How to Antique Furniture and Other Objects
When it comes to restoring old furniture and other objects, sometimes the best way to give them new life is to make them look older. Antiquing items can be done through some simple painting techniques and by giving your furniture or other objects a few scratches and dents that make them look aged and worn. Many things that can be used for antiquing are common tools and items that you probably already have at home.
Things You'll Need
- Ball-peen hammer
- Flathead screwdriver
- Fine-grit sandpaper
- Antique glaze
- Paintbrush
- Cloth
Instructions
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Make indentations in wood and metal with a ball-peen hammer. Don't try for a pattern. True antiques have dents at random. Don't hit too hard. Light taps will make the proper marks.
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2
Create splits in wood with a flathead screwdriver. Hold the screwdriver against the wood so that the flat tip is parallel to the grain. Gently tap the screwdriver with a hammer. Try to just knock the tip in. Twist the screwdriver just a little and the wood should split slightly.
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3
Use sandpaper to distress specific areas. On a chair with wooden arm rests, for example, the front of the arm rest where you rest your hands usually fades first. Create this fading look by sanding lightly with a fine-grit sandpaper until some of the shine wears off.
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Distress the entire paint job. You can make an entire item look older by sanding away some of the paint. Sand lightly until some of the wood, metal or other material shows through the paint. How much of the material you want to show through is up to you.
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Apply an antique glaze. These glazes are made specifically to give items an aged appearance. Brush the glaze on with a paint brush and then wipe off with a cloth. Glaze will remain in crevices and holes. You can also choose to leave the glaze on specific parts of the furniture while wiping it off other parts. This will make some parts look more worn, the way that some parts of an antique look more worn than others.
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