How to Distress an Antique Dresser using Milk Paint

This beautiful tall dresser was perfect for the space in the hallway, but it needed some love, and a coat of paint to match the newly rescued console table. See the console table project soon. 

 Coal Black Milk Paint was chosen to get the desired 'antique worn' look. Coal Black milk paint is a jet black but with a softness you just don't get from regular paint.

PREP

Clean well with TSP and a rag to remove dirt and grease. Next Scuff-sand the dresser lightly, and then wipe down with a wet rag to remove any dust.

PAINTING

Using Homestead House’s Coal Black milk paint, prep enough to paint the dresser.  For a dresser this size it took approximately 6/7 tablespoons of powder per coat. As with all Homestead House milk paints, you’re prepping equal parts powder and water, then stirring until you have a smooth consistency.

If you are new to Milk paint be sure to check this out > How to mix milk paint

ACHIEVING THE DISTRESSED LOOK. 

Once the paint is dry use a sanding sponge to distress the areas of interest including the raised panel and the edges of the drawers, try to choose the places that would get worn naturally for an authentic look.

You decide on your project how little or much distressing you want!

SEALING THE DRESSER

The dresser was sealed with Homestead House Antiquing Wax,  Sealing using our luxurious waxes is simple, either brush on or apply with a cloth. All the excess was removed and buffed to a low lustre sheen. The hardware was re-attached and put in place in the newly refreshed entryway.

Refreshed Entryway with Homestead House Milk Paint

Using the same colour across two different product ranges gave this entryway a fresh and harmonized look.

You can see both pieces here, and they look right at home with the other black elements in the space like the door trim, the doors, and the art. 

Would you have done two of the same colours in the same space? Or done a complementary colour palette? Tell us on Facebook!