An Antique Rubbed Wood Finish Technique

Antique and aged-looking furniture is often full of character and charm. Furniture that looks worn and stressed also has a lot of rustic appeal and can add long-standing elegance to a variety of spaces. However, these furnishings do not have to cost you a lot of money because you can achieve these same looks by applying an antique rubbed wood finish technique or "sand trough" to solid colors. Solid color rubbed finishes are not complicated and can give your home a look from the past in a few short steps.

• 1

  Clean your furniture with gentle soapy water. Use dish soap to wash away any residue, oil and grime. Use trisodium phosphate (TSP) if you need more cleaning power. Allow it to thoroughly dry before proceeding.

• 2

  Sand the furniture with fine-grit sandpaper to prepare the surface for paint. However, do not sand away all of the imperfections such as scratches or holes because you will want to highlight those elements later. Wipe away any debris with a clean rag.

• 3

  Choose a base coat color that will stand out against a top coat color. For example, if you want an antique white finish, use a darker colored base coat. You will draw attention to the base coat color in the finished product, so choose something that will be easily distinguishable against the top coat color you select.

• 4

  Apply the base coat color and wait about 24 hours for it to completely dry. Then, apply a top coat color and wait for it to dry out as well.

• 5

  Gently rub off some of the top coat, using steel wool or fine-grit sandpaper, along the edges and corners to give it an antique stressed look. Go over the furniture in light, careful strokes so you do not rub off too much paint at a given time. Slightly sand and rub away paint from imperfections in the wood, and step away from the piece from time to time to see how it looks from a distance. Keep rubbing away until you are satisfied with the look.