How To Paint Furniture To Look Like Wood in 3 Simple Steps

Why you will love this technique

• Ease: No sanding, no priming (unless you want to and unless your painting over laminate - more on that below!) for this simple fake wood paint technique. Chalk paint is a breeze to work with however Valspar Antiquing Wax is the hero here! This antiquing wax goes on so smoothly and gives you plenty of time to get your finished look just right before drying and stay right in place! Doesn't get better than that!
• Cost: Grab an inexpensive piece of furniture at your local thrift shop or on Facebook Marketplace and give it a completely new look for a fraction of the cost of new furniture using this technique.
• Look: Let's face it, wood grain is timeless! One of the things I love about this technique is its faux wood grain with an artsy twist. From afar you wouldn't know that the furniture isn't real stained wood but up close you can see that it's a hand-painted piece of art and a one-of-a-kind piece.

3 Steps to a beautiful finish

Want to transform your furniture with a beautiful faux wood finish? It's easier than you think! Here's a quick overview of this straightforward process:

1. Chalk Paint Your Piece

Prep your furniture by ensuring it's clean. With chalk paint, minimal prep is needed; however, for darker or older pieces, apply 2 coats of B-I-N Shellac Primer first, let it dry, lightly sand, then proceed with chalk paint. Chalk paint typically requires 2-3 coats, but it dries fast, making the process efficient.(for more details about painting older dark pieces using B-I-N Shellac Primer to block bleed through, check out my Antique Mirror Makeover post where I walk through the entire process.)

2. Antiquing Wax for a Wood Grain Look

Once dry, tape off areas you want to avoid waxing. Stir Valspar Antiquing Wax thoroughly. Unlike traditional wax, this product behaves more like a gel wood stain. Apply it with a chip brush, ensuring brush strokes go in the same direction for a faux wood grain effect. Use a lint-free cloth to smooth the finish if desired. Apply multiple coats, allowing each to dry for about 2 hours, until achieving the desired darkness.

3. Sealing Your Piece with Polycrylic

After the faux wood grain finish has dried overnight, apply a top coat of polyurethane to protect the finish. Let it dry completely. Finally, complete the look by adding new drawer knobs if desired.

Now, let's dive into each step in more detail!

Step by step instructions

Supplies for this project

• Piece of furniture of your choice
• Can of white chalk paint (enough to cover the furniture piece)
• Can of Valspar Antiquing Wax
• Minwax Polycrylic clear satin polyurethane
• Chip Paint brushes
• Chalk paint brush
• Frog tape -painters tape
• B-I-N Shellac Primer (for older dark stained pieces)

Using this technique on laminate furniture

When applying the wood-like paint technique to laminate furniture, it's crucial to acknowledge the unique surface of laminate, which often resists paint adhesion due to its sleek finish. To overcome this challenge, a high-quality bonding primer is essential. I recommend using Benjamin Moore Stix Primer  for bonding, as it creates a strong foundation for the chalk paint to adhere to, ensuring a durable and long-lasting finish. The bonding primer acts as a bridge between the laminate surface and the paint, promoting better adhesion and preventing peeling or chipping over time. With the right primer, you can achieve the wood-like look on laminate furniture with confidence, knowing that your finish will stand the test of time.

Frequently asked questions

Variations and other considerations

Other base paint colors: I think about this a lot - probably more than I should! The base paint color for the end tables above is white so when you use the dry brush the white paint is what shows through. This "under" color impacts the outcome greatly. You can use soft yellows or oranges like the outdoor table below for a warmer, more blond wood tone. For a cooler finish consider using gray.

Sample boards: If this is your first time using this fake wood paint technique or you are using a color you haven't used before I highly suggest you make a sample board. Grab a spare piece of wood and paint it the base coat followed by the antiquing wax. This way you will know exactly what to expect. You can also determine if you like the texture of the brush strokes or if you want a smoother more blended finish using a rag.

Distressing techniques: Chalk paint and distressing go hand in hand. You may want to take a light to medium grit sandpaper to the legs of your table to give it some character. For more information on distressing visit my best paint for distressing furniture post, I share tips on how to distress furniture including 4 different distressing techniques.

Tip: To learn more about distressing furniture visit my, How to Distress Chalk Paint Furniture: The Only Technique You Need post!

Other projects I've done using this technique

Outdoor table

I used this technique to refinish an outdoor table that we got on FB Marketplace last summer. This thick sturdy table with matching benches was a steal at just $200. We placed it in our outdoor under-deck space to create an outdoor dining space. I loved the black legs but wanted to try my hand at a faux wood finish top. Below is my real wood inspiration (left) and the results of my DIY wood-look table top (right).

For this table, I first painted it with Benjamin Moore exterior latex paint in Seagull gray to match the color of our home. I then went in with a more orangey exterior latex because I was hoping to match some natural rattan chairs we have (seen in the background near our DY paver fire pit in the photo above). The plan was to have the wood-like finish be warm. I used a wood grain tool on this table. I simply rolled on the orange-tone paint and dragged the tool through stopping and rolling to create faux knots on the table. The result was....well awful! But I wasn't done yet! Valspar antiquing wax to the rescue! Here's before Valspar saved the day!

The finish before the Valspar was super choppy and the colors together looked terrible. I knew going in that by using Valspar antiquing wax for the top coat I would have a more blended look that would closely resemble my real wood inspiration table. For this application, I took a t-shirt rag and rubbed the antiquing wax onto the table and finally my vision came to life!

Thoughts on the Wood Graining Tool: I thought I would like the wood grain tool more than I did. I found the pattern to be too big and prefer the more blended look of a dry paintbrush. (Note: I linked similar as the exact one I used is currently unavailable)

I sealed this table with outdoor clear decking sealer since this table is somewhat open to the elements here in Massachusetts. I've had a lot of questions about the antiquing waxing holding up in the heat. Due to the fact that it resembles more of a gel stain than wax, I have had zero problems with it in the heat.

You can see more views of this table in this Simple Fall DIY Dining Table Centerpiece Idea post. Here is a photo of the table in our outdoor dining space.

I also used this same technique with a dining table that I refinished for my booth. I used Fusion mineral paint in this beautiful green color (Bayberry) for the skirt and the legs, white chalk paint as the base coat on the table top, and then Valspar antiquing wax to create the faux wood table top. For this project, I used a lint-free rag instead of a brush to give it a more blended finish.

I refinished this entryway table using the same technique as the original project. Did mention this look sells well at my vintage booth? This table was a Facebook marketplace find for $25. The legs are painted using cream-colored chalk paint and the top is my 3-step process for a wood-like finish.

I love DIY projects that take an entire piece of furniture and give it new life! This finish is so easy to achieve and Valspar antiquing wax is the way to go when looking for a faux wood finish.

Thanks for visiting the blog today. I loved sharing How To Paint Furniture To Look Like Wood in 3 Simple Steps with you! For more fun DIY projects be sure to check out my furniture refinishing projects including this adorable DIY dog bed!

Keep creating friends!