Furniture Antiquing Colors

Popular Colors

• While there are no set rules or limits as to what colors you select for your antiquing, there are a number of colors that are quite popular. Selecting the one right for you is based on personal preference, as well as the piece itself. Some of the more common colors used, particularly for base coats, are goldenrod yellow, cranberry, old yellow, farmhouse red, red-rust, gray and brown.

Multiple Layers

• Many furniture antiquing projects will use several layers of paint, often in different color combinations. For example, a sideboard may have a base coat with a rose-colored hue, and then a top coat of dark blue paint. When multiple layers of different paint colors are used, it is in conjunction with one of several furniture antiquing techniques. These techniques allow for the undercoats to show through in critical spots (usually well worn areas of the furniture) or to combine colors for a customized look.

Glaze

• Antiquing glaze, which also comes in multiple colors, is often used as the top coat to complete the antiquing process of furniture. As with base coats, the colors selected are up to you as each will provide a unique look and feel. A couple colors often used to simulate an aged appearance are muted umber and burnt sienna. A final varnish or lacquer should then be used to protect the results of the antiquing process.

Popular Techniques

• Combining either popular furniture antiquing colors or those that simply appeal to you requires implementing various techniques to arrive at the final look. One example of this is applying a red-rust coat while a farmhouse red is still drying, blending the two. Another is using candle wax on the piece after painting one or two base coats, then applying a different colored top coat. Lightly rubbing steel wool over the waxed areas will remove the top coat (paint does not adhere to wax), leaving the base coat color.