How to use gilt cream

A simple way to highlight details, update hardware, and add a little shimmer without replacing what you already own

Have you ever looked at a piece of furniture and thought, ‘It needs something… but I’m not quite sure what?’ That little something might be gilt cream.

I love products that can make a noticeable difference without turning a project into a week-long production. Gilt cream is one of those products. With just a small amount, you can bring out carved details, brighten tired hardware, update a light fixture, or give a thrift-store frame a finish that looks far more expensive than it really is.

And no, you don’t need to be an experienced furniture painter to use it. If you can lightly brush or rub color across a raised surface, you can do this.

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What Is Gilt Cream

Gilt cream is a decorative metallic finish made with mica powder and wax. It comes in beautiful shades of gold, silver, bronze, and other metallic colors, and it works especially well on detailed or raised surfaces.

The magic is in the highlighting. Instead of covering the entire piece with solid metallic color, you use a small amount of gilt cream to catch the high points. That contrast brings the detail forward and gives the surface more depth.

A little bottle goes a surprisingly long way, too. This is not a product you want to pile on. In fact, one of the easiest mistakes is using too much. Start lightly. You can always add another touch, but removing a heavy metallic blob is not nearly as much fun.

Why I Keep Gilt Cream in My Painting Supplies

After more than 25 years of painting professionally, I’ve learned that the smallest finishing details often make the biggest difference. A piece can be beautifully painted, but it’s the quiet little highlights along a carved edge or decorative groove that make people stop and take a second look.

Gilt cream is also a wonderful money-saver. Before replacing a light fixture, buying new cabinet hardware, or passing up an inexpensive frame, I always think about what paint and a little metallic finish could do. Sometimes the thing you already have isn’t wrong. It’s simply the wrong color.

What You Will Need

• Gilt cream in the metallic color of your choice
• A soft brush, small artist brush, or piece of cheesecloth
• A clean, dry surface
• A soft cheese cloth for blending or removing excess product
• Gloves, if you prefer to keep metallic color off your hands
• Your painted furniture, hardware, frame, stencil, cabinet door, or decorative accessory

Choose your applicator based on the project. A brush gives you more control in grooves and tight areas. Cheesecloth is lovely for gently skimming across raised details and softening the finish.

How to Apply Gilt Cream Step by Step

1 Prepare the Surface

Make sure the surface is clean, dry, and free from dust or grease. If you’ve just painted the piece, allow the paint to dry fully before adding the gilt cream. Rushing this part can muddy the finish or pull at paint that hasn’t had time to settle.

2 Use Less Than You Think You Need

Pick up a very small amount with your brush or cheesecloth, then remove the excess before touching the project. Think of it like dry brushing: you want enough product to kiss the raised areas, not coat everything in sight.

3 Highlight the Raised Details

Lightly sweep or rub the gilt cream over edges, carvings, ridges, grooves, or stencil details. Work slowly and build the color a little at a time. The goal is to let the metallic finish settle naturally on the parts you want to emphasize.

4 Step Back and Look

This sounds simple, but it matters. Put the brush down and walk a few feet away. Metallic finishes catch light differently depending on where you’re standing, so stepping back helps you see whether the highlights feel balanced.

5 Blend and Let It Dry

If an area looks too heavy, soften it gently with a clean cloth before it sets. Then allow the finish to dry according to the product directions. Always follow the instructions on the specific brand you’re using, especially for drying time and any recommended protective finish.

Update a Light Fixture

If you like the shape and style of your lighting but not the color, try changing the finish before shopping for a replacement. A little gold, bronze, or silver gilt cream can bring out the decorative details and give the fixture a completely different personality.

This is especially pretty on scrollwork, ridges, and raised trim. Keep the application light so some of the original finish still shows through. That layered look is what gives the piece character.

Refresh Old Hardware

Before buying new knobs, pulls, or decorative hardware, see what you can do with the pieces you already have. Gilt cream can highlight embossed designs and raised edges, making ordinary hardware look custom.

The best part? You can test it on one small piece first. If you love it, continue. If the color isn’t quite right, you haven’t committed to an entire room full of new hardware.

Transform a Thrift Store Picture Frame

One of the projects in my video started with a picture frame I found at a thrift store for just $2. I added a rust finish and then used gold gilt cream over the top. The gold caught the raised details beautifully and gave the frame an aged, collected look.

Frames are perfect practice pieces because they usually have plenty of texture and detail. They’re also easy to find inexpensively, so you can experiment without worrying about ruining something precious.

Bring a Stencil to Life

Gilt cream can be lovely on raised stencil work. Once the stencil design is completely dry, lightly skim the metallic finish across the high points. It adds dimension without covering the base color underneath.

Be gentle here. You want to highlight the design, not flatten all the beautiful contrast you worked to create.

Add Detail to Cabinet Doors

Cabinet doors with molding, carved accents, or recessed details can also benefit from a little metallic highlighting. Use a small brush for control and keep the application consistent from door to door.

For a full kitchen or built-in cabinet project, make a sample first. Lighting changes throughout the day, and metallic color can look different in morning light than it does under evening lights.

Common Gilt Cream Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

• Using too much product: Begin with a nearly dry brush or cloth and slowly build the color.
• Covering every inch: Gilt cream is most effective when it highlights selected details and allows the base finish to show.
• Skipping surface preparation: Dust, grease, or uncured paint can interfere with a smooth finish.
• Choosing a color without testing it: Try the metallic shade in a hidden spot or on a sample board first.
• Working too quickly: Apply a little, step back, and decide where the piece truly needs more.

I know it’s tempting to keep adding more when you’re excited about the shimmer. I’ve learned that restraint usually creates the prettiest result. You want people to notice the beautiful detail, not wonder if a gold paint jar exploded nearby.

How to Choose the Right Metallic Color

Gold adds warmth and looks beautiful over black, cream, deep green, rust, and rich jewel tones. Silver tends to feel cooler and can be striking over charcoal, navy, white, or soft gray. Bronze is wonderful when you want something warm and aged without the brightness of gold.

There really isn’t one perfect combination. Think about the room, the hardware already in the space, and the feeling you want the finished piece to have. Elegant? Old world? Playful? A little glamorous? Let that guide your color choice.

My Best Advice for Beginners

Practice on something small. A thrift-store frame, a spare knob, or a sample board will teach you how the product moves and how much pressure to use. That little bit of practice builds confidence fast.

And please don’t talk yourself out of trying because you think you’re ‘not creative.’ Creativity isn’t something only a few lucky people receive. Most of the time, it grows when you give yourself permission to experiment, make a few mistakes, and keep going.

A Little Metallic Detail Can Change Everything

Gilt cream is simple, affordable, and incredibly versatile. You can use it to highlight furniture details, update lighting and hardware, embellish stencils, refresh cabinet doors, or turn a $2 thrift-store frame into something with real personality.

Start with a tiny amount, build the finish slowly, and remember to step back now and then. That’s really the secret.

Have you ever used gilt cream on a DIY project? Tell me what you transformed in the comments. I’d love to hear about it.

You can also watch my Gilt Cream video to see the technique and project ideas in action. 

For more simple DIY lessons, painting tips, and creative encouragement, sign up for my weekly blog and visit the Artzy Fartzy Creations shop to explore my courses and one-of-a-kind creations.

More fun painting ideas:

Rust finish

Metallic molding technique

Have fun creating,

— Cheryl