What is patina on furniture: what it is and how to make it yourself

Using furniture “with a past” has always been one of the popular design techniques. The question of what is patina on furniture is beginning to interest those who want to update the interior without spending significant money. I thought the same way when I decided to age the furniture fronts in the kitchen in order to refresh the decor and make the room more comfortable.

Source remontkit.ru

What is patination called?

Initially, patina was understood as the result of the natural aging of various materials. Already two or three centuries ago, the furnishings of palaces and wealthy houses included furniture, metal candlesticks, statues and paintings covered with a characteristic patina. No one tried to get rid of patina, because it gave things an antique (and, therefore, valuable) look, served as additional protection for them and gave the interior a sophisticated, decorative look.

Natural patina on wood is the result of aging varnish; on bronze, copper or brass it is the result of metal corrosion. And, if in modern conditions a patina can form quite quickly (in a few years) on a copper roofing sheet, then it will have to wait much longer for it to appear on furniture.

Having understood the reasons for the appearance of patina on furniture and understanding what it is, cabinetmakers developed techniques for artificial aging (patination) of furniture, the main advantage of which was a quick result.

Source gidpokraske.ru

In order to imitate natural changes on the surface of furniture, patination compounds are used in combination with various processing techniques. In modern conditions, patination has become widespread. The popularity of the technique is explained by the minimal costs and the ability to perform the procedure yourself.

Antique chest of drawers

An antique chest of drawers like this will refresh the room and bring into it a slight reminder of what once was. It’s not difficult to make it from a piece of furniture you’ve just purchased in a store or a really old one, adding antique handles, a little imagination and creativity. And after that, no one will distinguish this “antiquity” from the real inheritance of your great-grandmother.

You don't have to be a master to do this type of patination. The technology is very simple. Read the job description and you will understand everything.

Prepare everything you need to age your chest of drawers

• Wooden chest of drawers,
• dye,
• stain,
• paraffin candle,
• matte acrylic varnish,
• brushes,
• emery cloth,
• old rags.

Step-by-step instruction

1. Remove handles from dresser doors and drawers.
2. Sand the outer wooden surfaces with emery cloth and remove any remaining varnish.
3. Remove dust from the dresser.
4. Cover the surfaces to be decorated with a protective agent (primer). Leave for 8-10 hours to dry.
5. Use a paraffin candle to rub the most protruding areas of the chest of drawers.
6. Using rough strokes, apply a thick layer of acrylic paint in the color you want to the chest of drawers. To paint the front of the drawers, remove them. Leave the product for 12-24 hours to allow the paint to dry completely.
7. Using the sandpaper, rub the paint very lightly in the areas where the paraffin was applied. After some areas have been erased, go over the surface with a dry cloth.
8. After removing the excess paint, remove dust and dirt from the surface of the dresser.
9. Cover the product with a thin layer of matte acrylic varnish. Leave to dry for 4-6 hours.

Aged furniture: manufacturing techniques

In practice, people most often think about applying a patina when the furniture has become so old that it has lost its former attractiveness. If you no longer like the appearance of the cabinet, but the item itself retains its functionality, remains strong, and is easy to refresh.

You need to understand that such a change shapes the interior in a strictly defined style (for example, Provence or retro style). If you are not a fan of eclecticism, then you will have to make some, albeit small, changes to the decor (for example, change the curtains).

Source stroiremdoma.ru

To obtain the effect of artificial aging, three techniques are used:

• Chemical (this includes patination). The method allows you to obtain the best result in terms of imitation, and it is most accessible for implementation at home. The technique is based on treating a wooden surface with chemicals (this also includes painting).
• Mechanical (brushing). Used in combination with the first method. The surface is cleaned with a metal brush, sandpaper or grinder. The technology makes it possible to reveal the texture of wood and create a relief that imitates abrasions.
• Thermal. When thermal aging, firing with an open fire (for example, with a blowtorch) is used. Under the influence of fire, the wooden structure burns out intermittently, creating the desired effect. Then the surface is sanded and covered with transparent or matte varnish.

Source sapidinterior.com

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.

Types of patina

There are several basic ways to make a patina, used in furniture production. Many of these technologies are available to reproduce at home, with patination being the simplest option.

A primer is applied to furniture (solid or laminated MDF) in order to level the surface and enhance the adhesion of the patina mixture. Then a layer of patina is applied, which is sanded with sandpaper or a metal sponge. The aging effect depends on the thoroughness of the grinding.

The technique of patination with gold (silver, bronze) is more complex, since it requires the application of additional layers. The method can be used for any furniture, but has the following limitations:

• The gold patination technique is suitable for facades with relief decoration. After applying patina, convex patterns acquire a special charm.
• Suitable only for matte furniture. Glossy facades will glare and will negate the effect of gilding; the set will not look elegant, but simple.

Source gidpokraske.ru

Patination with craquelure is a more complex technology that combines a touch of antiquity with cracks in the paintwork. The effect is created in two steps. First, several layers of beveled (a type of craquelure) varnish are applied, and each subsequent layer is applied without waiting for the previous one to dry completely.

