Tired Of Your Outdated Glass Shelves? Turn Them Into Faux Wood Instead

A chilly, wet winter season could have led you to spend a lot of time indoors, giving you plenty of opportunities to reconsider your home décor. One area of your home that you may be looking to change is your glass shelving. While glass shelves can give a space a minimalist and light look, depending on where they are in your home, they may look a little outdated. And, while it is not necessarily difficult to clean glass furniture, they certainly show dust, debris, and fingerprints more than other surfaces. So, if you are ready for a change, consider transforming your glass shelves into faux wood with this painting technique.

Painting glass is different from painting other surfaces. When beginning this project, it is important to start by properly cleaning your glass shelf. Because oils from your fingers leave a residue on the glass that prevent the paint from sticking, you will want to make sure that the glass is properly cleaned. Start by washing the glass with warm water and soap and then let it thoroughly dry. You can then wipe the glass with a little white vinegar or rubbing alcohol on a paper towel, and let it air dry. This will help remove any potential soap residue. Once completely dry, you will be able to start this project.

To create a faux wood look, start by coating the glass with a white primer. This primer will act as the base coat as you layer colors to create a wood grain look. When choosing the primer type, make sure that it is one that is specifically made for glass, otherwise you may run into some problems. You can also decide between a spray paint and one that you brush on. Spray paint can be a great option for many project, and TikTok's time-saving tips can make spray paint projects a breeze. However, for the finish to really feel like wood, you want to be able to add some texture. Using a paint roller brush can help create this texture.

After the primer has completely dried, you will be ready to add your next layer of paint using the same brush. Using a glass paint, apply at least two coats of a neutral colored paint to match your desired wood color. Choose a light tan paint to create a soft oak or maple look. Want something darker? Choose a darker brown to give the glass a mahogany, walnut, or ebony design. Before beginning the project, do some research into the types of wood you want to recreate so that you know what colors to use to make a natural design. 

What helps really bring this design to life is finishing the project with some stain. Choose a stain that matches your paint choice, but is different enough from the base design to give some dimensionality to the look. It is also important that you don't use the roller brush for this step. Instead, use a flat brush that will allow you to give a textured look that will help make the glass truly look like wood.

Another way to make your glass look like wood is to use a slightly darker color of paint. You can then use a wood graining tool to add the wood grain look to your glass. Essentially, these tools are stencils that give the surface a wood grain look when used with paint. This would add wavy grains and knots that are difficult to achieve on non-wood surfaces. You could try to hand paint these with the stain or paint; however, a wood graining tool will make the process a little easier. You could also get creative with what you use for textures — you may be surprised with the results!

Once the project is completely dry, you will be ready to add the shelf to your space. And if you love this wood look, there are many other ways to add it to your home. Check out how to DIY your own faux reclaimed wood for a fraction of the price.