How to Antique Wood

Antiquing is a faux painting technique used to turn your new furniture into antiques. It also creates interesting color effects. If you want antiques, but can't afford them or don't want to wait around a hundred years or so for your pieces to become antique, then this learning to antique wood may be for you.

Things You'll Need

• Transparent antiquing glaze or dark brown glaze
• Enamel paint
• Paintbrush
• Chisel
• Steel wool
• Sandpaper

Instructions

1. Clean and dry the surface so there is no dirt or oil on it. Then remove any hardware.

2. Distress the wood. If you want to achieve the same look that your beat up antique pieces have, hit this piece of furniture with something. Choose a hammer, keys or rocks. Chisel to shave off some spots to represent wear and tear.

3. Sand the piece to dull the surface.

4. Apply a base coat of flat or gloss enamel. Let dry completely.

5. Lightly brush on a dark brown glaze. While the glaze is still wet, use steel wool to wipe it off and spread into the recessed areas. Or you can apply a transparent antiquing glaze. Let dry only until it starts to dull. Wipe off with a soft cloth along the grain of the wood. Work from the center out to the edges.

6. Let dry completely,and then sand certain areas to expose the wood.

7. Seal the piece with semi gloss or high-gloss varnish. Ensure that the varnish is compatible with the antique finish. This will protect the surface.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are going to distress the wood, use cheap furniture, not real antiques.

• You can find antiquing kits in paint and hardware stores.

• The greater the contrast in color between the base and the glaze, the more obvious it will be that the furniture is antiqued.

• Antiquing glazes set quickly, so don't do an area too large.

• Don't sand against the grain of the wood as it will scratch your piece.