How to make different types of patina on furniture with your own hands

Nowadays, not only ultra-modern designs are in trend, but also old or artificially aged furniture. Sometimes in some interiors objects that have scratches, peeling paint, faded color, or frayed edges .

Moreover, the sets or cabinets themselves may be completely new - they are simply made in this particular style. And a special technology helps to make them so – patination. What is patina on furniture? We'll figure it out by reading this material.

What is patina on furniture

You can create amazing beauty with your own hands

Popularity of aged furniture

Whatever one may say, everything new is well forgotten old. From time to time, things that look similar to those once used by our great-grandmothers come back into fashion. Moreover, despite the apparent antiquity, they look very stylish and organic. This also applies to furniture, and not just clothes or souvenirs, equipment or a number of other items. Moreover, it is not necessary to use exactly old things - in some cases they can be completely new, just artificially aged.

Patina and its types Stain is often used for the restoration of furniture

The effect of artificial aging can be achieved using a number of simple techniques. For this purpose, various chemicals, as well as mechanical or thermal methods can be used. Artificial aging is a technology of antique imitation . Moreover, it is possible to decorate not only furniture in this way, but also doors or windows, etc. Nowadays, aged furniture is considered quite prestigious and beautiful, it seems very reliable and often, contrary to the opinion that a person simply does not have the money to buy a new one, can be considered luxury item.

Classic white kitchen with gilding

Table. Methods for aging furniture.

An impressive duet of craquelure and patina

Dear "Mr. Chest of Drawers"

On a note! The easiest way to artificially age objects made of wood is when it comes to doing it yourself.

Classic aging with acrylic paints

Wood aging methods

There are three effective ways to age wood - mechanical, chemical and thermal. Depending on the chosen method, the end result has certain differences.

The mechanical method includes two types of processing - brushing and patination. Both types can be used together or separately, depending on the material and the desired result:

• brushing - the surface is treated with a wire brush to remove soft fibers and expose the annual rings. As a result of this treatment, the top layer acquires a pronounced relief, which is further emphasized by applying glaze compounds. This method is the most labor-intensive and is used mainly for hard wood - pine, larch, spruce, oak, walnut;

Wood brushing

• patination – surface treatment with coloring compounds followed by polishing. It is used for soft species, as well as wood with a weak texture - maple, cherry, beech and others. Wood wax and stain can be used along with paint to give a brighter pattern.

Patination

The chemical method involves treating the top layer of wood with various compounds that change the color of the fibers. Ammonia and products containing alkali, such as stove or drain cleaner, are suitable for this. This method can only be used for species containing tannins, that is, deciduous. Chemical treatment of coniferous wood will not give the desired effect.

The thermal method involves burning wood with a gas torch or blowtorch. The type of tree does not matter. They do not burn it too much, just so that the texture of the fibers appears more clearly, and then remove the carbon deposits with a metal brush. Next, cover the surface with stain or varnish to give the wood a more decorative appearance. In general, the process is not complicated, but it requires caution and compliance with safety precautions.

Burner-aged wood

What is patina?

What is patination and what does the word “patina” mean? Previously, patina was the name given to an oxide film that forms on metal products and has a certain color. So, she tints copper with a malachite or bluish tint. Brass and bronze also boast the ability to develop a patina. More often, only antiquarians and collectors knew this word; it was rarely used in ordinary speech.

Patinated furniture in the interior

Patina is a little bit of a fairy tale in the house...

On a note! Interestingly, the presence of patina was not considered some kind of defect or something bad. On the contrary, its appearance is a sign of the quality of the product, which could last for many years and not collapse.

Aged items go very well with deliberately untreated walls.
Over time, the concept of “patina” has become more extensive - this is the name given to any plaque that appears during the aging process of a wooden or metal product. At the moment, the effect of artificial aging is also called patina, and the process of giving furniture an antique look is called patination.

Today patina is the effect of artificial aging

So we can distinguish three types of patina:

• natural or natural , which appears on its own after some time on metal products. The reason is the contact of the object with air, only the oxidation process occurs;
• artificial , which is also formed due to an oxidation reaction, but appears due to the effect of special substances on objects;
• decorative , which allows you to very quickly age an object and give it a special charm. It is this option that will be discussed in this material.

Metal old objects are a frequent design nuance in styles with patina

Country charm

Thermal aging

First of all, take care of safety precautions. When burning wood, there should be no flammable objects or liquids nearby, and it is better to generally carry out such work in the fresh air. Be sure to check the serviceability of the burner or blowtorch.

Prices for various types of gas burners and blowtorches

Gas burners and blowtorches

Step 1. The workpiece is placed on a non-flammable surface or placed vertically, after which it is fired with a burner. The material is processed as evenly as possible, the top layer should be charred approximately 2-3 mm in thickness.

Processing wood with a torch

Technique for burning wood with a blowtorch

Thermal aging method

Step 2. After cooling, the charred carbon deposits are removed manually with a brush or using a grinder. The intensity and duration of this treatment depends on the desired texture.

