4 Ways to Antique Furniture

I enjoy giving furniture a fresh coat of paint and then distressing that nice fresh coat to give it an antique look. There is lots of different ways to achieve the desired look, but by taking the extra time to do this final step it can take the look of the piece to the next level. Below are 4 of the most common techniques I use.

Antique Waxing

A cabinet that has been waxed with brown antiquing wax. 

Using antiquing waxes gives a softer matte finish to your piece. It is usually used over the top of chalk paint but I found that a flat latex paint underneath worked just fine with the same results in the end. It is important to remember to use clear wax on the piece first and apply the antiquing wax pretty quickly after the clear wax. This allows you to move the dark wax over the surface of the piece easier. The antiquing wax can also be erased by rubbing some clear wax over the dark wax you want erased. The wax is durable and a great way seal a piece but will rub off over a period of time and possibly have to be reapplied. So I don't recommend it on a piece of furniture that is going to have  a lot of wear and tear unless you're willing to do the extra work every once in a while. 

Glazing

Buffett table and mirror painted grey with a black glaze.

Glazing is a similar technique to waxing. You can achieve a very similar look as the wax but glazing has a shinier finish then waxing. The number one difference is that it's easy to tent the glaze any color you want. When it comes to painting underneath the glaze you can use any latex paint. A little tip I learned to is to apply a clear coat over the finished paint which makes the glazing process easier to achieve the desired look of the glaze. It even makes it a lot easier to wipe off the extra glaze if desired. I like to apply the glaze with a foam brush and use baby wipes, or a bucket of water  and an old wash rag to wipe off the excess glaze. Make sure to work the glaze into the nooks and crannies of the piece. Always make sure to allow the glaze to dry.  I like to apply another of clear coat for added protection.  The glaze is more durable then wax and should last longer. 

Antiquing with Vaseline

Couch table that was antiqued with vaseline.

This is a great way to achieve a layered look. Apply your first color to your piece, whether it's stain or paint and allow it to dry.  Then on the edges and other places you want your base color to show through rub some vaseline on it. Paint your second color and allow it to almost dry. Take some steel wool and rub it over all the areas that the vaseline was placed and you'll get a great layered look. I also like to apply a clear coat or clear wax to this technique to add some extra protection to the piece but not necessary.

Spot staining

Table base antiqued with the spot sanding method.

Spot staining is a great way to achieve a layered look without having to stain the entire piece. It works great for pieces that are already stained or painted and you don't want to strip or sand the whole piece down to bare wood to stain and/or paint. Prep and paint the piece like you would normally would.  This method works better with a glossier paint as it allows for a cleaner removal of the stain. I found that the glossy paint does not absurd the applied stain. You can use an electric sander or sand by hand anywhere you want it to look worn to achieve the antique look. It is important to make sure you are down to the wood so it can absorb the stain. Once the sanding is all done dip a Que tip in the stain and apply it to the sanded areas. Wipe off the extra stain in a timely manner, I like to use an old t-shirt or rag.

Hope this has inspired you to turn something ordinary into a special piece but if you don't have the time to make your own, contact me for a custom piece and let me bring you that A Rustic Rose you've been looking for.  

Thank you for spending time with me and until next time....

Addie