Hi everyone!
I just finished painting and antiquing a beautiful china cabinet that my sister and I found… FREE! Gotta LOVE a spectacular free find!
It’s painted with homemade chalk paint mixed with recycled paint (more on recycled paint here) and “aged” with a diy antique wax.
Tinting furniture wax with paint is really easy to do and can be a great ‘Annie Sloan Dark Wax’ alternative.
I actually prefer tinting my own wax over purchasing it.
Having control over the colour and shade which best compliments my furniture make-over is great. Spending a fraction of the cost that brand name dark waxes charge is even better!
Tinting Furniture Wax with Paint ~ 5 Easy Steps
1. Purchase Natural Wax.
You’ll need some furniture wax. Minwax, Johnson Paste, CeCe Caldwell’s or whatever brand you like. I used Minwax. It’s under $12, it lasts forever, and I like the finish.
2. Stir in some dark paint.
For my china cabinet, I used 1 TBSP of wax to 1 TSP of paint.
Unfortunately, this is not an exact recipe. How much paint you add will depend on how dark YOU want your antiquing wax. Test a small area on an inconspicuous area of the furniture. It’s usually better to start off with less as you can always add more.
3. Stir the paint into the wax.
Stir small batches at a time. The wax eventually dries up once mixed with paint. I used a total of 4 TBSP of wax to completely cover this china cabinet, but I mixed one tablespoon at a time to keep the wax workable.
4. Brush on with any brush or rag.
You don’t need any fancy-schmancy waxing brush. Any brush or rag will do. I re-use a dollar store chip brush (as seen in the picture) over and over again and it’s just fine. Tip – Push the wax in while applying. (I call it schmooshing it in) with whatever brush/rag you are using.
5. Rub in and Wipe off quickly.
Work in small areas so the dark wax doesn’t dry up on you. Rub in the wax (schmooshing it) and wipe the excess off quickly. I don’t bother putting a layer of natural wax on before I add my dark wax but many people do. If I wax an area and it’s too dark, I simply take a rag with some natural wax on it and rub the excess off.
The paint mixed with the wax created an antiqued distressed look while adding more interest, dimension and depth. The detail was brought out by the darker tones, and after it was buffed, the cabinet feels smooth as glass. I’m really pleased with how this china cabinet turned out. I’m tempted to keep it for myself rather than sell.
This simple technique of tinting furniture wax works with all paint colours. Here’s a close up of a mirror I turned into a chalk board. The mirror’s frame was painted in cottage white and antiqued with a medium gold paint mixed with Minwax Furniture Paste. This DIY dark wax also provides great protection.
Tinting wax also works with stains and shoe polish. Experiment and have some fun! If you have any questions or have a few tips your own, leave a comment below.
If you’d like to see the full before and after of this “found-on-the-curbside-china-cabinet”, you can take a peek here.
Have a fabulous day!
Denise x
Hello again... I'm so happy you dropped by! Let's keep in touch! Follow me on social media or sign up for a dose of furniture painting inspiration and diy tutorials. :) 
I tinted my wax with some black acrylic craft paint and waxed my whitewashed kitchen table.. I loved the results. I buffed it the next day and was pleased with the finish. It was smooth and shiny. A few hours later my daughter accidentally dripped some water on the table and the darker finish/wax just washed right off!
Very light use is recommended until the wax has cured which depending on the brand can take up to 30 days. It can feel dry to the touch but still not be cured.
I just used Annie Sloan Old Orchre for a desk, first project. I have unopened Kilz clear wax AND Heirlom clear soft wax.
which do you prefer using? I will do this first then want to distress it. I have Miss Mustard Seed Antiquing wax. Can I use this? For both waxes, do you recommend using a tip brush then rub it in with a cloth? I’m just nervous…. thanks.
Kathy
Hi Kathy! I’ve never used any of the above brands so I couldn’t say but ANY wax will work with this method. For ease of use, I would use the ‘softest’ wax of the three. And if you’re a little nervous (I totally get it!) put a coat of clear wax on first, then your tinted wax. If you don’t like the look, take a little clear wax on a cloth it wipe it right off. It works like an eraser. 🙂
Do you think you could tint wax an old wood floor using the same technique? I’ve heard you can use antiquing wax over your polyurethane finish on furniture or cabinets to get a different color Just curious of your opinion
Hi. I’ve painted coffee table with chalk paints and used some dark wax on it, I slightly overdone it. I don’t really want to sand it, its dry now. Would it work and help if I mixed clear wax with the paint I used and use this as a top coat to cover bits of dark wax to some extent? Would I then need to apply another layer of clear wax for protection? Thanks!
