Painting

For my project, I started with a sanded table made mostly of pine. But I did have a few 1x16 plywood pieces from shelves painted an off white (leftover from another project), so I used them for the shelves. You can mix different wood types for this finish!

You can remove hardware, or just tape it off.

Make sure the project is free of any sanding residue by brushing or vacuuming with a soft bristled brush. I go the extra step and wipe down with a damp cloth as well.

Most paint brands carry an “Antique White” right off the shelf, or you can have something mixed up. Just pick something with a warm muted undertone. I recommend a Semi-Gloss Paint with Primer in it because it saves a step.

You must use a primer with white, as over time, it will yellow if you do not!

These same results could be achieved with a brush or paint in the can, but I wanted to show you how we spray a project in this tutorial. We always start with the project turned upside down, and paint the hardest to reach areas first.

Then we work our way outwards.

If you were brushing, you would do the same. Paint the underside, hardest to reach place first. Then move outward.

Once the underside is completely painted, allow to dry to touch before you flip over the project.

After you flip the project over, begin again in the most difficult to reach place, and work your way outward.

Finally, paint the top and outsides.

For a vintage white, I highly recommend just one nice even coat of paint. Remember, we’ll be going over the paint with top coat!

Allow the project to completely dry as recommended by the paint can.

Distressing Edges

When your project is dry, it’s time to distress! How fun! If you have a small project or for light distressing, just use a sanding sponge or make up your own sanding block!

But for a larger project, you can pull out the power sander! Just be careful when using a power sander to not take too much paint off.

But here’s the problem. When you distress, your edges will not offer significant contrast. You won’t even be able to see the distressing! We have to darken that wood up!

Here’s my secret weapon.

Minwax Stain Marker..

Yes, a stain in a marker!!!! All you have to do is color the distressed areas with the Minwax Stain Marker! For the Antique White, I used Golden Oak. Not too dark, not too light, just right!

There is actually 8 different Minwax Stain Marker colors, ranging from light to dark, so you can customize the wood color to your own personal preference.

Minwax Stain Marker and depress the point until stain saturates it, and start coloring!

And if you don’t stay inside the lines, no worries, just quickly wipe off with a clean rag.

The Minwax Stain Marker dries immediately, so no waiting and wiping down or any of that stuff.

Ah, much better! You can actually see the distressed edges now!!!

And you can keep the Minwax Stain Marker around to touch up “natural distressing” quickly and easily – inside your house! I can totally see myself touching up furniture five minutes before guests arrive for a dinner party!

Top Coat

You’ll need to add a top coat to seal in those distressed edges. I of course turn to my most favorite and durable top coat, Minwax Water Based Polycrylic in High Gloss.

Because this is a table, and lots of hot dinners and painting projects will be happening right on this finished surface, I am going to also add top coat to the painted surface in addition to the distressed edges.

Note that because I am adding top coat over a white paint, I choose to use Minwax Water Based Polycrylic. If you chose the Minwax Polyurethane, it will amber over time, and alter the white color of your project. This could be desirable - or undesirable to you.

I start by sanding the table with a fine sanding block to get the Minwax Water Based Polycrylic to bond with the paint. Then I remove all sanding residue from the project with a brush and wipe the project down with a damp rag.

Then I just spray the Minwax Water Based Polycrylic on the project. I like to do three coats, sanding with fine sandpaper between each coat. Make sure you give the project a couple hours to dry between coats.

Right now I can work outdoors, being careful about overspray and working on nice, dry days. But if you have to work indoors or weather isn't cooperating, Minwax Water Based Polycrylic also comes in a quart and gallon sizes so you can brush it on as well.

The final product is beautiful and durable and so smooth!!!!