Decorative finishes are currently enjoying a great revival, and in the world of fashion at least, no longer is it unacceptable to contrive obvious effects on furniture, panels and fittings. In this range of work, experimentation is absolutely essential; you will never be sure just how the materials are going to blend or conflict until you try. Always keep several large pieces of scrap so you can try your ideas out before you commit them to wood.

Glazing is a basic color-wiping technique that you will use time and time again in antiquing, graining, shading and many other effects. A translucent tint, either contrasting or matching, is wiped over a (usually) matte base coat. The tint must be reasonably quick-drying, but allow time to be manipulated. Liquid glazes are available from art suppliers, but you can mix your own; use 1 part boiled linseed oil to 2 parts white spirit (paint thinner) plus pigments, or 1 part varnish to between 3 and 5 parts white spirit, plus pigments. Oil slows the drying process, but if there is too much, the protective top coat will pick up the glaze, smear and ruin it. Too little oil will cause the glaze to dry too quickly, and make wiping and shading difficult.

Raw umber and raw sienna are the pigments most commonly used in antiquing glazes. A standard antique white finish, for instance, uses: two coats of matte ivory or off-white paint on a smoothly sanded surface, rubbed down between coats and left to dry; a glaze pigmented with yellow ocher, burnt umber and a touch of white, brushed on then wiped off high spots like turnings, moldings, and the centers of panels, then blended with a dry brush while it is still wet; and finally a protective coat of varnish, also perhaps tinted with burnt umber to dull it down.

You can use as a wiping coat, artist’s oil paints, house paint, pigments in oil and white spirit, colored varnish, tinted Danish oil, or shellac, all thinned for translucency. Your imagination and taste are the only limiting factors. If the finished effect is not convincing, wipe the whole thing off and start again; you will accumulate experience in wiping the right amount off the right areas.