A Vintage Makeover Using Raised Stencil Effect

Do you have an old furniture piece that is old and tired?

If you are on a lookout to revamp your salvaged furniture, this is the perfect place to be!

Raised or embossed stencil art is every DIYers favorite! It is an easy and

effective way to give a luxe touch to the otherwise boring furniture. Be it

cabinets, bookshelves, dressers, or walls, you can pretty much turn any

surface into a tasteful vintage piece by using the raised stencil technique.

If you are a DIY newbie, take a look at the step-by-step video by Christina

on how she turned a hippie-looking dresser covered with stickers into a

rustic marvel!

1. Select an Antique Pattern

To achieve a classic look, it is essential to choose the right pattern to

punctuate the beauty of the furniture. Here, we have used a Vintage

Damask pattern to accentuate our dresser. Such historic designs provide

a dramatic effect and, that is exactly what we are looking for! The bold

patterns and intricate details of the stencil help in mimicking the

elaborative Victorian furniture perfectly.

2. Apply the Medium as if you are Applying a Paint

There is a plethora of mediums that you can use to get the embossed

effect. Spackle, joint compound, embossing cream, and decorative

cement mix are just a few mediums that serve the purpose and are easily

available in the hardware stores. You can use the compound as it is, or

add a few drops of paint to match it with the rest of the furniture. This

might look daunting at first, but it is as simple as applying paint to the

stencil. Just spread the mix evenly across the pattern and get rid of any

fluff using a flexible putty brush.

3. Use Subtle Shades of Paints

Vintage things have a muted color palette with light undertones. To pull

off this look, it advised that you use light hues of crimson, pink, beige, tan,

or swamp green. Selecting the right shade will help you create a stellar

antique piece.

4. Pay Attention to the Details

The beauty of the product lies in the details! To get a classy finish that is

keenly synonymous with vintage fitments, apply antique glazing over the 

embossed patterns. Dark glazing provides a ‘worn out’ effect that makes

the furniture look like it’s straight out of the museum. You can apply the

glaze on the corners to roughen up the edges and near the drawer

handles. These are the areas that tend to age, anyway.

5. Give a Finishing Touch