How to Antique Stain Oak Furniture

Stained oak furniture gives your home a distinctive and distinguished look, but if the furniture looks too new, it might clash with your existing dcor. For a home with a shabby chic look or a bohemian aesthetic, brand new furniture -- even if it's made out of wood -- can look out of place. Take a moment to antique your stained oak furniture. This is a simple process that can be accomplished without any woodworking knowledge. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Put down a drop cloth to protect your work surface. Place your furniture on top of the drop cloth.

2

Rub wear spots into your stained oak furniture using 0000 steel wool. This fine steel wool puts scratches into your stained wood without creating an overly dramatic look. Pay special attention to the edges of the furniture, the corners, the feet or footboards, or any other place that would receive a lot of contact.

3

Throw a length of heavy chain at the stained wood. This creates shallow dents that are consistent with regular wear and tear on the wood.

4

Tap the wood lightly with a mallet. This helps round out sharp corners while also putting some shallower, broader dents in the wood. Use the mallet gently to avoid damaging the furniture.

5

Drag the sharp prongs of a crowbar along the sides of the cabinet or along the top. This leaves grooves in the stained wood. Do this sparingly because too many grooves looks deliberate.

6

Wipe the stained oak furniture down using tack cloth to remove the saw dust.

7

Wet a clean cloth lightly with linseed oil and use it to wipe down the furniture, working the oil into the grooves and dents you made. Linseed oil is an old-fashioned finish that gives your furniture a beautiful, antique shine.

8

Allow the linseed oil to cure for 24 hours.

9

Repeat rubbing the linseed oil on the furniture one more time if desired. Otherwise, at this point, your furniture is ready to be used.