How to Make Table Furniture Look Antique

Antiquing, or aging and distressing, wood gives an otherwise mundane piece of table furniture a rustic, old-world appearance. If you dont have 100 years to allow your table furniture to age gracefully, there is a solution to achieve the desired look in a fraction of the time. Use safe, inexpensive products to distress your wooden table furniture to create the impression it was passed down for generations. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Fill a plastic bag with rocks, nuts, bolts and any other small pieces of metal. Tie the bag closed and use it to strike the wooden table and chairs to distress the furniture. Focus the bags attention on areas that age naturally, including the tables edges and chairs feet.

2

Wipe down the table furniture with a soapy rag to remove any dirt, grime or debris. Leave any stains behind as these will add to the overall antiqued appearance.

3

Create a mixture of 1/2 cup coffee grounds and 1/2 cup white vinegar. Mix the ingredients until they are well incorporated. The tannins found in coffee grounds gently stain the wood without creating a glossy finish.

4

Submerge a piece of 0000 steel wool into the vinegar mixture. Allow the steel wool to soak for 10 to 15 minutes.

5

Slip on a pair of rubber gloves and remove the steel wool from the vinegar mixture. Work the mixture into the wood using back and forth motions.

6

Continue to cover the wood with the vinegar and coffee mixture. Allow the wood to dry for at least 30 minutes.

7

Rub the woods surface lightly with fine-grained sandpaper. This removes any of the woods remaining sheen, creating a duller, aged appearance.