There are several reasons you may want to make your cabinets look old. Some of the most common reasons include wanting to match existing decor, create a rustic or farmhouse style, or give new cabinets an antique or distressed look. Making cabinets look old can transform the entire look and feel of your kitchen or bathroom. With some simple techniques, you can easily achieve a weathered, timeworn appearance. In this article, we will walk through the process step-by-step so you can learn how to make your cabinets look old.
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Should I Paint or Stain My Cabinets?
When deciding how to make cabinets look old, the first decision is whether to paint or stain them. Both techniques can work, so consider:
Paint
Painting cabinets is a good choice if you want an aged, timeworn look. Paint adheres to the surface and shows distressing, cracks, and wear more easily than stain. Paint is also quicker than staining. However, paint obscures the natural wood grain. So if you want any grain to show through, staining may be a better choice.
Stain
Stain allows more of the natural wood grain and character to show through. It also penetrates the wood, rather than sitting on top like paint. However, distressing and aging effects don’t show as easily on stain. Staining takes more time and effort than painting.
So in summary:
– Paint if you want a solid distressed color and don’t care about seeing wood grain.
– Stain if you want the wood’s natural pattern and color to show through.
You can also use a combination of staining and painting for certain effects. For example, you could apply a gel stain first to get some grain and depth, then paint over it.
Prepping the Cabinets
Proper prep is crucial for achieving an aged look. For both paint and stain, you’ll need to:
Clean the Surface
Remove any dirt, grease, orgrime so the new paint or stain adheres properly. Clean with a degreasing cleaner and rinse thoroughly. Let dry completely before moving on.
Sand the Cabinets
Lightly sand to rough up the surface and help paint or stain adhere. Use 120-150 grit sandpaper and be sure to sand in the direction of the wood grain.
Fill Any Holes and Imperfections
Use wood filler to patch any holes, cracks, or imperfections for a smooth surface. Once dry, sand again lightly to smooth the filler flush with the surrounding surface.
Prime Cabinets Before Painting
For the most durable finish, use a high-quality primer meant for cabinetry. The primer coat helps the paint stick to the surface without absorbing in unevenly.
Once your cabinets are cleaned, sanded, patched, and primed (for paint), you’re ready to start applying color!
Paint Techniques for an Aged Look
Here are some techniques to use when painting cabinets to achieve an old, timeworn appearance:
Dry Brushing
Dry brushing involves dipping a stiff bristled brush in paint, then wiping off most of the paint on a rag before brushing lightly over the surface. This creates a textured, mottled appearance as paint catches on the ridges and edges. Build up the effect slowly for a natural look.
Sponging
Cut or tear a natural sea sponge into random shapes. Dip the sponge lightly into paint and dab onto the cabinet surface in a random, mottled pattern. Twist the sponge as you dab for organic results.
Crackle Effect
For an aged crackled look, apply a crackle glaze over fully dry paint. This topcoat will shrink and crack as it dries, creating an aged, alligatored appearance.
Sandpaper Distressing
Use fine grit sandpaper to lightly abrade edges and corners once the base paint coats are fully dry. Distress areas that would naturally see more wear like corners, edges, and hardware.
Chemical Distressing
For deeper scratches and dents, use a chemical distressing agent. Apply it to fully dry paint, let it sit for a few minutes, then scrape it off to reveal paint scraped away underneath.
Whitewash
For a beachy, coastal vibe, try whitewashing. Thin white paint with water until it has a wash-like consistency. Use a brush or rag to wipe the thinned paint over other base coats. The white will show through unevenly for a timeworn look.
Staining Techniques
Here are some techniques for staining cabinets to look old:
Layered Staining
Start by applying a heavy brown or black gel stain. Wipe most of it off so it remains mainly in the recesses and details. Then apply a lighter stain overtop and wipe. The deeper stain will show through for added depth and age.
Glazing
Like paint, glaze can create a crackled surface effect. Apply a translucent glaze over fully dried stain, allow to set slightly, then wipe and distress with sandpaper. The glaze will crack as it dries.
Sandpaper Distressing
As with paint, you can use sandpaper to lightly abrade edges and corners with stain for a naturally worn look. Be careful not to scratch all the way through the stain.
Physical Distressing
Dents, chips, and gouges add realism on stained cabinets. Use physical distressing carefully to maintain the color depth. Methods include tapping cabinets with chains, scraping with tools, or even hitting with rocks for indentations.
Finishing Touches
Once your cabinets are painted or stained, add some final touches for realism:
Wax Layering
Rub cabinets with darker glaze or antique wax. Buff off highlights so it remains mostly in recesses. This deepens detail and texture.
Paint Crackle
Use a small brush to manually paint on crackle lines in areas that would naturally crack, like along wood grain. Let it dry before distressing to highlight cracks.
Aged Hardware
Install antique-looking hardware like latches, pulls, and knobs. Aged bronze, galvanized steel, or antique brass work well.
Sheen Control
For stained cabinets, apply a matte polyurethane finish. For paint, use a flat, matte, or eggshell sheen. Shiny cabinets won’t look authentically aged.
Conclusion
Distressing cabinets might seem intimidating, but you can easily achieve an aged, antique look with some simple techniques. Proper prep, layering paints and stains, and using finishes like glaze, wax, and crackle will make your cabinets look like they’ve been around for ages! The finishing touches like antique hardware, paint cracks, and physical distressing add realism. Just take your time, build up layers slowly, and have fun making your cabinets look like they have a story to tell!
| Paint Techniques | Staining Techniques |
|---|---|
| Dry Brushing | Layered Staining |
| Sponging | Glazing |
| Crackle Effect | Sandpaper Distressing |
| Sandpaper Distressing | Physical Distressing |
| Chemical Distressing | |
| Whitewash |
FAQ
What paint sheen should I use?
For an aged look, use flat, matte, or eggshell paint sheens. Glossy sheen will look too shiny and new.
How do I create realistic cracks?
Crackle glaze over paint creates alligatoring as it dries. You can also hand paint fine cracks along the wood grain.
Should I distress before or after sealing?
Always distress before sealing. Sealing makes the paint or stain more durable and prevents proper distressing.
How heavily should I distress cabinets?
Distress lightly and build up over time for a natural look. Heavy one-step distressing looks artificial. Focus on edges and corners.
What’s the difference between antiquing and distressing?
Antiquing refers to applying a glaze to make a uniform aged appearance. Distressing creates specific worn effects like chips, cracks, dents.
Key Takeaways
– Prep properly by cleaning, sanding, and priming or staining the bare wood.
– For paint, dry brushing, sponging, crackle effects, sanding, and whitewash create an aged look.
– For stain, layer stains, apply glaze, physically distress, and sand the edges.
– Add finishing touches like wax, paint cracks, antique hardware, and matte sealer.
– Work slowly in layers and focus distressing on edges and corners.
– The right techniques make it easy to turn new cabinets into antique showpieces!
