How to Antique a Piece of Furniture

Whether a piece of furniture is new or has seen better days, the best of the best is a beautifully antiqued and loved item of furniture. And one that you have created yourself.

These wonderful works can become heritage pieces to love and pass on for generations.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Painted or stained or unfinished furniture.
• Paints
• Stains
• Paste Wax
• Rags
• Brushes
• Sand Paper
• Floor Tarps

1. 
    
   Antique Headboard Bench by SK Sartell

   With my furniture, it's usually a found treasure or something someone has passed onto me. There are times these pieces have been painted (sometimes badly) or are just in need of some TLC.
   
   If I have a newer item and I want it to fit into my French Recycled style, I will either repaint starting from scratch or simply do a little roughing up of the surface.

2. 
    
   SK's Antiqued Four Poster Bed From Antique Doors

   I will take a newly painted furniture piece and paint a contrasting coat on top of the old coat. I will then using steel wool or fine sandpaper, sand back just the areas that would have seen constant contact of fingers or usage.
   
   If I sand back to the actual wood. I simply stain the area sanded back and wipe a darker, muddy color of watered down paint onto the entire piece.. Wipe it on and then wipe it off till you have the antique color that you are looking for.
   
   It might take several tries to achieve the old look that you are going for.

3. 
    
   Bath Vanity From an Upside Down VCR Cabinet

   When I am painting an unfinished piece of furniture, I will paint several different coats of different colors, Knocking back a few spots of each coat. This will reveal the colors underneath.
   
   I have also used a technique called crackling. You can get crackling compounds at any craft store. Follow their specific instructions.
   
   When the cracking is dried, I then color wash and antique color over the entire surface and wipe off. Again waiting until the paint is dry I will use the paste wax, then buff to give it that old world glow.

4. 
    
   SK Sartell's Freen Painted & Antiqued Bath Vanity

   When I have gotten the old look I desired, I let it cure for at least 48 hours.
   
   I wipe on a paste wax, let dry and then buff to the old glow shine that I want.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep experimenting, This is such fun to do, learn the technique you like best on practice pieces.

[sksartell]

on 6/26/2009 Thank you. It's nice to know we can get it right at times.
sk

[delawaregeek]

on 6/21/2009 I sold furniture and this is spot on information on how to antique a piece of furniture. Helpful hints found here :)