The Technique

Accent your furniture (or cover unfinished furniture) with a subtle color mixture and a glaze to give it sheen.

 

Quick Tip: Achieve color variation by using more of one paint on the outside edges of your furniture piece and the other color more in the center. This creates interest and depth.

• Medium- and fine-grit sandpaper
• Wood sealer
• Latex paints: indigo and lavender
• Household paintbrush
• Pearlescent glaze
• Acrylic varnish

 

1. Sand the wood with medium-grit, then fine-grit sandpaper. Apply wood sealer and let dry.
2. Working on one drawer front at a time, use a household paintbrush to apply lavender paint in the center area and, while the paint is wet, apply indigo at the edges. Blend the wet paint colors using short, choppy crosshatch strokes, leaving a mottled appearance. Let dry.
3. Repeat for each drawer front. Let paint dry thoroughly.
4. Using a clean, dry household paintbrush and working with the grain, coat each drawer front with translucent pearlescent glaze. Let dry.
5. Varnish as desired and let the drawers dry at least 24 hours before returning them to furniture frame.