How to Antique Wood Furniture? 6 Best Ways to Antique Your Furniture

Do you want to transform your old and torn-up wooden furniture with a gorgeous and attractive new look?

Are you searching everywhere on How to Antique Wood Furniture?

If the answer is yes, then we have the perfect solution for your needs.

Antique furniture is a type of older furniture that has been deliberately repainted in an exact reproduction of a formerly antique style.

How to Antique Wood Furniture? The Best Way

Antiquing furniture is a great way to give your home a characteristic look.

Antiquing your wood furniture gives it an antique or aged look.

No matter how old or new your furniture is, it is possible to add unique beauty and personality to your home decor.

Also Read: How to Fix Scratches on Wood Furniture?

It takes only a coat of paint and some glaze or wax.

So, just find a furniture piece like a dresser, table, or cabinet, and let’s learn How to Antique Your Wood Furniture? In very simple steps.

Project Shopping List

These are the essentials to complete this project on Antiquing Wood Furniture.

1. Screwdriver
2. All-Purpose Household Cleaner
3. Fine-Grit Sandpaper
4. Paint Thinner or Mineral Spirits
5. Wood Primer
6. 2″ or 4 Inch Paintbrush
7. Drop Cloths or Tarps
8. Safety Gloves
9. EasyCare Ultra Premium Interior Paint
10. Clear Glaze
11. Mixing Paint Pot
12. Lint-Free Cloth
13. Newspaper or Plastic Wrap
14. Cheesecloth
15. Sandpaper
16. Knife (optional)
17. Towels (optional).
18. Water-Based Polyurethane

Step 1: Find Best Paint or Glaze, That Fits in Your Style

Antiquing is often done using darker, earth-toned glazes that are layered on top of a contrast light-colored basecoat, such as yellows creams or beiges.

If you prefer a lighter-looking glaze, you can combine it with a darker basecoat, provided that the colors are complementary.

Don’t forget to consider the finish when choosing your favorite paint.

For your basecoat, you can also use a flat finish.

Porous finishes absorb glaze more effectively than satin and eggshell types.

You can use a satin finish in the contrast color for your glaze mixture.

Step 2: Prepare Your Furniture

You need to find a place that is suitable, empty, and safe for your project.

You can also use a garage with open windows and doors to allow air circulation if you don’t own a workshop.

If it is not raining outside, you can also work outdoors.

Start by taking out all hardware from the furniture using a screwdriver, or another appropriate tool.

Unfinished surfaces can be sanded with medium-grit paper until they are smooth.

After that,

Clean it with mineral spirits or paint thinner and let it dry for some time.

The primer can be applied to the surfaces using a mini-roller or a paintbrush, depending on the object’s size.

To remove any gloss areas from sand-painted surfaces use fine-grit sanding paper.

Clean the surface with water. Then rinse thoroughly. Dry the surface completely.

Prime any surfaces that are not primed. For easy cleaning, use a drop cloth or a tarp.

Safety Note..!

Keep pets and children away from paints, chemicals, and other equipment.

For antique pieces that you may own already, antiquing is not advised because it is already an antique.

Step 3: Paint Base Color on Furniture

In a small bowl, add a little EasyCare(r), Ultra Premium Interior Paint.

Apply the basecoat using either a mini-roller or a paintbrush depending on the object.

Let the surface dry for several hours, or you can leave it overnight.

A Small Tip:

You can use a coffee cup to pour paint on a small area. Or, dip your brush into the paint can directly.

Step 4: Apply Glaze on Furniture

Mix one cup of the contrasting satin paint with two cups of glaze in a mixing bowl and then stir it.

Add water one at a time and stir well.

The consistency should be a bit runny, but it should still stick to your brush.

Another Small Tip:

It is crucial to have the glaze mixture in a consistent consistency.

You can double the amount of paint and glaze if you have a large surface to cover.

It is much easier to work with a smaller amount of paint at a time and it creates less waste.

Allow the mixture to dry for a while. It will start to look duller.

Use water to dampen a piece of lint-free cloth and start wiping the mixture off in long, even strokes.

If your cloth gets too wet, you can replace them with other ones.

Depending on what effect you are trying to achieve, you can remove as much glaze or as little as you like.

You can always add more glaze and paint to make it less noticeable.

To achieve different textures and effects, you can use rolled-up plastic wrap or newspaper to wipe off the glaze.

Cheesecloth highlights the wood grain while plastic wrap and crinkled newspapers marble the surface.

To create a scratched look, you can use a towel.

Let the surface dry completely.

After the glaze mixture is completely dried, apply a coat of polyurethane.

Another Small Tip:

If you want to Distress Your Wood Furniture, you can also use sandpaper to smoothen the surface, sharpen edges with a knife, or poking holes in the surface with nails.

Step 5: Apply Polyurethane to the Furniture

To add shine and durability, use a high-quality brush.

Allow the polyurethane to dry completely before you move the piece to its proper place in your home.

