Artificially aged furniture will be a great addition to the decor of any room, decorated in a washed, rustic, natural or shabby chic style. Artificially aging furniture is easy, and there are several different techniques for this, using different materials. You can choose just one of them or combine several to give the furniture a very old and worn look.
Select a piece of furniture that has been covered in paint. Wipe it with a damp cloth to clean.
Paint cracking agent
Coat all furniture surfaces with a paint cracking agent. Apply this product with a paint brush, following the instructions on the product package. Before the product dries, coat the furniture with latex interior paint in a color that contrasts with the color of the old paint. As the paint dries, the cracking agent will help create cracks that show through the old paint. We also read about other ways. how to age wooden furniture with the help of paint.
Sandpaper
You can also give furniture an aged look with sandpaper. Start with medium grain paper. Rub it on furniture where it is expected to wear out over time, such as corners and edges, and surfaces where people sit or lay their hands. Do not sand evenly over the entire surface. Certain places should be worn more than others. At the end, sand the same places with fine sandpaper to smooth out the edges of the transition.
Nails
Drive in a nail in some places. Then take out the nails. So you get "traces from the wormhole." These holes should also not be evenly spaced. Just make small collections of them in one or two places.
Shoe polish cream
On an unnecessary rag, apply a little black or brown shoe polish. Rub this cream on those places where there is a thread or small details. Then wipe the furniture with a clean cloth to remove excess cream. The shoe polish will remain in the recesses and look like years of dirt buildup.
Blowtorch
You can artificially age the paint with a blowtorch. Turn on the lamp for short periods so that the paint under the influence of heat melts and loses its color. Move the blowtorch all the time, do not let it stay in one place, otherwise the tree may catch fire. Point the flame along the edges or move back and forth across the surface. You don't need to process the entire item, just add a few burnt spots to achieve the desired effect.
If you have chosen this method, it is advisable to first learn how to operate a blowtorch, or at least learn from someone who knows how to work with it. Be sure to wear a protective suit, because you need to handle fire carefully. And do the work only in the open air or in a workshop specially designed for this.
You can read about other methods of aging wood here:
How to age wooden furniture at home