Vintage and rustic wood is making a come back and if you do not wish to buy rustic wood from the market which will cost you a fortune then do not worry you can distress your wood and other wood furniture at home as well to make them look vintage and old.
There are many techniques which you can apply to distress wood and make furniture look old –
1. Sanding technique
The method is essentially the same regardless of the sanding tool (a palm sander, a block, or sanding with paper in hand). No matter the tool, use these steps to sand like a master.
Get the Surface Ready First. The surface that will be sanded should be free of any tape or staples. Scrap any globs of glue, plaster, paper, flooring debris, or other materials as necessary. Set all nails and staples below the surface; a single nail or staple will rapidly rip and damage a brand-new piece of sandpaper. Sand in order. You will need to use a series of two or three sandpapers, from coarse to fine, to smooth off a rough surface. For most sanding applications, a medium-coarse paper of 80 to 100 grit can be a good place to start, then a finer paper in the 120 to 180 grit range to smooth the surface to the touch. Refresh the paper as needed. Dust will block it up and decrease its effectiveness. The majority of the dust will release from the paper’s surface with a simple tap. In this manner, you may be sure that all the hard work you put in is paying off.
2. Candle technique
This method of distressing wood or furniture is quite flexible and nearly always produces fantastic results. Both unpainted and painted wood, as well as furniture, may be treated with it. It works well to create either a single layer of distressing or many layers. Choose the colour for each layer. Start by colouring the bottom layer of a piece of wood. Paint the wood in various places. Totally dry the area. Take an uncoloured candle and vigorously massage the wood in various locations. The colour for the second layer should be painted on the wood. Totally dry the area. Apply some pressure while wiping the surface with a cloth. Where the wax was applied to the board, the paint will peel off. For the third layer, repeat Step 2.
3. Wet Paper Technique
The Wet paper method is a wonderful substitute for using Vaseline to distress wood or furniture. Do you have any paper? Of course, you have. For a more natural appearance, tear little pieces of paper and vary their sizes and forms. Place each piece on a piece after dipping it in water. Paint the wood first, then gently peel each piece of wet paper off the surface before it dries. While the paint is still wet or has dried, you may still do this. Simple and clean! To get the desired shabby chic aesthetic, you may either repeat the technique to add more layers or sand certain areas.
4. Dry brush technique
The dry brush technique, a popular painting technique, adds just the right amount of color from the can to the surface to give otherwise plain dressers, tables, and desks a shabby-chic feel. It is a painting faux pas to use a partially loaded, virtually dry brush anyplace else to create the whimsical texture of unequal streaks.
5. Scraper technique
One of the most often used luthier tools in the wood shop is a card scraper, also known as a scraper blade, hand scraper, or cabinet scraper. Don’t be deceived by how easy to use this wood-scraping tool seems; in reality, it’s a really intuitive instrument that takes practice to grasp the nuances of utilizing to its maximum extent.
Although the scraper first appears to be merely a piece of metal, with the right sharpening and skill, it can be a superb tool for producing and gently polishing both level and curved surfaces while eliminating many of the disadvantages of sandpaper and the restrictions of hand planes.
6. Color washing technique
On wooden furniture, colour washing is a common process used to create a faded, almost old appearance. By allowing the wood grain to show through the paint, color washes give each piece more depth and visual intrigue. In houses with old or antique furniture and shabby chic décor, wood painted with a colour wash looks lovely. You may choose the ideal amount of transparency for your furniture by color washing, ensuring that any item you paint will suit your preferences and needs. Since colour cleaning is simple to accomplish at home, many individuals choose to take on this task over the weekend.
These were some of the techniques which are easy to do and you can easily DIY your distress and vintage wood at home without looking for workers to do it. It can be a fun activity to do with your family just take protective measures before beginning the activity.
