Antique Furniture

Both walnut and oak are solid, hard woods that have long been used for quality furniture. As they are both fairly dark when old and were often used during the same periods, the two woods are not…

Refinishing a piece of antique furniture can change the value of the piece in a negative way, so you need to take every precaution to not remove all of the imperfections that make the piece…

Antiques can appeal to people on many levels. They typically have aesthetic qualities or craftsmanship lacking in modern furniture. Antiques can also provide historical, cultural and personal…

For a one of a kind look, antiques are hard to beat. While anyone can go down to a chain furniture store and pick up a new table or chair, antiques and vintage pieces are truly unique. Antiques also…

Grime, built-up furniture polish and oxidizing old varnish can eventually combine to dull the finish of furniture. If the piece is a treasured or valuable antique, you can't use just any method to…

If you have a kitchen or bathroom that hasn't been updated for the 40 years or so, you may be all too familiar with drawers that just won't close the way you want them to. The development of…

Rattan is a type of wicker, similar to bamboo or reed furniture. Antique pieces use rattan on the seat of chairs and couches, or as a covering over a metal base. Fixing a piece of antique rattan…

If you love the look of old furniture, you could fill your home with costly and fragile antiques. Or you could save yourself some money and make newer furniture look old. Antiquing modern furniture…

Antiquing the wood gives the piece a worn look, similar to what you find on real antiques. When giving furniture an antique look, apply a coat of polyurethane over your work. Polyurethane adds a…

Stained oak furniture gives your home a distinctive and distinguished look, but if the furniture looks too new, it might clash with your existing décor. For a home with a shabby chic look or a…

Laminate furniture has a glossy surface that makes the piece stand out in a room. Antiquing the laminate removes that gloss and gives the furniture a more distressed look, as if it really is an…

Making your own wash is the traditional way of painting or coloring homes and furniture. Whitewash, also called lime wash, was easy to make and added color to wood. The wash goes on in a thin, uneven…

Antique furniture is often appreciated for its sturdy construction, as well as the warmth and beauty that comes with age. Recreate the look of an antique on a newer piece of painted furniture by…

Peeling paint can be a disaster in some situations, depending on when and why the paint is peeling. A peeling paint effect can be intentionally created, however, to give furniture and other items that…

If you enjoy antique furniture, don't spend thousands of dollars on authentic antique pieces. Instead, purchase stained wood furniture at a reasonable price, and give it the antique look you want. You…

Most wood antiquing techniques assume starting with bare, unfinished wood, but that doesn't mean you have to strip down your furniture to distress it effectively. The stresses of time have their…

The legs and pegs of antique furniture typically have taken decades of abuse that definitely show. Chairs, in particular, often have issues with loose-fitting legs or gouged and cracked wood. You can…

A century ago, furniture makers attached small wheels, also referred to as casters, to the legs of furniture. Casters make furniture easier to move and prevent scratched floors. The passage of time…

You don't need to pay the big bucks for a real, collectible, antique piece of furniture. Instead, find a solid piece of furniture that you like and give it an antique finish. This process takes at…

Even if you love antiques, you might wind up with a vintage piece that doesn't fit your style. For example, you might have inherited a Victorian buffet, while your taste runs toward old farmhouse…

Original antique furniture can cost a fortune. With some creative painting techniques, you can achieve the same look with new materials. You will get a custom look and a beautiful patina if you do it…

Antique furniture of any wood variety can be altered and embellished to become eye-catching additions to your home decor scheme. For instance, painting designs on antique wooden furniture not only…

Antique furniture lends a comfortable, lived-in look to a home, and it works in both traditional and modern design schemes. When you want to give your furniture a distressed, antique look without…

Decorating your bedroom with antique furniture doesn’t mean you will be sleeping in a museum. Using antiques should add a warm, inviting feeling to the room that is your cozy refuge from the…

Painting furniture allows you to quickly change the look of a room without making a big financial investment. Antique white and other neutrals allow you to paint some of the furniture in your room and…

