Faux Wood Look Paint Technique

6 Materials
$100
4 Hours
Easy

I wanted to give our two kitchen doors a makeover when we renovated our kitchen, and I really wanted them to look like old weathered wood. I couldn't afford new doors, so this paint technique was the next best thing! I have so many more tutorials over on my blog - I hope to see you there!

Step 1


Be sure to tape off your door where you don’t want paint (i.e. the wall, the door frame, etc.) Also be sure to remove your door knobs.

Step 2:


Use your 3″ brush to paint on your base coat of paint – ours was the Valspar Chalk Paint in Bonnet Ribbon. Paint your molding (if you have it) first, and then the rest of the door.

Step 3:


Apply 2 coats of your base paint, then allow to dry.

Step 4:


Apply dark wax all over your doors with a small flour sack towel (I actually just leave a small one in my wax containers permanently. I highly recommend wearing gloves! Apply in vertical strokes to all parts of the door except the very top, middle, and bottom pieces directly above and below your horizontal moulding. Allow to dry – 30 min or less.

Step 5:


Wife off excess wax with a clean flour sack towel. Use sanding blocks in various grits to distress to your liking. If you’d like, dry brush Linen White chalk paint mixed with your base paint color onto the door for added distressing. If my paint looked a little too streaky after the dry brushing, or if I could see obvious brush strokes, I just blended it all together with a paper towel. The dry brushing/blending technique really adds another layer of texture and allows you to distress more than just with the sanding blocks. PRO TIP: Only dry brush in places that would NATURALLY accumulate distressing – i.e. corners and moulding. If you dry brush smack dab in the middle of a panel, it looks less natural.

Step 6 (optional):


If you want to add a chalkboard panel to your door (great for kiddos!), tape off the panel you want to paint and use your 3″ brush and chalkboard paint to brush the paint inside that panel. Mine needed 4 coats to be fully covered! 

Step 7:


Allow to dry, and remove tape.

Step 8:


Reattach your door knobs, remove any tape that’s left, and voila! Your ugly basic door is now much prettier! Add a fun saying in chalk and maybe a wreath, and you're done!

This technique can be used on all sorts of things - furniture, cabinets, etc! Enjoy - and see you over on my blog for more fun DIY projects!

Resources for this project:
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Ana Ochoa - Sunrise Valley Farm Co.
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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Frequently asked questions
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  • GammyJo GammyJo on Jun 20, 2020

    Where did you get your "Lets Be Adventurers" bag . . . Love it, and your entire project!

  • Deb Deb on Jun 20, 2020

    Is the door nor in the kitchen? The countertop looked interesting, what was happening?

  • Pamela - DIY vibes Pamela - DIY vibes on Jun 20, 2020

    Do you think this technique would work on a steel door? I have a door going outside from my laundry room that would look great with this paint. Do you know how chalk paint takes to steel?

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