What Is a Patina Finish?

Copper Patina

• Copper is a metal alloy that oxidizes in time with exposure to air and water. The progression begins with a salmon-pink color, which progresses through a rust and russet brown stage, which then deepens into a chestnut brown before the final oxidation stage of gray-green patterned splotches. The oxidation process can be halted at any stage and preserved by applying a clear finish designed for preserving copper. While the natural oxidation process takes from five to 14 years, depending on the amount of sulphur dioxide in the atmosphere, this can be hastened by commercial copper patina products, available in hobby and hardware stores. These are traditionally acid chloride treatments or acid sulfate treatments, so they should be used with caution.

Painted Surface Patina

• A patina on a painted finish can make a room look well used, even in a home that is brand new construction. The look is intended to evoke the painted finishes in generational homes, which have had decades of hands and multiple coats of paint layered on walls. A patina finish on painted surfaces usually consists of a base coat of paint, followed by a sponge- or rag-applied top coat consisting of a mixture of three parts glaze to one part paint, with the paint one to two shades darker than the base coat.

Rusted Metal Patina

• The look of weathered, rusted metal is a finish that has become popular in the country and shabby chic decorating styles. The reddish finish of rusted metal can be simulated in a patina finish using commercial paint kits available at hobby shops and hardware stores. To create a rusted metal patina finish on wood or clay surfaces, a metallic surfacer can be applied before the rust antiquing solution.

Clay and Stone Patina

• When exposed to the elements, clay and stone items in a garden take on a natural patina, which includes green staining from lichen and white markings from the natural salts in the stone or clay moving to the surface of the item. This can be simulated in a patina finish with the use of a paint wash composed of one part water and two parts latex paint. This finish, applied with a sponge, will create the look of naturally aged patina on pots, garden statuary, and other stone or clay outdoor features.