Thank you so much for all this great info! If I do a wax layer that doesn’t turn out as dark as I’d like, can I let it cure and then go over it again? Should I sand between wax layers? And is there such a thing as too many layers of wax? 😄
you dont have to let it cure. you can just go over it as many times as you like until its as dark as you want. just make sure you buff it with a rag until it doesnt feel tacky each time you add wax.
i was told that if you do not use a clear coat FIRST, then the paint can suck up dark waxes and then it’s hard to remove or move it…? Did you do that first?
Hi Lisa Ann! I’m comfortable enough with waxing that I don’t worry much about the ‘erasability factor’ the clear wax provides. I sometimes want a really dark shading in my furniture and just go in aggresively with the dark wax. But yes, youre absolutely correct! Adding a coat of clear wax before the dark wax provides a buffer and enables you to erase some of the dark if you don’t like the look. 🙂
Hi
“Paint” covers a very broad spectrum. What kind of paint are you using? Emulsion? Oil based? Other? All input gratefully received :0)
Al
Hi Al! Emulsion/waterbased. 🙂
i buy large bottles of paint colorant and add a few drops of that to the wax. it doesnt dry the wax out like paint and you can get a very light to a very dark wax with just a bit of colorant. thats how i make my chalk paint too. i buy cheap white flat or eggshell white latex waterbased paint make my chalk paint and add the colors i want. i write down how much of each color i use that way if it run out of chalk paint i can make another batch just like the last. its SOOOOOOO much cheaper and works fantastically.
Brilliant Cheryl! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
I want to do this Cheryl. Thank you for suggesting it. Do you have a favorite colorant and if so where do you buy the colorant? Thank you, Judi Markell
Is it an acrylic paint? What brand paint colorant do you use?
Hello and thank you for your fabulous informative blog. Is there a recipe for home-made glaze please?
Suzanne
Hi Suzanne! Yes, here’s a recipe for DIY GLAZE. And LOVE your furbaby btw….soooo cute! 🙂
Have you thought about adding mica powder to wax. If so do you have any thoughts about it?
Hi Tammie! I’ve never tried adding mica powder to wax so I’m not sure. I know it’s great for creating colored candles but I’m not sure how it would perform on furniture.
I used a stain + poly (poly shades) on a vaneered table top. I would like to give it a limed effect. I was going to give it a rub just to dull it down and hide some brush strokes. Do you think I could use Paste wax tinted white or grey for the rub. Is it ok to use a water based paint to tint it when going on top of an oil based finish?
I am new to furniture painting, so I have been doing quite a bit of research…and loving every minute of it…this blog was truly the best information I have found….I had an old chair I found around 20 years ago at a yard sale in Princeton and I have hung on to it for all these years…I finally decided to make a slipcover and paint it…your “TIP” for adding paint to the wax was genius….I had painted the chair blue and wanted to white wash and wax it with white wax….I found that adding the white paint to the wax killed two birds with one stone….I love it…never even thought of doing this and have not seen this tip anywhere else with all the research I have been doing…so Thank You for making my day “HAPPY”…I also used the Minwax Natural and added white chalk paint….you really do not need much….a small amount goes a long way…wishing you a Happy Day
How do you make metallic wax? I’ve tried to make gold and bronze wax with acrylic paint but they loose the sheen?
Hi Mikki! If adding metallic paints aren’t giving you enough punch, possibly try a metallic gilding powder. It can be added to the wax or brush on top and provides a beautiful sheen.
This worked great for me! I bought the can of minwax, then I purchased a sample of flat Behr paint in a deep navy blue. I reused an old brush i had at home. All i spent was $12. The finish is beautiful. I also figured out that if i REALLY didnt like a spot, i was able to put a tiny bit of paint thinner on a rag, and it rubs the wax almost completely off. (careful not to overdo it, or the paint under also comes off). THANKS!
I love that it worked for you Liz… and you saved some $$ while creating a custom tinted wax! Great tips too. 🙂
Latex or oil based paint ?
I always use a water based paint… so latex or acrylic.
I would love to see the pictures! Blue sounds awesome!
