topcoat colour to the furniture.
  6. Let topcoat dry at least 24 hours.
  7. Gently sand along the grain of the wood with the sandpaper, to remove some topcoat in some areas of the furniture, and reveal the basecoat.
  8. More heavily sand Knobs, Handles, and table Tops for a more realistic, worn look.
  9. Clean the surface.
  10. Optional - apply a satin, interior, clear protector to protect the finish.

 

WEATHERED CRACKLE

Reproduce the look of old, weathered and cracked paint with this technique. The look is available in a brush-on as well as aerosol form.

Tools and materials required:faux

  • Satin, acrylic basecoat colour
  • Flat, acrylic topcoat colour
  • Weathered crackle
  • Clear, acrylic protector
  • 2" sponge brush
  • 2" nylon/polyester brush

Instructions:

  1. Use 2: nylon/polyester brush to evenly apply basecoat to the surface. Let dry for at least 4 hours.
  2. Use sponge brush to uniformly apply crackle finish. The size of the cracks will be determined by amount of the finish applied. Let dry for 4 hours.
  3. Use 2" paintbrush to apply flat, acrylic topcoat evenly in one direction. Cracks will start to appear, just brush from left to right and continue on to the next uncoated area. Let dry for 4 hours.
  4. To protect crackle finish, apply a clear, acrylic satin protector.

 

STAMPING

This technique uses a rubber stamp with the chosen design.

Tools and materials:faux

  • Satin, acrylic basecoat
  • Satin, acrylic topcoat
  • 2" nylon/acrylic brush
  • Small artist type brush
  • Rubber stamp

Instructions:

  1. Use a 2" paintbrush to apply coat of satin acrylic basecoat to the furniture. Let dry 2 - 4 hours.
  2. Apply reasonable amount of topcoat colour to stamp with small brush. Avoid smudging. Ensure only raised edges of stamp are coated.
  3. Firmly stamp, avoiding any twisting movement.
  4. Re-wet stamp, continue where images are needed.

 

STAINING & STENCILING

This is an opportunity to put your unique designs on furniture and accessories.

Tools and materials:faux

  • Wood stain
  • Stencil
  • Acrylic Stencil paint
  • Clear, acrylic satin or semi-gloss protector
  • 2" nylon/polyester brush
  • Stencil brushes
  • Cotton cloth
  • Masking tape
  • Paper towels

Instructions:

  1. Use cotton cloth to apply wood stain on unfurnished furniture.
  2. Wipe area to blend and even stain uniformly. Let dry for 8 hours.
  3. Attach stencil in position required on surface with masking tape.
  4. Apply first color with stencil brush, carefully removing excess paint.
  5. Gently touch brush into open areas of stencil. Do not get paint under stencil.
  6. Move stencil to other areas and repeat.
  7. There will be separate stencil sheets for each stencil colour. Each colour must completely dry before the next colour is applied.
  8. Allow at least 4 hours drying after application of all stencil paints.
  9. For additional protection and durability, apply 2 coats of clear acrylic satin or semi-gloss protector.