Give Furniture New Life Through Antiquing

On a warm evening drive, it isn’t uncommon to spot a piece of furniture sitting by the curb. They’re often older pieces, perhaps sturdy, but out of style. Maybe that piece is just the right size for your space. Maybe something about its construction catches the eye. Vintage furniture pieces can be found almost anywhere, whether in someone’s trash, an old barn, or the local thrift store. Often, these items are tossed because they don’t fit someone’s decor style, but what if you could pick up that piece and turn it into an heirloom-quality treasure? Learning the art of antiquing furniture could allow you to pick up inexpensive pieces and personalize your space with unique, vintage charm. Let’s explore how to turn lifeless furniture into dream decor.

Materials

The essential part of any furniture project is the piece of furniture itself. You’ll be putting a lot of time and effort into this, so be sure it’s a piece you love that fits in your home. For this tutorial, you’ll need a piece of wooden furniture. Preferably find something that is solid wood. A wood-veneered piece will work but may be more difficult when sanding.

Gather latex or acrylic paint and an oil-based stain in whatever colors you prefer. Next, find a water-based primer; spray primer may be the most convenient option. You’ll also need oil-based polyurethane, an orbital sander and sanding blocks with medium and coarse grit papers, a paintbrush, latex gloves, and several rags for staining. If you plan to change the color of existing hardware, you may also want to invest in spray paint to simplify that process.

Prep and Sand

Before getting to work, you’ll need to prepare each surface. To ensure the paint and stain reach every crevice, remove doors and hardware and pull out any drawers. We recommend putting knobs, hinges, screws and handles in a bag, then setting it aside to avoid losing these critical items.

Then it’s time to get the orbital sander ready. Every surface will need to be heavily sanded to remove existing paint or stain. While this process can be done with a sanding block on smaller pieces, the orbital sander can save hours of hard surface sanding. If you don’t own one, consider calling your local hardware store to see if they’re available for rent. Use sandpaper in any crevices or decorative elements the orbital sander can’t reach. Sand until the surface is roughed up and any unwanted color removed. For certain pieces, a liquid sander may work as a substitute for the sanding process; use a dry rag to apply the liquid and follow manufacturer instructions.

Prime and Paint

A thin coat of primer will ensure your piece stays beautiful for years. If you’ve chosen a liquid primer, brush or roll onto every surface of the piece, paying special attention to edges and divots. If you purchased a spray primer, place a piece of cardboard underneath doors and near corners to avoid overspray. Allow the primer to dry according to package instructions.

Once the primer has dried, layer on a coat of your chosen paint. Regular or spray paint will work for most pieces. Your choice of paint medium and application can affect the final look. Keep in mind that spray paint can wrinkle, crack, or peel if manufacturer guidelines are not followed. For standard furniture paint, you can apply it with either a roller or a brush. We recommend using a brush as the peaks and valleys it creates will feel more authentically antique.

You can follow these instructions for every surface of the piece, but if you plan to stain the top, simply sand and prime. It won’t need a coat of paint. If time allows, tape off the top edges once the primer has dried. This will help keep paint from accidentally ending up where you don’t want it.

Sand (again) and Stain

This is where the sanding skills you developed at the beginning of this project will shine through. Be sure the paint has fully dried, then grab your sanding block again. To simulate an antique, worn look, take the block and sand select edges until the wood shows through. Focus on areas that would wear down over time: around knobs, areas with raised detail, corners, and edges. This is an opportunity to be creative and make this piece your own. While we prefer to use this technique sparingly, you may love the exposed wood look and want to add more weathering. Remember, you can always sand more, but you can’t take away what's already been done. Take a step back and review regularly while you work.

Next, apply a thin coat of stain onto all surfaces. Take one of your rags and wipe most of the stain off; this seems counterproductive, but wiping off most will create a subtle color change while allowing it to settle in recessed areas. Letting a small amount of stain pool in cracks and crevices lends a stunning antique look. Do this process in steps so each surface doesn’t dry too quickly. You can also highlight any sanded areas by brushing a bit of extra stain on to create a darker, more aged look.

If you’ve chosen to stain the top surface, apply the stain evenly with a rag. It’s important to follow any package instructions, especially if you’ll be applying more than one coat to achieve a darker color.

Put it Together and Enjoy

Now simply screw on doors, attach hardware, and step back to enjoy your new piece. The hard work will have been worth it when your friends visit and ooh and ahh over your perfectly styled furniture. If they ask where you got it, you can tell them it’s a one-of-a-kind antique made by you. And don’t be surprised when you start seeing the potential in rejected furniture around you. Your home may just become filled with antiqued gems before you know it.