For this table, I really wanted an Old World Finish, a finish that looks authentic and has tons of character. Salvage a boring 'save' from the attic, or reinvent a flea market find with a faux web of cracked paint that looks like the real thing.
Sanding After years of using painted wood furniture or cabinets, the paint wears off the areas that receive the most contact. You can mimic the look of worn-off paint by sanding a freshly painted piece. Paint your item with a single coat of paint if you want the bare wood to show through, or use two coats of paint in different colors for a layered paint effect.
Once the paint dries, use a medium-grit sanding to remove the top layer of paint from corners, the edges of doors and the high points of molding or carving. Glazing Dirt, dust and tobacco smoke accumulate in the carvings and crevices of painted wood over the years, even with regular dusting. You can get the look without waiting - and without the ick factor - by using tinted glaze and paint. Glazing works best with carved or paneled wood, or when the wood is distressed by pockmarks and dings.
After painting your wood piece and letting the paint dry, brush a darker glaze over the paint. While the glaze is still wet, wipe it from the flat surfaces of your wood piece, leaving it to pool and dry in the recessed areas. Ragging For the look of mottled paint that’s darkened unevenly over time, employ a ragging technique.
Paint your wood piece with a basecoat of flat or satin paint; satin paint is easier to work with, but flat paint results in an older look. Mix paint that’s two shades darker than your basecoat with an equal amount of glaze. Once your basecoat dries, drip a crumpled rag or plastic bag in the glaze mixture. Roll your wrist back and forth while pressing the rag or bag against your wooden piece. Keep the pattern random, and make sure you don’t completely obscure the basecoat of paint.