A Video Tutorial on Milk Painting an Antique Side Table
Welcome to Part 2 of my series on Milk Painting my antique drop leaf side table! This step details how I go about distressing my furniture pieces.
If you’re just joining this series, you can catch up on Part 1 by clicking the photo below.

Applying Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint in Schloss
When we left off, I had shared how to get the perfect mix of Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint. I hope my tips were super helpful!
Once my Milk Paint was just the right consistency, it was time to paint it on. Join me in the process by watching Part 2 of my video series below.
Smooth Sanding – The Trick to a Buttery Soft Milk Paint Finish!
One way to distinguish a quality paint finish from one that’s just so-so is to run your hand along the piece. If it’s silky smooth, you know the artist took the time to smooth (or finish) sand the piece. My workshop is always stocked with 400 grit sandpaper and/or 220 grit sanding pads (yes, there is a difference) for exactly this purpose.
When Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint first dries, it often feels gritty to the touch.

This gritty texture is due to the fact that MMS Milk Paint is a powdered paint that is mixed with water. It will never be 100% smooth like most modern paints. That doesn’t mean your piece needs to feel rough to the touch though! A quick once-over with a super fine grit of sandpaper will yield buttery soft results.
Distressing – Letting Your Personal Taste Show
MMS Milk Paint is such an easy paint to distress! (Distressing is when you rub away paint purposefully to simulate age and wear.) Simply grab a medium grit (100-220) and start removing paint where you see fit. Typically, I focus on the edges and high points of my furniture projects.

Distressing allows you to infuse your project with your personality. Some of the pieces I have worked on in the past range from no distressing to full-on chippy! Here are some examples.



So how about you? What type of distressing pattern do you prefer?
Part 3 – Applying Furniture Wax
Stay tuned for the final installment of my series! I’ll be showing you how easy it is to apply Miss Mustard Seed’s Furniture Wax.
