How to Antique Découpage
The art of decoupage was at the height of fashion during the 18th and 19th centuries in Europe. Even Marie Antoinette dabbled in decoupage. For this reason, many antiques from that period are decorated in this style. The process involves gluing images cut out of paper onto a piece of furniture or other object in a decorative way and sealing it with a varnish. If you have a modern piece of decoupage, you can make it look old by applying a simple antiquing technique. It may not fool the experts on "Antiques Roadshow" but it can add an elegant touch to your home.
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Things You'll Need
- Fine-grit sandpaper
- Antiquing gel
- Rag
- Sponge paintbrush
- Clear spray sealer
- Sandpaper
- Tack cloth
Instructions
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1
Sand the the surfaces of the decoupaged piece with fine-grit sandpaper, paying special attention to the corners and other areas that would naturally get more wear.
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2
Wipe the piece down with a tack cloth to remove all the dust from sanding.
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3
Apply a thin, even coat of antiquing gel to one surface of the piece with the foam paintbrush. Then immediately wipe the surface down with a rag to remove any excess gel. Repeat this process for all the surfaces of the piece, one at a time.
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4
Apply additional antiquing gel to the corners and any other areas you want to be a little darker. Build up the color, one thin layer at a time, rather than adding one thick layer.
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5
Let the piece dry for at least 24 hours before using it.
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