You are such an articulate woman, and so attentive to your readers, I just love this information. I’m thankful I came across this blog it kind of correlate with a project I’m trying to decide how to finish. I recently built a Pergola frame on our cement patio that is covered with your run-of-the-mill Home Depot canvas drop cloth. I love the natural look of the drop cloth, which I also used as the outdoor curtains, I was pondering using wax as a water sealant on the material. they no longer make toilet waxes from beeswax I believe now it’s petroleum-based but I bought a few as they are low cost and I figured I could apply them and hair dry so they seep into the pores of the fabric to water sealant somewhat. However after reading your post I was wondering if you think your approach with the Minwax and kryllyk paint or latex paint might provide a good coding as well as limit UV rays coming through, basically make it more opaque and Shady. have you ever tried either the toilet wax ring method or your method on any Canvas OR fabric? I like someone with a little more experience to tell me what they think before I ruin a project I put my whole heart into and just a door. Thanks so much and I apologize you had to read this entire little novel.
Hi Jo! Thanks for the kind words. 🙂 The only fabric that I’ve waxed is a fabric chair I painted. The paint and wax is holding up amazing, but having said that, it’s indoors – not hanging out in the elements. If this were my project, I think I would opt for something like Scotchgard. You can spray Scotchgard on ANY type of fabric and it turns it into an outdoor fabric and waterproof. I haven’t personally tried this product yet, but it gets some great reviews which you can read here. Hope this helps.
Amazon sells a product called Star Brite. It’s a marine waterproofing liquid.
waterproof car covers, tents, tarps, foul weather gear, convertible tops and more. 128oz at$39.74 free shipping
It works amazanling on my outdoor daybed mattress cover I made from a painter’s drop clothe. I put it in a weed sprayer. Plenty left over for projects for sure. Good luck
Hello,
Thank you for the tip, I always wondered if it was possible to tint wax but I was afraid to try.
Calcium carbonate is my favorite diy chalk paint recipe too, One of my favorite colors is “french linen” of AS but I don’t seem to find that color in any of the latex brands such as SW, Valspar or Behr.
Hi Sonia! If you want a perfect match to French Linen (or any other specific paint color), SW or BM will color match for you. Just bring in a sample and it’s a free service. 🙂
There is a “perfect” match to French Linen, it’s Valspar Shadow Beige. I found someone’s post online who did a side by side using both paints to show how identical they look. Bought some myself recently for DIY chalk paint and the piece turned out beautiful.
Hi Denise,
Great information! Here is my questions to you: I have a 1950’s contemporary style beige dresser that I want to do a gray wash on. Will this technique work without sanding it or would it be better to sand and do a grey wash paint and topcoat?
Hi Jana! Contemporary furniture often has a nice sheen/topcoat so I’m guessing a sanding/paint/topcoat would get you the best results. If there is not a glossy topcoat, you could always test in a small inconspicuous area to see if it works before taking on the entire dresser.
Thanks that’s great as I have 3 tubs of clear wax but no dark wax.
Can’t seem to find this information anywhere, but have you ever tinted wax with latex paint? I have the right color on hand and am trying to avoid spending money on more supplies… (a nifty stock of acrylics I don’t have). Thanks.
Hi there Mae. Yes you can.
Thank you!!!
Denise, THANK YOU! I’m a chalk paint novice and between your tutorial and the comments, I’ve learned tons. Most importantly, I was encouraged to take the plunge and now my recently painted ASCP Graphite is closer to black, just from adding a few dribbles of black emulsion into my ASCP clear wax. You saved me a fortune! 😉 Sue ~ The World of Suzy Homemaker
… it does work great while saving money so I’m so glad to hear you gave it a try Sue! 🙂
so I just chalkpainted a dresser (made the chalkpaint myself) and I want to seal it with the Minwax natural finish, can I just use this to protect it if I don’t add paint to age it?
For sure Chris! I use natural wax as a top coat on many of my pieces. 🙂
Just painted an old but pretty chair with off white chalk paint. I have then distressed it. Looks nice. It turned out too white, I would like a bit more vanilla or yellowish tone. Can I add a bit of burnt umber acrylic paind brand name Amsterdam to my american decor creme wax? I have a lot of this paint at home since I use it on my canvasses? Thank you so much.