Sanding burnt wood

Step 3 . Having formed the desired relief, take the grinding attachment and process the workpiece again. Here it is important not to overdo it and not remove excess, otherwise the aging effect will be insignificant.

Step 4. Since the color of the wood changed during firing, dark and light areas appeared, there is no need for painting. Now all that remains is to coat the material with colorless varnish or protective impregnation.

Thermally aged wood

Patination

Nowadays, patination is actively used in the production and restoration of furniture, and both natural wood and the more common MDF panels can be aged. Furniture with a patina can look very rich without actually being expensive. Looking at such interior items, many people think that they see in front of them an ancient set that served some noble family for many years. But in fact, these cabinets were made at the factory just yesterday.

Furniture with patina can look very rich

On a note! It is easy to distinguish artificially aged furniture from furniture that has aged on its own. Just look at the inside of the headset. For artificially aged items, patination is performed only on the outside.

Creamy caramel color scheme with bright splashes
The option with patinated furniture is suitable for those who really love antiquity, but cannot afford to spend fabulous money on good and high-quality antique furniture. Most often, the patina option is used to decorate rooms in the Provence style.

The mirror takes center stage here, but check out the stunning triple table

By the way, some owners of new furniture can age the interior items themselves by patination themselves at home. This technology is not complicated, but it is labor-intensive, but if you want, you can do everything yourself.

Scandinavian style patina

Patination technology involves applying acrylic or other paint to the furniture façade and then grouting it. After that, it is enough to coat the furniture with a special composition (varnish) so that it acquires a matte shine and remains protected from external influences.

Looking at this authentic bureau, it is unclear whether it has aged naturally or artificially

On a note! The patination technique is often used to decorate chests of drawers, armrests of upholstered furniture, cabinet doors, kitchen units, and stools. In short, everything where there are wooden elements.

Boudoir bathroom in a country house

How to make furniture with a golden patina using wax

A win-win option for the final stage of decorating furniture is to imitate patina with gold wax. Metallic wax is available for sale in various shades of gold, bronze, tin, silver - in jars or tubes. It is applied in a very thin layer so that the imitation looks like a real patina.

To make a patina on furniture with your own hands using wax, follow these rules:

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1. Wax can be applied to the painted surface with your finger, gently rubbing, here and there creating the appearance of slight abrasion.
2. Wax can also be applied with a swab made from a cosmetic disc or cotton cloth.
3. Gold wax is especially suitable for patination of panels and corners on cabinet doors.
4. Gold wax will help highlight the beauty of the carved part.

And in conclusion, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with a selection of photos of furniture with golden patina in various interiors of houses and apartments:

Types of patina

An artificially created patina appears many times faster than a natural one. This is all explained by the rapid occurrence of chemical reactions that result from the action of certain chemicals on the surface of an object. In this way, you can imitate various shades - from golden to black, and sometimes you even manage to create a unique unnatural color combination.

Patination of furniture

Now there are 4 main types of patina. Let's take a closer look at them.

Table. Types of patina.

Artificially aged furniture in Provence style

What is needed for patination?

Having mastered the patination technique, you can, within a few hours, beautifully and harmoniously age furniture. Moreover, it will look really advantageous if the interior style suits it. Usually paints are used at home, but you will also need brushes, primer, varnish, sandpaper or a special sponge for sanding. As a rule, everything you need can be bought in office departments and partly in hardware stores.

Bed for a titled person

It is best to take two types of paints, for the bottom layer and for the top. The bottom layer can be anything, but the top layer is better made to look like metal (ideal options are gold or bronze).

Advice! Before starting to patina furniture, it is recommended to practice on some unnecessary piece of furniture. Even though the technology is simple, you still need to have some skills to make sure everything works out as it should. For example, you can try to patent a wooden box or an ordinary board.

First, it is better to practice on some unnecessary objects.
It is important to understand that you should not apply too much paint, otherwise you can ruin the texture of the wood and it will simply seem dirty. The coloring composition should be applied to flat surfaces that do not have any special protrusions. Also, you should not apply it where there is constant contact with surfaces (for example, on furniture handles) - the paint will not stick anyway.

DIY wooden chest

In our new article, we look at the best options for making chests with your own hands. Ideas, step-by-step instructions and tips can all be found in this article!

Chemical aging method

The use of chemically aggressive substances requires special care and precision in work. Protective gloves must be used and the room must be well ventilated. The workpiece is pre-treated with coarse sandpaper and wiped from dust. Then apply alkaline agents or ammonia with a brush and leave for several hours. To slow down drying, you can cover everything on top with film. Under the influence of ammonia and alkalis, the surface acquires a gray tint, characteristic of old weathered wood.

Chemical aging method

When the color of the workpiece has completely changed, it is rinsed with water and then wiped with a vinegar solution (a tablespoon per glass of water) to remove the remaining alkali. If ammonia was used, a vinegar solution is not needed. After drying, the wood is brushed, sanded and a protective coating is applied. There is no need to paint such material, because then there is no point in chemical processing, and it is easier to do everything mechanically.

