Easy Bookcase Makeover | Part Four, Wax

This is part four of the 'Easy Bookcase Makeover' Series. If you'd like to follow this beginner chalk paint tutorial I suggest you read these previous posts in this series first, which cover preparation, priming & painting:

Table of contents

Applying clear wax
Distressing
Applying Liming Wax
Update The Hardware
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Applying white way to the edges of the bookcase drawers after distressing

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Applying clear wax

For this project, I applied Annie Sloan clear wax directly from the tin with a round wax brush.

With the brush loaded I brushed it onto the bookcase in a circular motion.

Applying Annie Sloan white wax to one of the shelves using a round brush

Annie Sloan herself compares the process to rubbing moisturizer on the face. By feeling the surface with your hand afterward you will know whether or not you've used enough wax. If you can still feel the dryness of the paint you need to apply more. If the surface feels smooth and silky, it's enough and you can move on to the next area.

I use a soft lint-free rag to wipe off the excess wax as I'm working.

Distressing

Once everything was coated in wax, I took a piece of sandpaper and gently rubbed it along the edges of the bookcase.

I also rubbed the drawer fronts along the decorative edges because I always like to distress my pieces a little to achieve a used look.

Once I was happy with the amount of distressing, I took a damp cloth and wiped down the whole bookcase again.

How the drawers of the Bookcase look before and after using white wax — On the left - after applying white wax. On the right - before using white wax.

Applying Liming Wax

I decided to tone down the distressing a little by applying liming wax. You can see from the photo above the difference this made to the color. Sometimes this helps if you've been a little heavy-handed with the sandpaper and want a lighter look.

Using a cloth to apply the liming wax I rubbed over the parts I had distressed. Then using a clean cloth I immediately wiped away the excess.

Once this was finished I let everything sit overnight again for the wax to dry and harden (curing).

Update The Hardware

The next morning I used a soft cloth to buff up the wax and get that lovely soft luster.

All that was left to do now was to re-affix the hardware.

Next, I decided to update the drawer pulls with lovely metal fleur-de-lys pulls. I bought a whole load of these from Butlers a while back and use them on almost every project. Sorry, I didn't get a photo of them on the bookcase but they are the same as the ones I used on the coffee table makeover so I'm adding a photo from that so you can see what they look like.

You can also buy gorgeous hardware in every style possible here.

www.chalkingupsuccess.com Riviera Maison Inspired Coffee Table Makeover

I love that I can change out the decoration for each season and my little sea prints look lovely in this bookcase don't you think? At least they look much better than they did when they were sitting on top of the old bookcase waiting for us to find a place for them!

A photo of the finished & styled bookcase makeover. Painted with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in 'Old White'. — Finished!

Do you have a project you are contemplating or do you have a piece of furniture in your home that you would like to transform? I'd love to hear all about it if you do/are 🙂

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