Step 6: Clean the Furniture Surface

Grab your drop cloths and tarps, then close your paint cans.

You should dispose of any paint leftovers or empty cans properly.

Use warm soapy water to clean your brushes and mixing bowl.

Best DIY Techniques to Antique Wooden Furniture

There are many other different painting and aging techniques that you can choose from.

Although distressing and antiquing your furniture, create an aged look when combined, they can also be used separately.

You can also read our detailed guide on How to Distress Wood Furniture?

How to Antique and Refinish Wood Furniture with Chalk Paint?

This is a tutorial on how to antique and refinish furniture with chalk paint. Chalk paint is a type of paint that has a matte finish and is water-based.

It can be mixed with other paints to create different colors or mixed with chalk to create the desired color.

The process of antique furniture with chalk paint starts by sanding the surface of the piece you want to work on.

Then apply a primer or sealer coat and let it dry for 24 hours.

Next, you have to apply an even coat of white chalk paint and let it dry for 24 hours before applying a second coat, if needed.

Must Read: How to Remove Sticky Residue From Wood Furniture?

Finally, rub off the excess chalk onto a piece of paper, so that it doesn’t get all over your hands or clothes.

How to Antique Wood Furniture with Paint?

1. Use an oil-based primer to paint your furniture piece and let it dry.
2. For an aged look, apply the base coat that you like, using satin finish paint with a brush. Glaze can look blotchy if it is applied with matte or flat paint. Then, let it dry.
3. Place your stencil on the piece, and then paint it over with your second color. To remove paint, use a damp cloth. Then remove the stencil carefully.
4. Mix the antique paint glaze by adding one part of dark brown paint and three parts of glaze. Apply the glaze liberally to your piece. Glaze in sections to avoid dry lines.
5. Use a rag, cheesecloth, or cheesecloth to wipe the glaze off as soon as possible. Cheesecloth gives you a smoother finish. A rag gives you a wiping effect.
6. Keep applying the glaze and removing it until you get the desired effect.
7. Use a damp cloth to remove any excess. It will be very easy to remove.
8. Brush your glaze in corners and crevices to highlight architectural features. Remove excess glaze from it.
9. To create a line of glaze along the edges, use a little bit of glaze on your tip and run your brush at 45 degrees.
10. Protect your piece with polyurethane, once it has dried.

How to Antique Furniture with Paint and Stain?

1. For antiquing furniture, the stain is one of the best for making it light.
2. Let your furniture piece dry completely before painting.
3. Allow the warm wood colors to shine through by lightly distressing the edges.
4. You should not distress the wood too much, as it will still retain its original light color.
5. To give your furniture an aged look, you can use clear or dark wax to distress it.

How to Antique Wood Furniture with Shoe Polish? Seriously?

Yes.

I am serious..:) I am not kidding😁

You can antique your furniture with a Shoe Polish

Chalk paint, stails, and different paints are not the only ways to antique your furniture.

Antiquing furniture can be done in a variety of ways.

Many antique healers use shoe polish to give the furniture an antique appearance.

1. Before you apply it to your furniture, I suggest you practice with paintbrushes, sponges, and cheesecloth.
2. Use a paintbrush or a rag to apply a thin coat of shoe polish to the areas you wish to antique.
3. Shoe polish can be applied to the cabinet’s legs, edges, and raised surfaces where dirt could accumulate.
4. Use a paper towel or a rag to remove excess polish.
5. For a natural, aged look, leave some areas darker than the others.
6. After the shoe polish has dried completely, apply two coats of acrylic varnish.

Although it won’t give you the same luster as specially made waxes, it could be a great option if you have a limited budget or are already skilled at painting furniture.

How to Antique Furniture With Glaze?

1. First, you have to distress and paint your furniture properly.
2. After you’ve painted and distressed the furniture, it is time to apply the glaze on it.
3. However, you can use any color or stain mixed in a ratio of 3:1 (3 parts mixing glaze to one part stain). The glaze allows you to work for longer.
4. You don’t have much time to paint/stain furniture before it dries. It should be applied all over.
5. When you are done, get into the imperfections and cracks that will give your piece character.
6. Now it’s time to clean the piece. So just clean it properly.
7. If you have removed too much glaze from the piece, you can add more glaze.

How to Antique Wood Furniture with White Paint?

1. First, create a watery glaze-like paint by mixing a small amount of brown or yellow latex paint with water in a container.
2. If you want your mixture to be more transparent and thinner, you can add more water. It depends on how look you want to achieve.
3. After that, apply the mixture on the furniture and rub it to give it an antique and aged look.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) while Antiquing Wooden Furniture

Final Thoughts on Antiquing Wood Furniture

Great job..!

You can add vintage charm to your home without ever having to visit an antique shop by antiquing existing furniture and decor.

If you want to do something more with your old furniture, you can read our other tutorial on How to Whitewash Wood Furniture?

And… what now..?

Relax, take a deep breath and enjoy the compliments that will pour in.