Antiquing Furniture with Antiquing Wax

Below you’ll find several ways for antiquing furniture with antiquing wax.

What is Antiquing Wax and How to Apply it?

Antiquing wax is a dark wax that can be applied to furniture for protection. Depending on where it is applied, the dark color can enhance interesting patterns or designs on the furniture.

Its great for using over chalk paint and different painted pieces to give an antiquing furniture look.

To apply the antiquing wax, you can use a large tightly packed bristle brush, an old bushy paint brush, or a clean rag. I like using a clean rag so I can discard it after I’m finished. I don’t want to clean the brush afterwards because your girl is lazy.

When applying the wax, I like to go in the direction of the grain of the wood. Start with a generous amount and work in small sections. Working from side to side, wipe the wax onto the furniture in the desired location until reaching the desired finish.

The wax can be applied in light layers, or built up to really enhance the character of a piece of furniture and make it appear vintage and antique. Once the wax is applied, use another clean cloth to wipe the excess away and buff until the wax isn’t sticky.

Different Ways for Antiquing Furniture with Antiquing Wax

• Distress and age a painted furniture piece
• Make laminate furniture look like aged wood
• Faux wood finish
• Use antiquing wax as a stain

Antiquing a Painted Furniture Piece

The most common way to use antiquing wax is to make a piece of furniture, usually painted, have a more antique and aged feel to the finish. I used this method here over this stool to enhance the nooks and crannies as well as highlight the areas I had distressed on the piece.

Make Laminate Furniture Look Like Aged Wood

Did you know you can use this over on pieces of laminate or particle board? When we moved into our house two years ago, we bought this entertainment console from amazon. I accidentally ordered it in the wrong finish, and it was far too light for my liking.

Before I used the antiquing wax, I had considered painting it, but wanted to try antiquing the console with wax. I applied the wax as described above, generous amount in a small section and wiping away the excess and buffing until no longer sticky.

Lastly, I applied a matte polycrylic over top to protect the finish. I LOVE how the wax made antiquing furniture we already had so easy and it gave it a whole new look.

Faux Wood Paint Finish

In our downstairs bathroom, we had painted vanity that matches the kitchen cabinets. Rather than sanding or stripping off the paint to get to the raw wood, I gave them a faux wood finish with some chalk paint and antiquing wax.

First, clean the different My cabinets were gray to start, but if you have don’t have a gray base, paint the cabinet with gray chalk paint. You can use a latex paint, but be sure to sand and use a bonding primer first.

Next, take a lighter gray chalk paint, or white. Using a chip brush, barely dip the brush into the paint and lightly drag the brush along the surface in long strokes. These lines will look crazy, but have faith! They are acting like the “grain” of the wood.

Then take another chip brush and do the same thing as above, but dip it into some tan chalk paint. Go a little heavier with this color, but still lightly brushing it on.

Now for the fun part, using the antiquing wax. Again, you can use a large bristle brush for this, but I found the most success when using a paper towel. Starting with the doors, I worked my way around the edges wiping a small amount into all the grooves.

Then I took a small amount on my rag applied it to the center of the door. Work from side to side. Use long strokes to prevent some wax gathering in an area and not drying.

There is a short window where the wax isn’t dry, so work quickly to get the finish you want. Let dry.

Finally, you want to protect the new faux wood paint finish with some clear coat. I like using a polycrylic in matte. Satin is a good second choice. It goes on cloudy white, but dries clear. Apply 2 even coats using a foam brush or roller.

Using Antiquing Wax as a Stain

When I redid a dresser I found at goodwill, I stained the raw wood with this antiquing wax. I used a clean cotton cloth to apply it to the wood.

I get as much on the cloth as I can and smear it in a large area and rub in into the wood as best I can.

Just like a stain, I have a secondary clean cloth to wipe away excess. Repeat this process until the piece is stained. Also just like stain, the wax is buildable. Apply a thin first coat and let it dry.

Once dry, apply a second coat to darken and build up the color richness. Protect with a matte polycrylic or a furniture protecting oil like tung oil or danish oil.

Final Thoughts

My final thoughts about antiquing wax are that it is quite literally magic in a tin with SO many cool uses. If you have another way to use it that I didn’t share, drop it in the comments!