How to Paint a Crackle Finish on Furniture

To artificially age the kitchen island shown here, decorative painter Ingrid Leess started by priming it, then brushing on a coat of flat lime green. The following day, she applied a thick layer of crackle medium, using a clean brush and taking care not to overwork it and dry it out. She let it dry for an hour (the medium must cure for 1 to 4 hours to work), then used a clean, dry brush to add a coat of purple. Soon after, it began to shrink, revealing bits of green—and faux history—beneath. A protective clear coat is an option, but here an unvarnished finish reinforces the worn look.

No need for a lot of prep work here—surface imperfections are at the heart of this finish's charm. Just wipe it down with a wet sponge to remove surface dirt, and once it's dry, brush on a coat of primer. When the primed piece is dry, use a paintbrush to apply the color you want to show through in the crackle finish, brushing in the direction of the grain. Be sure to dab paint in the cracks and crevices of the furniture.

Once you have an even coat, let it dry overnight.

Using a clean paintbrush, apply a thick layer of crackle medium to all surfaces. Work from top to bottom in an orderly fashion so that you can keep track of where you've been, since the milky-looking coating goes on clear.

Once you have an even coat, let it dry for at least an hour (but not more than 4 hours).

Using a clean, dry brush, apply the top-coat color in a flat finish over all the painted surfaces. Even before you're finished with the entire piece, you'll see the top coat start to shrink up and reveal the color—and history—beneath.

Let the piece cure overnight before using it.

Finally, if you're crackling a surface that will get a lot of wear and tear—such as a tabletop, a chair seat, or a step stool—finish it with a satin clear coat to keep it from chipping. Otherwise, leave it as is for the most realistic aged finish.