Can I Apply Glaze Over Regular Paint?

Choosing a Glaze

Different colored glazes give different looks. If you apply a black glaze over paint, the result is an antiqued look. Apply a soft brown or gold-toned glaze for a soft, romantic look, or a gray glaze for a shabby-chic look. Use a white glaze to give painted surfaces a frosted appearance. Or use a glaze one shade darker or lighter than your original paint color to add depth without changing the color.

Mixing the Glaze

Purchase untinted glazing liquid to make your own custom glaze colors. Glazing liquid comes in a can or bottle and is a milky color. Glazing liquid dries more slowly than paint, giving you time to work with the glazing color to get the look you want. Mix the regular latex paint with the glazing liquid. The more paint you add, the darker your glaze will be. For a light glaze, mix equal parts paint and glazing liquid. For more depth, mix two parts paint to one part glaze. For a dark glaze you'll need to use three parts paint to one part glazing liquid. Mix in a bucket and stir well to combine the liquids.

Applying the Glaze

Your painted surface should be clean and dry. Wash walls, cabinets or furniture with soap and water, rinse and let them dry completely before you apply your glaze. You can apply the glaze with a rag, sponge or brush. Put on as much or as little glaze as you like. Brushes, sponges and rags give different textures, so experiment on a piece of scrap wood first to see which approach appeals to you most. Once you've applied the glaze, you can leave it to dry, or you can add texture.

Texturizing

You can purchase texturizing tools or use household items. One way to add texture to a glazed surface is to wipe off some of the glaze with a rag. Or blot the glaze with a dry sponge. Drag a combing tool through the glaze to produce a faux wood grain, or dry-brush it for a mottled look. Experiment to find the look you want.