Aging Window Frames with Paint and Sandpaper
Giving a window frame a worn, aged appearance can enhance rustic, shabby chic, or old-world interiors. The process involves layering paint colors and then sanding to reveal the base coat, so a new frame blends with older furnishings. Select paint shades that echo the room's existing palette.
By Logan Hill7 steps
Use faux finishing to make your window frame look distressed.
Giving a window frame a worn, aged appearance can enhance rustic, shabby chic, or old-world interiors. A frame that looks brand new might not fit with other furniture in those styles. The distressing method uses paint and sandpaper to make a newer piece appear old. Choose paint colors that echo the hues already present in your decor to create a cohesive look.
Step 1
Place painter's tape around the window frame to shield the parts of the window you don't want to paint.
Step 2
Cover the window frame with the paint color you want as the base. This color will become visible after the distressing is done. Let the base coat dry completely.
Step 3
Rub a tapered candle over the frame in the spots where you want the base coat to show through. The wax will stop the top coat from sticking.
Step 4
Apply the top coat color of your choice to the frame. Wait for the paint to dry.
Step 5
Take fine grit sandpaper and rub it over the areas where you applied the candle wax. Keep rubbing until the base coat becomes visible.
Step 6
Use a tack cloth to remove the paint dust.
Step 7
Coat the frame with a polyurethane sealant.