Artificial aging

How does patination occur?

Let's see how to patent an ordinary furniture box with your own hands, creating a scuffed effect on it.

Step 1. First of all, the box needs to be sanded using sandpaper. This procedure will get rid of unevenness and roughness. After the box has been sanded, dust should be wiped off with a cloth.

First, the box is sanded with sandpaper.

Step 2. Next, the places that should ultimately appear shabby should be treated with regular candle wax. These can be the sides of the box, as well as some places on its flat surface. The pre-treated surface can also be coated with wood primer. If primer is used, it should be applied in a thin layer.

The necessary areas are treated with candle wax

Step 3. Then the box needs to be coated with paint of the main color. In this case, white acrylic paint is used. It must be applied carefully with a brush to the entire surface of the box. This paint dries quickly, and you must wait for it to dry before carrying out further work.

Application of white acrylic paint

Step 4. Next, the box needs to be sanded again. The procedure will allow you to get rid of some of the paint, so you need to sand the surface in those places where the paint needs to be removed. It can be easily removed in areas that have been waxed. You need to work along the grain of the wood.

Re-sanding

Only those areas where paint needs to be removed are sanded.

Important! There is no need to use paper that is too rough. Otherwise, there is a risk of damaging the surface of the box.

Step 5. Next, the furniture needs to be given a dirty effect. It is created in the area of ​​the corners of the drawer. And for this purpose a composition will be used, which is called patina. In this case, it is better to take a water-based one. A small amount should be applied to a palette or any plastic surface that you don’t mind getting dirty.

A small amount of patina is taken

Step 6. The best way to apply the patina is with a piece of sponge. It is necessary to lightly moisten the sponge with the patination compound and apply this composition to the surface of the furniture with gentle, gentle movements.

The sponge is moistened with a patination compound

Patina is carefully applied

Step 7. Next, after all the compounds have dried, you need to coat the surface of the box with varnish, preferably not glossy, but matte. The work is completed. All that remains is to dry the surface of the box, screw the fittings to it and you can use it.

Applying varnish

This is what the finished aged box will look like

By the way, patina can be applied in two layers. Then the colors will be more saturated. But you shouldn’t be overzealous, otherwise the furniture will look unnatural.

Video - Patination of furniture facade

Working with gold leaf: a simple master class with video

Using gold leaf, you can decorate a simple wooden chest of drawers. Below is a simple master class on working with gold leaf, where it is used in a “mosaic” version as an ornament on the flat surface of a chest of drawers. Also, the ornament can be applied through a stencil not in pieces, but as a continuous coating.

You will need:

• gold leaf in sheets (light gold);
• stencil with ornament;
• glue for gold leaf;
• synthetic brush for applying varnish;
• masking tape;
• ruler, chalk;
• oil varnish or finishing varnish for gold leaf

Whatever glue you use for gold leaf, always read the manufacturer's instructions and follow them strictly.

1. Use masking tape to glue the ornament stencil onto the surface of the chest of drawers. Apply glue for gold leaf on it.
2. Stencil small pieces of gold leaf onto the surface with glue, leaving gaps between them.
3. Use masking tape to mark an even strip 2 cm wide, limiting it on both sides. Cover the strip between the pieces of tape with glue.
4. Place pieces of gold leaf on the glue. After they stick, carefully remove the tape.

Watch the video of the master class on applying gold leaf to wood, which clearly demonstrates the stages of this process:

Where is the best place to put such furniture?

Aged furniture can look great in any part of the house, be it a living room, bedroom, kitchen or hallway. The main thing is that it matches the style of the interior as a whole.

Don't you think Jane Eyre lived in this room?

Aged kitchen sets look very good . They seem very cozy and are conducive to spending pleasant evenings with the family around the table. Patinated facades go well with countertops that imitate stone, and on the walls to complete the overall picture in the kitchen, you can hang paintings in antique frames in silver or gold. It is best to patina white or brown kitchen sets.

Kitchen in the style of an old bar - very cozy!

Patinated bedroom sets look very luxurious. Moreover, it is good if not only the bed and nightstands are aged, but also wardrobes and other furniture in the bedroom. Ideally, the doors between rooms will also have an antique effect.

Stylish nursery for an “adult” child

It is important to understand that products with patina, despite the fact that they have an aged appearance, require care and attention. They need to be regularly cleaned of dust, but no abrasives or aggressive chemicals should be used. The latter can cause irreparable harm to products that will lose their beauty.

It is important to properly care for aged furniture

In general, patinated furniture is unlikely to lose popularity anytime soon. So you can either buy a ready-made version, or age the one that is already in the house. It’s not difficult to create an antique effect, especially since everything you need can be found in the store. And doing it yourself, although it will take a lot of time, will cost much less than buying a new headset. The main thing is to master all the skills and practice before you take on finishing all the furniture at once.