Antique furniture creates a comfortable, weathered look in a home, giving the impression of years of use. The pieces can complement a rustic design or provide an unexpected contrast in a contemporary…

Whether you’re interested in selling your antique furniture or not, determining its style doesn’t require seeking a professional antique dealer’s help. For example, when selling…

Decorating your home with antique furniture is possible even if you have children. Choosing pieces made especially for them or those that can be repurposed for kids is easier than you might imagine.…

While antique furniture can give any room the feel of time standing still, purchasing antique pieces is often costly. Remodeling your existing furniture to appear antique is an alternative. For an…

Crackle painting your furniture is an easy way to give the illusion of age to new pieces. Select two contrasting paint colors to use in your project; the first coat of paint serves as the color of the…

Antique furniture gives a room instant character and inspires guests to ask questions about its origin. However, antique furnishings are expensive, and it can be hard to find furniture that is…

Painting dining room furniture updates it and gives it a fresh, new look. Try black paint to give vintage or retro furniture a modern look, or lighten up dark wood with white paint. For a further…

The antique furniture trade is a profitable business for people who own older furniture. However, not all antique dealers look at furniture the same way. The definition of antique ranges from dealer…

Antiques never go out of fashion. If you do not want the expense of purchasing real antiques, give your existing wood furniture an antique look. Nearly any item can be made to look like it has been…

Antique furniture with leather tops and accents can be an exciting find for those people who enjoy searching through tag sales, auctions and antique shops. Sadly, many quality pieces will be passed…

Antique wood furniture has a certain charm and beauty that comes not only from its design, but from the beauty of the natural wood aging process. You can imitate this natural process yourself using…

When looking for antiques, don’t pass up items just because of dirt and grime. Cleaning and rejuvenating a dirty, old surface doesn't usually require stripping and refinishing. Light soiling can…

Painted furniture adds a romantic air to any room. That's especially true with white or cream pieces, which work as well with a formal Victorian decor as they do with cottage, shabby-chic or country.…

Antique furniture can be expensive, but you can make secondhand furniture look antique with a little bit of elbow grease. Shoe polish is a way to add an antique finish to any piece of wooden…

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. While some people think that antique furniture looks old and worn-down, others find it highly desirable. You may be able to find the perfect antique wooden…

If you are aiming to create an eclectic, bohemian look for your home, antique your wooden furniture to emulate the look of aged pieces. This process, accomplished with paint and sandpaper, is a simple…

Antique wooden furniture may warp or split if it is not cared for properly. Once warping has occurred to wood furniture, it cannot be repaired without completely replacing the warped portion of the…

Antique furniture must be properly maintained to retain both the value of the piece and its appearance. Unlike newer furniture, antiques need a little extra care. This care translates into years of…

Decorating with antique furniture is all about how to mix the old with the new in a tasteful and well-balanced way. While antiques can be intimidating, they don’t have to be. Using them in the…

Antiquing furniture with wax is a process that not only gives the furniture a deep, richly antique look, but also serves to protect the wood from damage due to scuff marks, cup rings and other forms…

Antique furniture requires a significant amount of care to keep it in good condition to maintain its value. Improperly cleaning or storing antique furniture can damage it. In most cases, restoring…

Antique furniture is a style statement for many people. Taking care of and maintaining antique furniture comes with its own set of challenges, as the furniture most likely is showing signs of age,…

Antique furniture can have sentimental, as well as retail value. In cases where antique furniture is worth a lot of money, it's best to get it repaired by a professional. If, however, you don't think…

Create a modern decor by using elements from the past and antiquing your furniture. This process involves distressing the wood so it doesn't look so new and adding a natural, old-style finish to the…

Wood furniture provides many opportunities for refinishing and repurposing for a number of uses over time. Decorating changes can spur repainting efforts or faux designs for a whole new look for your…

Correctly preparing antique furniture for a new coat of paint is the secret to a professional-looking finish. Many people discover antique furniture treasures at garage sales or thrift shops. Often…

