How to Get a Vintage Look When Painting Wood
Vintage wood is not just appreciated for its age, but also for the look the wood takes on as it ages. You can simulate that look at home, getting a vintage look from contemporary wood. You can find all the supplies you’ll need at your local home improvement store. Whether you are creating a vintage look for a furniture-making project or wood crafts, you can get that aged look in just a few hours.
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Things You'll Need
- Sandpaper
- Hammer
- File
- Paint colors
- Rags
- Crackle finish
- Mineral spirits
- Table cover
Instructions
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1
Sand the wood item you wish to give a vintage look, using sandpaper and elbow grease or an electric handheld sander.
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2
Distress the wood if desired. You can do this by making hammer marks or slight digs with a screwdriver on the unfinished wood. This gives the appearance of age, but with a well-used appearance.
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3
Apply watered down paint with a brush to create a washed out or faded look.
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4
Add an additional color by lightly brushing the second color through the first coat of paint before it has had a chance to dry.
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5
Gently rub some of the paint off with a damp rag to take the look a step further. Focus on rubbing paint from along the edges and corners and legs to give a more realistic look.
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Place a coat of paint that contains a commercial crackle additive on the piece to be finished to create a crackles look. Once the additive has dried, brush a coat of paint in a different color over the first coat and allow it to dry. As the paint dries, the top layer will begin to crack, allowing the first layer to show through.
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Use the cissing method to give a vintage look by splashing mineral spirits on the finished piece and allowing it to dry. The splattered spots will lighten.
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Tips & Warnings
Practice the above steps on scrap pieces of wood.
Cover all work surfaces with protective table cover or newspapers.
References
- Photo Credit Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images
