Antiquing Techniques for Painted Wood Furniture

Tinted Varnish

• Use tinted varnish to make a new piece of painted wood look older. To get this effect, paint your wooden furniture the base color of your preference. Light-colored paints work best, however, for this technique. Once the paint is dry, apply a yellow-tinted varnish to the surface of the piece. Mop up excess liquid in some areas with a clean rag; this will ensure that the varnish does not look too even and pristine.

Ragging

• "Ragging" is the process of using rags to age a piece. This gives the look of the furniture texture. This is done in one of several ways: you can either dip a clean rag into your paint color and press lightly onto the surface like a sponge, or you can paint the furniture like normal, but wipe the area with a rag as you go. While the paint is still wet, drag a rag across the paint to create a splotchy, uneven effect that will make the piece look older.

Crackle Finish

• Over time, paint exposed to the elements will begin to crack and expose previous layers of paint or the wood itself. To rush this look, paint a base coat onto the piece of wooden furniture. Once it is dry, spray the piece with an antiquing "crackle" spray paint. As the paint dries, it will begin to thicken and separate, giving it that aged look. Finish with a paintbrush to further age random areas around the piece.

Patina

• Colors will start to patina when exposed to moisture. Create a patina finish by painting random areas on the wooden piece. Choose the right colored patina for your project. For example, metallic shades such as copper and brass will start to look teal once they age. Darker paint colors, such as brown or black might take on a rust-colored patina. Hand paint or sponge these colors for an aged effect.