How to Artificially Weather Wood for Barn Wood Picture Frames

Create rustic barn board frames.

As old wood barns slip into history, being replaced by more durable sheet metal constructions, barn wood's popularity as a decorative element grows. Not everyone lives in rural communities where they can visit a community farm to reclaim some boards from a demolished barn. When unable to find actual barn boards to make a frame, treat new lumber to give it that same rustic, weathered appearance. Open-grained, rough-textured woods are best for faux barn boards.

Things You'll Need

• Steel wool, #0000
• White vinegar
• 2 jars
• saucepan
• water
• Tea bag
• Paintbrush

Instructions

1. Shred a piece of steel wool and place the pieces in a jar.

2. Cover the steel wool shreds with white vinegar. Tighten the lid on the jar and leave the steel wool to break down in the vinegar for one or two days.

3. Bring some water to a boil in a saucepan. Pour 1/4 to 1/2 cup of the hot water into a second glass jar. Drop a tea bag into the water. Use a plain, dark type of tea. Place the lid on the jar and allow the tea to steep until the water becomes dark.

4. Paint the wood with the tea, allowing the tea to thoroughly soak into the wood. Leave the wood to dry.

5. Paint the wood with a generous amount of the solution of vinegar and steel wool. Wait for the wood to turn a deep grey color.

Tips & Warnings

• If the wood is smooth, rough up the surface with coarse sandpaper. If the grey stain ends up too dark, lightly sand the wood to lighten the color.

References

• Extreme Restoration: Aging Wood