Using Minwax to age painted furniture
I love making painted furniture look old. The easiest way I have found to do that is by applying Minwax stain to a piece of furniture that has already been painted and distressed. I use Dark Walnut and it looks great over every color of paint I have tried it with. The video below will bring you up close and personal as I use this technique on a dresser I just recently finished.
I started by painting the dresser with a matte finish paint by Behr. Just your typical water based house paint. I forgot to mention in the video that I use Minwax Wood Finish. The lable says it penetrates, stains, and seals.
19 Responses to Using Minwax to age painted furniture
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Alchemy fine living is an antiques & home furnishings business located in Santa Ana, Ca. Alchemy can be defined as an inexplicable or mysterious transmuting power or process; transforming something common into something special.Our Sponsors
ABOUT ME
Alchemy fine living is my antiques & home furnishings business. I'm Deana, the author of this blog. My mom Connie & I followed our dreams & opened our store in 2008. It's a collection of all the things she & I truly love. We combine antiques with new treasures, as well as, a selection of handcrafted items created by the two of us. We also offer custom sewing, re-upholstery, & furniture painting services.

173 E City Place Dr.
Santa Ana, CA 92705CONTACT ME
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That is a great tutorial! I’m going to try this on the piece I’m finishing now. Thanks for the inspiration!
beautiful. I just finished my first dresser using the black glaze technique I learned from you. I’ll try to send a link to the post for a critique from you. Your videos are some of the most helpful I’ve seen out there.
Oh Wow..thanks for the tutorial! Can’t wait to try ! Beautiful Piece!!!
This piece is just gorgeous – just browsed a little and love love love what you do –
And great tutorial btw.
Your newest follower – would love to have you visit and follow back:)
Love this! You do a great job on your pieces! Newest follower…-Restoration House Interiors.blogspot.com
What kind of paint are you applying the stain to? Is it a flat latex, Annie Sloan, etc? I love your creativeness in your finished pieces too.
I love the color on this piece! Excellent job!!
I used Behr paint in a matte finish.
I love your site, it teaches me a lot, I’m glad I found you on the net!!!!
Beautiful!! Would you be willing to share the name of the paint color you used? Thnx!!
Thanks for a great tutorial. I just finished a dresser using this tech. and it looks great. I really enjoy your blog and I read it all the time.
Anita
Love your work and would love to know the color of the Behr paint also. Gorgeous piece!!!
Thank you so much for this tutorial. I used it on several things I found in bulk trash
. Yes, I’m a bit of a dumpster diver. These items eneded up great! I ended up with my second choice colour of minwax in dark walnut. I’m really glad. Lowes did not have Jacobean. It really does bring out a different look on painted furniture. I will continue to use minwax!!!
I really liked how this piece turned out. I’d like to ask if you primed the piece before painting. Thanks!!
I did not.
I love your work!! Can you tell me what Behr matte paint colors you used? Am looking to redo some living room furniture and love your color selections!
Thanks Mary. I wish I could tell you the paint color, but I don’t remember. I painted this one so long ago that I don’t have any more of that color.
I am very new to this DIY… I did a small dresser that I painted a navy with a Behr paint and distressed. Then I used the minwax over it to darken it and give an aged look. I tried several ways- none working.
I tried applying it with a dry brush and wiping with a rag however apparently the rag was not lint free. I had to sand down to remove the lint that dried into the stain and re apply. The lady at the hardware store said to apply it this time with a sponge brush very thin but not wipe off. I tried that but it is blotchy in spots. How do I remove the blotchiness? Do I sand and start over? If so will sanding take the paint as well?
I am so discouraged!
Hi Alex, If the stain is still tacky you could use furniture oil or a soft wax to remove it. The oil will break down the stain and help you to even out the finish. If the stain has dried hard I’m afraid you will need to sand it, which will likely affect your paint job.