Techniques to Make Wood Look Vintage

Vintage wood looks like time and hard use has weathered it.

Creating vintage wood is a satisfying occupation that draws on both your ingenuity and craftsmanship. Distress new wood or furniture to make it look weathered and timeworn using various techniques, such as antiquing the wood to create a faux finish or physically aging the wood, using materials as simple as a claw hammer and sandpaper. Making your wood look old gives it character and charm.

Antiquing

Experiment with coffee and tea stains on the wood.

Give your wood and furniture an antique finish using paint or a stain. Create a two-tone or distressed look that mimics vintage wood. Brush on a base coat in any color you choose. It can be a solid-colored enamel or acrylic paint or an opaque wood stain. After letting the paint or stain dry overnight, brush on an antiquing glaze. As the glaze dries, wipe it with a soft cloth or steel wool to create a peeling effect and to allow the wood grain to show through.

Physical

Scuff the wood just enough to distress it.

Distress your wood by literally abusing it. This is well-suited when using wood stock from a lumber yard. Hit the wood with chains, nails or the claw of a hammer to create dents and nicks. All these imperfections show up later in the staining process. Brush on at least two types of dark stain, such as walnut or mahogany. Wipe the wood with a rag after each coat to soak up any excess stain. Varnish the wood with a clear coat to seal it once you are satisfied with the effect.

Sanding

Choose coarse-grit sandpaper for your project.

Natural-looking wear can be achieved by sanding. Sand the entire piece of wood or furniture. Paint the wood with a dark stain or a flat coat of acrylic or enamel paint. After it dries, sand the paint or stain. Focus on sanding corners or areas where normal wear occurs, such as knobs and armrests. Repeat the process to create a richer distressed look. Crumpled sandpaper can also be used instead of a brush to paint the wood. The paint looks streaked and patchy, creating a vintage effect.

Vinegar

Use white vinegar to age untreated wood. The acid in the vinegar creates a vintage effect, especially when the vinegar is mixed with rusty nails or steel wool first. Ensure that you use an exterior or well-ventilated space to avoid inhaling fumes. Wood treated with vinegar reacts with sunshine to create an even more natural vintage look.

References

• Paint Pro: Faux Effects, Distressed Wood Surfaces
• Young House Love: Making New Wood Look Old
• North Dakota State University Agriculture: Painted Finishes for Special Effects