Simple Glazing Techniques For A Beautiful Furniture Finish

The first thing you’ll want to do when painting any furniture is to make sure to clean it well. Be especially vigilant with kitchen and bathroom cabinets as furniture in these rooms can have all kinds of surface build up. I used a degreaser called Emerge, but you can also use TSP (trisodium phosphate).

Today I’m using Annie Sloan chalk paint in a custom mix of 2 parts Graphite to 5 parts Old White, because that’s what I had on hand, but if you're buying new paint and want this look, you can use Annie Sloan's Paris Gray. The best part about using chalk paint is that there is no prep time. Just clean your cabinets well, rinse it well so you don't leave any reside, and you’re ready to start. To start, I painted 2 coats of chalk paint over my cabinets.

Let’s talk about glazing! I love to say that glazing is a "perfectly imperfect finish". The glaze gives your cabinets more character and definition. Today I’m using a water based glaze called Heritage Collection Heirloom Paints antiquing gel. Make sure you have some water handy to loosen up the glaze. I’ve also got my General Finishes extender, which increases the dry time on water based finishes. This will give you more time to play with the stain before it dries to get a look you like.

Mix the extender in with the glaze (I love my Mix Mat!), and you're ready to go.

Apply the stain with a brush to your cabinets. I love a heavier look, but don’t be shy to start light and get heavier as you go.

Once applied, begin wiping the excess glaze off with a paper towel. Keep your strokes uniform as you go.

If you feel the stain beginning to dry, you can spray a clean paper towel with water and keep wiping until you’re happy with the look.

Enjoy your perfectly imperfect glaze finish!

Want to get this gorgeous glazed look? I can help!  Click here to go to my profile page and send me a message to get started!

More tutorials on different glazing styles coming soon...

Blessings