A great many people dream of living in a luxurious house or apartment filled with antiques, hand-made carpets, forged items and original works of art. However, recreating similar interior design styles is quite expensive, so such desires of people remain just dreams, sometimes they are not even voiced out loud.

 

Aging of the surface
To get the desired environment, you do not need to have a lot of money, you can simply wisely use the furniture you already have at home, simply giving it a touch of “antique”.

In fact, to get the desired environment, you do not need to have a lot of money, you can simply wisely use the furniture you already have at home, simply giving it a touch of “antique”.

 

Antique chest of drawers
Each option has its pros and cons, and each produces a slightly different end result.

Secrets of creating "rare" furniture with your own hands

There are three main ways to turn ordinary furniture items you bought just yesterday into real masterpieces. Each option has its pros and cons, and each produces a slightly different end result.

 

Aged furniture
Aged furniture obtained through such actions is distinguished by restraint and is more suitable for creating “simple” styles.

Important: Before starting work, be sure to prepare the surface for decoration by cleaning it from dirt, old coating (paint, varnish) and removing fittings.

 

The furniture may already be old or it can be aged
If you are aging furniture for the first time, choose a small piece and practice on it first.

Mechanical

This option is rightfully considered the safest and simplest. Aged furniture obtained with the help of such actions is distinguished by restraint and is more suitable for creating "simple" styles, such as country or Provence.

 

Aged wood furniture with your own hands using the home patination method
Choose an object that will “age” before your eyes.

So, you can give “antique” to sideboards, cabinets and armchairs mechanically using sandpaper, a metal brush and white azure, which is a type of decorative coating.

 

Aged chest of drawers in the room
A great many people dream of living in a luxurious house or apartment filled with antiques, hand-woven carpets, wrought iron items and original works of art.

Advice: If you are aging furniture for the first time, choose a small piece and practice on it first.

 

Artificially aged furniture
After completing the aging process, the resulting furniture has dark, noble shades.

Step by step instructions:

  • choose an object that will “age” before your eyes;
  • go over its entire surface with sandpaper;
  • follow up with a wire brush;
  • clear the area to be treated from sawdust;
  • cover the object with white glaze;
  • repeat the last step if after the first layer has dried the desired effect is not observed (no relief);
  • cover the product with varnish.

 

age a chest of drawers
This type of aged furniture is suitable for creating light, luxurious interiors.

Thermal

This option helps to add “age” to wooden objects using fire, a brush (metal), stain and varnish.

 

Artificially aged furniture in the house
This step can be done before using the lamp or burner.

After the aging process is completed, the resulting furniture has dark, noble shades, which are ideal for creating a restrained, stylish and timeless classic interior.

 

quality of wooden furniture
How do you create aged furniture and an interesting interior?

How to do it:

  • take all the furniture that needs to be given an "antique" look outside;
  • burn the entire area with a blowtorch or kerosene burner;
  • remove carbon deposits;
  • Brush over the entire area to be burned to achieve a clear relief;

 

aged furniture is popular
Paint of the desired shade is applied to the piece of furniture being treated.

This step can be done before using the lamp or burner.

  • Cover the treated area with stain and, after it dries, with varnish.

 

Furniture from aged wood with your own hands in the interior
However, recreating similar interior design styles is quite expensive, so such desires of people remain just dreams, sometimes they are not even voiced out loud.

Advice: When firing, do not stay too long in just one area, so as not to simply burn the item

 

Artificially aged furniture photo
On top of the craquelure, another layer of paint is applied, which should be 1-2 tones lighter than the bottom one.

Chemical

Ammonia and sandpaper are used (the method is only suitable for hardwoods)

 

Table bleached with tracing paste
After the varnish dries, small cracks appear all over the surface.

The secret to adding “age” to furniture in this case is simple: first, the surface is carefully treated with sandpaper, and then all the resulting roughness is gone over with a brush dipped in ammonia.

 

aged chair
Each option has its pros and cons, and each produces a slightly different end result.

This type of aged furniture is suitable for creating light, luxurious interiors.

 

The effect of artificially cracked paint on furniture
Paint of the desired shade is applied to the piece of furniture being treated.

Using craquelure and paint

How do you get aged furniture and an interesting interior in this case? Paint of the desired shade is applied to the piece of furniture being processed. After it dries, it is necessarily sanded with sandpaper, and then craquelure varnish is applied.

 

Distressed Kitchen Furniture
In this case, the obligatory finishing touch is varnish, which allows you to fix the obtained result.

The craquelure is covered with another layer of paint on top, which should be 1-2 tones lighter than the bottom one. After the varnish dries, small cracks appear on the entire surface.

 

Artificially aged furniture-Provence
Aged furniture is no different in appearance from vintage furniture, which makes it easy to create royally luxurious items even on a modest budget.

If paint and gold patina are used

This method is rightfully considered one of the fastest options for transforming a new piece of furniture into an “antique” one.

 

Change the kitchen
After it dries, using a sponge, gold acrylic paint is applied to individual areas.

So, after the owner has sanded the entire area, the piece of furniture should be covered with paint. After it dries, golden acrylic paint is applied to individual areas using a sponge. The obligatory finishing touch is varnish, which allows you to fix the result.

Aged furniture in a modern interior
The secret to adding “age” to furniture in this case is simple: first, carefully treat the surface with sandpaper.

How to determine when brushing is needed?

Brushing is a process of selecting soft wood fibers to give it a pronounced structure. To create this effect in production conditions, brushing or sandblasting machines are used. At home, brushing is done with a metal brush and a chisel.

 

Chests of drawers and bedside tables made of artificially aged solid pine
Ammonia and sandpaper are used (the method is only suitable for deciduous trees).
Artificially distressed furniture in ivory color
To create this effect in production conditions, brushing or sandblasting machines are used.

The advantage of brushing is that it can be combined with any of the furniture aging methods. The disadvantages are the following facts: only hardwoods (oak, larch) can be subjected to such treatment, and the first time a beginner may not achieve the desired effect on the product.

 

High-quality artificially aged furniture in the Provence style
To create this effect in production conditions, brushing or sandblasting machines are used.

So, “forced” aged furniture is no different in appearance from vintage furniture, which makes it easy to create royally luxurious, beautiful and stylish apartments even on a modest budget.

Artificially aged furniture in the Provence style with your own hands
When firing, do not stay too long in just one area, so as not to simply burn the item.
Aged furniture in the house
If you are aging furniture for the first time, choose a small piece and practice on it first.

VIDEO:How to Age Wood. Distressed Paint Effect

50 photo ideas on how to artificially age furniture