I have used the minwax to make my own custom colors but always thought you had to use oil based paint due to the wax being oil based. ????
nope..this works. 🙂
Thank you for sharing your recipe and skill! Wonder what it would be like to add white to the wax? Like to go over some Aqua for lighter highlights ? Maybe crazy but I might try it on a tiny spot!
I recently used Annie Sloan’s White Wax with amazing results and you can do the same by tinting your own white wax Joni! 🙂
Hi
I just found your sight, FANTASTIC. When you refer to dark wax do you mean clear mixed with a paint colour? I’m thinking if you use a dark wax like Annie Sloan then the colour would be almost unseen.Thank you Baba
Hi Baba…welcome… and thank you! Yes, to create your own DIY Dark Wax (that can be used exactly like Annie Sloan’s Dark Wax), you mix a dark paint color into a clear wax.
Is natural colored finishing wax the same as clear finishing wax. I picked some up from a chalk paint display but everything I see on Pinterest says clear. Thanks for any clarification you can give me!
It should be Jan. As an eg, all natural bee’s wax has a slight ‘yellow tint’ to it but applies perfectly clear. If you’re in doubt about your natural wax, it may be a good idea to test it on a white sample board to see if it applies clear. 🙂
I am redoing a coffee table and have stained the top a dark shade (Kona) and painted the apron and legs white. It looks OK but no pizzazz, so I want to dark wax only in the “creases” of the spindle legs. I am using Johnson’s Wax and tried mixing with the stain 1/2 & 1/2, but it is much too light and doesn’t stay in the recesses when buffed. I am going for a dark glaze effect. What would you suggest I mix with my wax?
Thank you for sharing your projects and expertise!
Debbie, a better choice for more of a dark glaze effect just in the creases may be an actual dark glaze. Reason being, dark wax is great for creating an over all antiqued/aged look but can be a little more tricky when trying to keep a clean look just define creases or specific areas. Not to say it can’t be done (and if you choose this route try adding a burnt umber or darker paint into the Johnson’s Wax) but applying a glaze in the creases will really give it pizzazz.:)
Do u ever use stain when mixing it to wax?
I’m so afraid of ruining my project and having to start over.
Yes, you can use stain to tint wax. A little goes a long way.
I use Old English scratch cover to mix with the wax for a dark glaze! It’s really cheap and I love the look!
I’m renovating a 1910 farmhouse and we’ve used wide plank pine for the upstairs flooring. I am considering an oxidized stain (black tea, apple cider vinegar with steel wool), and am planning to finishing the floor with wax. I had a thought though of what it might look like if the first coat of wax I added was dark wax. Have you ever heard of someone using dark wax on a floor before??? Thanks for any thoughts!
Yes, I believe DuraSeal sells a dark wax for floors! I’ve never waxed a floor before (natural or dark) but if you google dark waxed floors I’m sure a ton of info will come up! It sounds like your floors are going to be amazing Elicia…great project!
Hi Denise,
Thank you! I wonder if you also have a method for making a less expensive “aging dust” to apply over the wax?
I have aging dust, metallic etc but I haven’t used any of them yet Marlene! On my to-do-list! 🙂
Denise- Thanks for these posts! You have great ideas and lovely furniture.
I had SC Johnson paste wax on hand and I wanted a more transparent wax, so I used a bit of Rit fabric dye powder with the paste wax to make a more transparent emulsion. worked great over light bare wood. I found the Johnson wax to be nice and thin-coat without dilution. (I smell mineral spirits in it )
Can I use a tinted wax on outdoor furniture?
You can Julie. But it’s good to keep in mind wax will need to be reapplied periodically. Especially if you live in an area with extreme weather conditions and/or the furniture is out in the elements. You can achieve a similar antiqued look using glaze and a topcoat recommended for outdoor use. Strong, easy to clean and would only need to be applied once.
hi
Denise, if i have beeswax , I must use acrylic oil based as a tint , right? I understand acrylic paint can be both oil and water based.