Antiques are not just old furniture and accessories, they are an invitation to the past. A room is considerably enhanced when antique artifacts are incorporated to dispel bland uniformity and a boring…

Antiquing furniture involves distressing, or aging, furniture to resemble furniture created decades ago. The process adds color, details and character to newer pieces of furniture. One technique…

Antique furniture can be damaged in a number of ways, many of which result in holes. Everyday wear, moving and misuse can make holes in your old furniture. The most common cause of holes in antique…

If you're fortunate enough to have antiques, you know the unique beauty, craftsmanship and elegance that these pieces give to rooms in your home. Small or large, these furnishings demand special…

If your wooden furniture is a bit plain or you just want something more unusual, change it to look like it came from a different era to give your furniture and your home that extra something you're…

Antiques have a distinguished character and fine craftsmanship rarely seen in modern mass-produced furniture. French antiques in particular have ornate features that lend a distinguished air to any…

Preserving the look and feel of antiques has two key steps: giving them the right care and controlling the environment. If you take the right steps to preserve your furniture, not only will you be…

The dark wood of antique furniture can give a room an instant sense of elegance and refinement. Mahogany desks and deep cherry tables have a timeless, regal appearance that elevates the rest of the…

A piece of white furniture gives any room a crisp, fresh look. If you are going for a vintage or shabby-chic look, however, the crisp look may be far from the effect you desire. You can easily give…

Aging contemporary furniture to provide the appeal of an antique is usually much cheaper than buying authentic antique furniture and introduces a new style of décor to your home. When you set…

Antiquing, sometimes referred to as distressing, is a popular decorating technique for furniture. There are a number of ways to make a newer piece of furniture look old, and many different colored…

The Shaker and Mission furniture made in America during the 19th century shares an uncluttered beauty that was divinely inspired. Whether you are a novice collector of fine quality furnishings or a…

There are several different finishes for oak hardwood products including honey oak and natural oak. Depending on the manufacturer, you may see a large or slight difference in the color.

Prior to the 17th century, only the most powerful Englishmen and women sat in chairs, while everyone else had to make do with stools and benches. Over the next hundred years, armless chairs gradually…

Dovetailing is a form of joining joints in wood. The wood is easy to identify as antique by looking at the angles, or connecting parts of wood. Joints on wood were not machine-cut until 1860. Joints…

Your old coffee table could be a well-worn, family treasure, valued more for memories than for age -- or it could be a valuable antique. Style, alone, cannot determine when your table was created…

Before you begin stripping away the old finish from that ancient desk or armoire that you inherited from your grandfather, do your homework. If the antique piece is truly rare or desirable, you may be…

Throughout America’s history, craftsmen have honed their skills to build exquisite pieces of furniture. Other people built makeshift pieces of furniture to make do until they could afford the…

Drawer slides are made in many different styles, but all are designed to make it easier for a drawer to slide in and out of its cabinet. Most modern slides are made of metal, with some made of wood…

Oak has been used for furniture since at least the Middle Ages and continues to be used in furniture production worldwide. Oak is sought after by antique collectors for its timeless aesthetics, and a…

Oak and cherry are both hardwoods that furniture-makers have used for centuries. Each has its own distinctive characteristics. Oak soared in popularity in the period around 1900 when furniture-makers…

If you have a piece of old furniture, at some point you have probably wondered how much it is worth. Knowing that it is old is the first step, and since you know that fact, you have already removed…

Maybe you're looking for an antique pine cupboard to serve as an entertainment center, or a weathered pine bench caught your eye at an antique shop and would make a great addition to your mudroom.…

Perhaps you are considering purchasing an old bedroom suite or maybe you inherited one that you would like to know more about. Maybe you want to know the historical value of pieces you already own.…

Furniture design and production developed according to social, cultural, political and economic issues. For example, peasants during the Middle Ages owned a few, simply made pieces of furniture such…

