Make DIY Dark or Coloured Wax (+ My Upcycled Side Table)

So, painting things now takes about 1.3 billion times longer now that I have three kids and a newborn in the house. This little painted side table project took me about 2 weeks, and I finished ONE out of THREE. Ha!

My technique is to sneak away for about 5 minutes at a time to work on projects as I keep one eye on the kiddos and the other on my paint brush. Can you relate?

I found a set of two side tables and a coffee table on Kijiji a little while ago that I thought would be perfect for my front room. They have a pretty, French Provincial-esque shape to them, but they were a yucky orange and laquer finish. With some DIY chalk paint (you can find my recipe here) and some DIY dark metallic silver wax, I’m slowly transforming them into some sweet shabby chic pieces!

First, I wiped down the table with vinegar to get rid of any residue. I made a small batch of DIY chalk paint using a warm white latex paint as the base, and painted the table with a brush.

I let the first coat dry, sanded it lightly, and then painted a second coat. After that dried, I sanded again and painted a third coat (you probably wouldn’t have to do this many coats if you aren’t using white).

Then, I lightly sanded the areas right down to the original wood that would naturally get some wear and tear (the corners, the high spots) to give the piece a distressed, time-worn look.

Finally, I made a small batch of DIY dark silver metallic wax (scroll down to see how I made it!) and waxed & buffed the table (with an old t-shirt cut into pieces) one section at a time. The dark wax smushed into the cracks and crevices of the table to really highlight them and give so much dimension to the piece! The silver metallic makes the table sparkle too.

I’m so happy with the results and I can’t wait to tackle my other tables in this set!

Here’s how I made my DIY dark silver metallic wax:

I’ve seen so many gorgeous chalk-painted pieces finished with a darker wax and I love the look. So much dimension! Plus, you’re really doing two steps in one (glazing and waxing). It’s perfect for the time-deprived. I wondered if dark wax could be DIY’d, and then I found a great tutorial over at Salvaged Inspirations that inspired me to make my own too!

Materials:

• clear furniture wax (I used the Minwax brand, found at Home Depot)
• dark acrylic or latex paint (I used a dark silver acrylic for added sparkle)

Directions:

Place a few tablespoons of furniture wax into a container (I’ve read of people melting it on the stove, but I thought this step seemed stinky and unnecessary). For every tablespoon of wax, mix in one teaspoon of paint. Mash them together and mix well with a metal spoon or wooden paint stick.

To apply to furniture, use a piece of cheesecloth or torn up knit jersey from an old t-shirt and rub it in a circular motion onto the piece. I found working in smaller sections worked well. Smush the wax into the cracks and crevices of the furniture. Then, buff the wax with a clean cheesecloth or t-shirt in a circular motion until the wax shines and is spread evenly.

Now I want to paint and wax everything. Don’t be surprised if you see me painting my heart out during nap time on Instagram over the next while. Happy Painting!