Fara, I’ve never tried beeswax for topcoat but for the furniture wax I do use (eg. Minwax, Annie Sloan etc) I use a water based paint for tinting. An acrylic water based paint works nicely. 🙂
I purchased the minwax I had seen others mention on here. Used it over an antique white paint and it turned it to a very yellow orangey color. I’ve used a brush on a drill to buff it and a cloth. Didn’t change color. Should I try mixing a dark paint in some of the wax and applying that? The wax is not really soft. Hard to apply. Any suggestions? Thanks
Hi Connie! Minwax does have a slight yellowish/orange hue to it. If applied to a stark white piece of furniture FULL strength, it may slightly warm the white. I like cutting my Minwax with a tiny amount of Mineral Spirits. It makes the wax SOOOOO much smoother and easier to apply in light thin coats. You can read more here ~ https://salvagedinspirations.com/mix-mineral-spirits-and-wax-for-that-buttery-application/
Most appreciative of your website. Very informative. Wish you the best.
thanks Linda.. all the best to you too and thanks for dropping by. 🙂
Can I use Turtle Wax? It is a car wax.
Thelma, I’ve never used a car wax so I couldn’t/wouldn’t want to say whether it works for furniture. Minwax Furniture Wax/Paste is around $12 and works wonderful though! 🙂
Hi I just found your awesome page and I was curious if I could use a soft wax to accomplish the same thing. Im a beginner and I happen to have the soft wax on hand. LOVE the idea of making my own and not spending a fortune on the pre-made antiquing wax.
If by soft wax you mean Annie Sloan, CeCe Caldwell etc, YES! I’ve used all types of brands for my custom dark wax!
What a great idea! Will the finished area chip or peel because of the paint content in the wax? Should I apply another coat of wax over it?
The finish will not chip or peel because not a lot of paint is needed to create a dark/tinted wax. If you decide to apply a clear wax over the tinted wax, it will dilute the effect. (Tip – This is a great way to lighten up your piece if you feel it’s too dark!)
Thanks for sharing the DIY tinting recipe. I wanted a light gray and it came out perfectly! Just the weathered board look I was going for!! Definitely inspired looking at your bog!
Thanks for the diy dark wax recipe. I’ve been making my own chalk paint using the following recipe: 1/3c. water, 1/3c. plaster of paris……..mix in blender (purchased @ yard sale)until SMOOTH, add 1c. latex paint and blend until consistency of smooth cake batter. Place in air-tight jar.
Denise- I can’ seem to find info on “what” kind of paint you use to tint the wax with. Is it only chalk paint or can you use acrylics? Thanks so much.
Hi Irene! Yes, I’ve used acrylics…it doesn’t have to be a chalk paint.
You’ve answered all of my questions in one tutorial, I’d hoped for other methods. Thanks So Much!! I’ll be keeping an eye out for more creative wisdom.
Yaaay! 🙂
Just finished painting a dozen or so pieces of furniture a very safe off white. After looking at your projects they seem very blah now. can I apply tinted wax over my white paint ? Thank you
White is a classic Monique – still one of my all time favorites for furniture painting. If you’d like to add more dimension to your piece, you can definitely apply a tinted wax. 🙂
Absolutely great.
Can you give an example of what color paint you typically use to mix in with the wax to mimic Annie Sloan dark wax?
I often mix in a Burnt Umber which works really well for an antiqued look.
Do you use water based or oil based paint to mix with?
Water based Marci. 🙂
Very handy tip. Do you know if this will work with other, brighter colours as opposed to a ‘traditional’ antique wax colour?
Lawrence, you can tint wax with ANY color! I would suggest testing “artistic” colors in an inconspicuous area before apply to your entire project though. There have been a few times I thought my color choice was ‘fab’ but it really looked bad!
Thank you for this information, I am a beginner so this boosted my confidence, would it be possible for you to post a before and after pic of the entire cabinet so see the entire over all effect? Thank you
Hi Ronda! So glad you’ve found this info helpful. If you’d like to see the restyled finished cabinet, you can click here.
thanks so much! what a money saver and I love the cabinet.
Hi I love what you did with this piece its beautiful!I was also wondering if i paint my china cabinet with chalkpaint and then use polycrlic over it can i do the darkwax technique you have shared afterwards..that way I dont have to keep rewaxing?
Thank you! 🙂 I always use one or the other Natalie. Never wax + poly. If you like the antiqued look, you can always use a dark glaze to get a similar look.
You can actually use both, just use the poly first. Wax is always last 😉
thank you so much for this dark wax recipe I thought I’d never find one
Can I use the dark wax over bare wood or should I prime it first?
You can use dark, white or natural wax over bare wood. I would just check to make sure that is the look your after before applying it all over.
Thank you very much for all your great tips!!! I will have some fun painting