THE ANTIQUE PAINT LOOK: Watch and Learn About This Great Wood Finishing Option

Milk paint and it’s close cousin chalked paint are easy to like.  They’re both safe, fast drying and when used in a particular way they deliver a kind of vintage beauty that only gets better with the bumps and dings imparted by everyday life. It’s this classic, old-time beauty that really makes milk paint and chalked paint worthwhile. You can see one of my antiqued projects below.

Milk paint has been around a lot longer than chalked paint, and I first experienced authentic milk paint in 1988. I was working as a cabinetmaker in a shop where we built traditional kitchen cabinets from solid wood. What struck me at the time was not just the look of antiquity created by milk paint (there really is nothing like the effect that it and chalked paint create), but also what you could do to make this finish look old and wise by distressing it. I’ve been a fan ever since.

As you’d guess from the name, milk paint is based on milk proteins, enhanced with natural pigments, lime and clay. It comes as a powder that you mix with water, then brush on. Milk paint can be applied to clean, bare wood, though you can also brush it on over an existing urethane finish if you use a bonding agent mixed with the paint. I’ve applied milk paint to furniture that had been lightly oiled in the past and it worked fine too. Chalked paint offers the same benefits, but my favourite kind come pre-mixed and ready to use. I prefer chalked paint.

One way to use milk paint/chalked paint begins by staining your wood to simulate that antique, golden patina imparted by age. Any medium brown stain will do. Let this stain dry for a couple of days, then mix up a batch of milk paint with water. You need to know right up front that thorough mixing takes some effort. I’ve tried mixing by hand with a stick, but it leaves lumps. The instructions recommend a blender, but I’ve had good luck using a large, old spade bit in a cordless drill as a kind of workshop egg beater. The best part of using a spade bit is that I don’t have to sneak the blender out of the house past Mary’s vigilant eye.

Brush on the paint and let it dry on top of the stained wood. I applied one coat of Liberty Blue to the bookcase you see here; two coats may be necessary in other cases. As with any finish, milk paint makes the wood a bit rougher as surface fibers swell, stand upright and harden that way. Let the milk paint dry for a full day, then grab a piece of 220-grit sandpaper and lightly rub the surface to knock down the raised grain. As you work, it’s time to apply some artistry, too.

If you’re looking to create a distressed finish, sand slightly more vigorously on areas that you’d expect to be worn by age, working right through the milk paint, though not through the stain you applied initially. Go easy at first. Take just a little paint off here and there, then stand back and look at the whole piece of furniture. Add more wear marks until the whole project sports the degree of antiquity that suits your taste. I find a fine Scotch-Brite rubbing pad works best for a final rub down. You can attempt distressing any kind of paint, but most resist the abrasion too well for best results. Milk/chalked paint sands willingly, and that’s why I like it best for distressing.

When you’re satisfied with the look, vacuum off all dust, then seal the wood surface. I’ve used both water-based and oil-based urethanes for this job in the past, but there are better options. One of my favorites is Minwax Wipe-On Poly. Apply one coat with a rag (a brush is a big help getting the product into corners), then rub off all excess. It dries in one day. A final rub down with the 3M pad creates a silky smooth surface.

I used to buy my milk paint from a place called Homestead House Paint Company, and though their products are good I’ve found something better. Rust-Oleum Chalked Paint comes premixed and ready to use, it’s more widely available than Homestead House stuff. It’s also easier to succeed with because there’s no chance of lumps of uneven mixing.

I always aim to make my articles and videos useful. I hope you like this story and take something useful away with you. If you’d like to support my efforts, please consider “buying me a coffee” at the button below. The process is fast and safe, and all contributions are much appreciated. Thank you very much! – Steve Maxwell, Manitoulin Island, Canada