"Shakers" was the nickname given to the followers of the United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing, which branched off from the Quakers. Shakers were self-sufficient in order to stay as…

When it comes to restoring old furniture and other objects, sometimes the best way to give them new life is to make them look older. Antiquing items can be done through some simple painting techniques…

Before restoring a piece of antique furniture, determine what type of wood is being worked upon. Restore original beauty to wood furniture and antiques with refinishing tips from a certified estate…

An antique glaze gives a newer piece of furniture the look of an antique piece of furniture. Put an antique glaze on a piece of furniture by using a semi-paste and sander with tips from a certified…

Antique furniture is evaluated to determine if it is a real antique or if it is a reproduction. Evaluate antique furniture by looking at the dovetails and nail heads with tips from a certified estate…

Buying antique furniture can be fun, but it can also be difficult to find the desired piece. Buy antique furniture by finding antique shops and malls with tips from a certified estate specialist in…

Giving a piece of furniture an antique look is easy with a nice, solid wood. Give furniture an antique look with painting, stripping and finishing tips from a certified estate specialist in this free…

To find antique bedroom furniture, look in a variety of stores and try to mix and match different pieces of furniture that will all go together within the bedroom. Be prepare to find only twin and…

Antique Victorian furniture was made in the 1840s through the 1880s and has gone down in value in the antique furniture market. Wait until the demand for antique Victorian furniture goes up before…

A good starting point for researching antique furniture is the public library, in which there are many books and pictures of antique furniture pieces. Talk to antique dealers and shop owners about…

Victorian desks are often made of mahogany and contain leather interiors and a number of small cubbyholes. Learn about the history and construction of antique Victorian desks with help from an antique…

Removing that old musty smell from antique furniture can be difficult if you want to preserve original look of the furniture and maintain the value. Obviously this is not one of those times that you…

The history of German antique furniture is very complex involving the different styles of all the independent city states. German antique furniture tends to be very sturdy, made with the best woods…

The styles of antique English furniture are identified by the name of the reigning monarch of the time. While the different styles did have some of the same features, the one part that was different…

The oldest of the antique furniture manufacturers had to make everything by hand. There were no assembly lines, no machines to turn out piece after piece. They used a hammer and chisel like an artist…

Every culture has designed its own furniture, which provides insights and information about history. Most of the art of handmade furniture, however, has been lost with the coming of the industrial…

Collecting antiques is a hobby for many people and learning about antique bedroom furniture can be a focus for some. Antique bedroom furniture has gone through various changes from where the bedroom…

Many people enjoy looking at antiques, but few are able to tell anything about the items they are looking at. Learning to identify the various furniture marks by furniture companies throughout the…

Determining the age of antique furniture is not an exact science, but there are certain indicators of age evident in furniture. How a piece is constructed is a common measure of age. You should look…

Most of us own some old furniture, perhaps handed down from parents or grandparents. The difference between old furniture and antique furniture depends not just on the age of the furniture but also on…

Recognizing a particular style of furniture is a craft, one learned through research and trial and error. Each style of antique furniture has its characteristics that lend themselves to…

Antique enthusiasts have a passion for Philadelphia-style furniture--wooden pieces produced by one of several famous Philadelphia cabinet-makers during the Victorian era. Identifying…

By strict definition, experts say a piece of furniture is not an antique unless it's more than 100 years old. However, objects valued for their rarity and workmanship are often called antiques despite…

Antique furniture is a beautiful piece of history you display in your home, but how do you know how old it is for certain? A bit of research about the origins of the item can help you date it easily.…

The repo man will be by tonight to take your new convertible unless you have cash in hand. When it comes to fast money, there's no place like the pawnshop. Sometimes, though, cashing in on an antique…

You can find antique furniture to fit any decor, from country to contemporary. Let the buyer beware: Reproductions abound in the furniture field. Do your homework to make sure you're purchasing the…

Collecting antique furniture is a costly endeavor. You don't want to make any mistakes and buy a misrepresented piece that you thought was worth hundreds of dollars or more.