How To: Weathered Wood Finish Without Sanding or Staining

Here is the dated, orange vanity wood before.

STEP 1: Clean the surface 

As far as prep work goes, all that is required is to clean the surface of the wood before applying the chalk style paint.

STEP 2: Chalk paint

I used my favorite chalk paint additive to create a custom chalk style paint.

I used painters Frog tape to tape off the borders of the vanity against the wall, floor and countertop. Next, begin painting. The chalk style paint is thicker and has more texture than typical interior latex paint. Brush strokes are visible when the paint is wet on the first coat. After the first coat has dried (dry time is much quicker than typical latex paint), I painted a second coat. After the second coat, my brush strokes disappeared and I got opaque coverage.

STEP 3: Antiquing Wax- the key to the weathered wood finish

I wrote about this product in other posts outlining how I refinished my dining room table with Liming and Antiquing Wax (see the HUGE transformation  here!) and my vintage bar cart. The Antiquing Wax works so well over chalk paint and in my opinion can mimic a real wood finish over a painted surface.

To use this product, be aware that a little goes a long way. Using a chip brush, get a small amount of wax on the bristles of your brush and work it into the surface using long strokes. It dries in a minute or two, so it’s important to work in small sections. Work it in with the brush until you have a look and texture you like. I sometimes do a second coat in places once the first coat is fully dried.

STEP 5: Seal

Once you have painted and applied Antiquing Wax, allow dry time and seal. I prefer a  finishing wax to seal my furniture. Note that a wax sealer does not provide the same “hard” finish as poly, but it still protects from scuffs, stains and scratches with a softer finish that feels smooth and resists water. To apply the finishing wax, place a small ball of wax inside a thin clean cloth (such as cheese cloth). As you start to work the product into the furniture, the wax warms up and will work through the cloth. This is the recommended technique and allows for a thin, even coat of wax to protect your piece.

For more details, see the full tutorial (and more projects!) on emilyronehome.com.