How to Antique Stained Furniture

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. While some people think that antique furniture looks old and worn-down, others find it highly desirable. You may be able to find the perfect antique wooden furniture at a flea market, auction or garage sale. But you don't have to spend a lot of time or money looking for a worn piece of wooden furniture. You can create your own -- from new furniture -- using a special technique called antiquing.

100-grit sandpaper
Tack cloth
Stain
2-to-3-inch paintbrush
Paste wax
Rag
Stain glaze

Instructions

- 1
  Sand down the furniture with 100-grit sandpaper to smooth it out. Wipe away all dust particles with a tack cloth when finished.
- 2
  Use a 2-to-3-inch paintbrush to cover your wooden furniture in stain, following the pattern of the wood grain. Wipe away excess stain with a rag. Allow several hours to completely dry.
- 3
  Add a coat of paste wax with a clean, dry rag.
- 4
  Apply glaze to the furniture, following the pattern of your stain (which should have followed the pattern of the wood's grain). Allow no more than 24 hours for the glaze to dry.
- 5
  Sand away areas with 100-grit sandpaper to give your furniture its finished antique look. This will remove some of the glaze, and reveal the stain beneath. Sand down areas that would normally get worn down the easiest. For instance, on a chair you could sand down the arms, the seat and the neck areas. On a dresser, you could sand down the corners and the areas around the handles.
- 6
  Wipe away excess dust with a tack cloth. Your new furniture should now look antiqued.

Sanding & Restaining a Dresser

Organizing Furniture for a Small Entry Way

Other Furniture