How to Antique a Painted Chair

Sometimes antiquing a modern painted chair can be more practical than purchasing an actual antique painted chair. Antique chairs are often fragile and might need repair. In addition, paint used on antique chairs might contain lead. And antique chairs are often very pricey. So antique a chair yourself, creating the exact look you want to match your taste and decor.

Old newspaper
Painted chair
Hammer
Thick chain or crowbar
Medium- and fine-grit sandpaper
Tack cloth
Dark latex or acrylic paint
Bowl
Paintbrush
Rubber gloves
Rag

Instructions

- 1
  Cover your work surface with old newspapers. Set the chair on top of the newspapers.
- 2
  Hit the chair in various places with the hammer at random angles so the marks look like unintentional dents. Use the side of the hammer head at times to create different-shaped marks.
- 3
  Whack the chair some more with a length of chain, a crowbar or other heavy metal tool. Hit places the chair would normally receive dents, such as along the back, on the arms or on the sides of the seat.
- 4
  Sand a few places along the chair to emulate the look of aged wear, sanding through the paint layer at times with medium-grit sandpaper. The chair rungs, arm rests and portions of the seat are potential areas to sand. Smooth the areas you've sanded with fine sandpaper.
- 5
  Wipe the chair down with a tack cloth to remove the dust.
- 6
  Squirt some dark-colored latex or acrylic paint into a bowl, making sure it's a different color than the chair. Add some water to thin it slightly, then stir with a paintbrush.
- 7
  Paint the chair with the watery dark color using your paintbrush or rag; wear rubber gloves. Use the brush or rag to press the paint into the cracks, dents and rungs. Wipe off excess paint until your chair reaches the desired aged look.

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