We adore reclaimed wood. At least how it looks. Not so much the price. You see, we don’t live near an abundant source of old barn wood. And what is found near us is definitely not cheap. So we’ve come up with 3 easy (REALLY EASY!) steps to make new wood look old.
Wanna know how we do it?
It’s really easy, I promise!
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Step 1: Sand all the roughness out of the new wood. Round the edges a wee little bit to make them look worn.
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Step 2. Use whatever you like to add dings and dents. Hammer, keys, chain. Be sure to smash up the edges too.
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Step 3: Use a super dark stain (with grey undertones, not yellow/orange) like Minwax Dark Walnut. The secret here is to apply the stain with a brush, let it sit for several minutes, then gently wipe off the excess with an old (lint-free) rag. By using a brush, the stain really sinks into the dents & dings, making them nice and dark.
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That’s it! Not complicated, not too messy, pretty crazy easy!!!
How do YOU make new wood look old?
Love that desk top. I’ve done some distressing on shelves and it turned out really good. I find adding layers of different shades of stain makes it look authentic too.
Shauna@Satori Design for Living recently posted..Designer Challenge: Which Chair? {Part Two}
Ooo that industrial desk is soo pretty!! I have also done some wood distressing and used multiple stains as well. Really seems to bring out the deep tones of the wood. Great step by step post! Thanks for sharing:)
Amy W. @TheBlissfulBee recently posted..Industrial Pendant Face Lift
Thanks Amy! I love the dark walnut so much that I’ve only used it Special Walnut and Puritan Pine.
I love the look of the old wood and that stain is perfect. We used it in our kitchen
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Ooh, what did you stain in your kitchen?
I love your tips. The wood looks fantastic!
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Thanks, Darling!
I’ve been waiting for someone to post this!!!!
Well there ya go!
xo,
Shannon
Looks great! Was thinking of making a desk and staining it – can you tell me what kind of wood you please?
Just curious, what type of new wood would you recommend for this?
We typically use the cheapie pine or spruce from Home Depot or Lowe’s. But you can use the laminated project panels if you want a smoother finish – it won’t look quite as ‘authentic’ though.