"Crushed" technique

If you want to patina something on a larger scale, then don’t be scared - it’s easier than it seems. An ordinary dark brown table can easily be turned into an antique one, covered with an almost real patina.

To do this, all you need is to mix paints of a suitable shade and arm yourself with crumpled paper or a towel.

Treat the entire surface and legs of the table in a “creased” style, let it dry thoroughly and - voila! - you are the owner of a real rarity. Well, almost real, shh.

Photo: happymodern.ru, ib-gallery.ru, liveinternet.ru, livemaster.ru, redouxinteriors.com

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Types of patination compositions

The following patination mixtures are commercially available:

• Shellac varnish. Composition of natural origin on a water-alcohol basis. The varnish is used for finishing surfaces; it is convenient to apply it with a sponge or brush (on small parts). Depending on the number of layers, the final color will have different saturation, from golden to deep red.
• Acrylic patina. This imitation is considered decorative. Regular acrylic paint of any color is used, including shades not typical of natural materials (black, white, blue). Patina paint for wood is applied to the product, rubbed over and left in the patterns or in the corners.

Source vox-cdn.com

• Bituminous patina. A ready-made option for those who do not want to prepare the mixture. A small amount of the composition is applied to the decor and rubbed with a cloth; the surface acquires a dark shade, the effect of long-term use of the item is achieved. The result can be secured with a layer of shellac varnish.
• Waxy patina. The composition based on water-soluble wax dries slowly, so it is convenient for rubbing over the surface at home. It can be applied to relief decor, for example, bas-relief or imitation wood carving made from acrylic paste. The waxy patina helps bring out the grain of the wood.
• Oil patina. A universal patination product with properties similar to the wax variety. The composition has a thick consistency and dries slowly, which is convenient for working on vertical surfaces. Oil patina optimally reveals and emphasizes the surface relief.

Source gidpokraske.ru

Bituminous varnish for aging interior items

Bituminous varnish is widely used for decorative aging, mainly of relief surfaces. This technique looks especially successful when working with carved elements found on furniture, picture frames, mirrors, and other interior items. Apply bitumen varnish over the paint layer. It is able to identify and emphasize depressions, cracks, darken the lowest located places, and give a beautiful brown tint to the elevations.

What to prepare

• Frame for a picture or mirror. Choose products with a textured surface. Not necessarily made of wood.
• Primer.
• Acrylic paint in gold or silver color.
• Bitumen varnish.
• Alcohol based shellac varnish.
• Synthetic brush for applying varnish.
• Brushes for paint, primer.
• A sponge or natural old rags.
• A little white spirit.

Patina on a metal surface

In a modern living room or kitchen, metal items are rare; usually these are decorative items: candlesticks, stands, chandeliers. Many owners do not like the bright shine and modern look of such products, but waiting for them to acquire a noble appearance naturally is too long. Therefore, chemical compounds are used to age metal surfaces.

Modern interiors most often contain products made of bronze, copper or iron (in loft interiors). Patina on copper items can have different colors: brown (ammonium salts), red (chlorine salts), black (copper sulfite or oxide), green or blue (copper chloride, acetate). For copper, all types of films are relatively safe.

Green and blue patina has a destructive effect on bronze items. A safe decor for bronze will be a black film obtained as a result of bluing - oil treatment and calcination in copper filings.

Source gidpokraske.ru

Artificially creates an aging effect on the surface of silver. Patina can have different shades; blackening of silver looks elegant. A patina on gold can be created if the alloy contains nickel or copper.

Color solutions

The most common type of patina is copper oxide. The surface painted with this paint has a greenish appearance. On other metals, oxidation processes occur differently, so patina gives different colors, for example:

• on steel - ocher or yellow;
• on bronze and brass - brown;
• on silver - darkish gray.

In construction supermarkets you can buy patina in a variety of colors:

• like silver;
• under natural copper;
• under gold;
• green copper oxide.

These are the most common colors, however, paints with more exotic shades are also available. Such paints do not imitate any metal, but are an independent color scheme. Their use is usually associated only with the desire to give the surface an antique look.

As an example, the following colors can be given:

• blue;
• violet;
• pink;
• red.

Patination at home

Patina can be applied to furniture of any shade. The technology of applying patina to wood includes several stages; the differences can only be in the number of layers of the helmet or varnish. Patination consists of the following steps:

• The surface is cleaned and degreased, then treated with a metal sponge or brush to remove soft fibers (brushing).
• A primer is applied to the furniture and the surface is sanded. For light wood, a white primer is often chosen; if contrast is needed, a transparent primer is used.
• Apply a layer of varnish and wait until it dries.
• Patina paint is applied, slightly dried, and the excess is removed (the patina composition remains in the relief and in the structure of the wood).
• A darker patina is applied, the excess is removed, achieving the desired contrast between dark and light fibers.
• The result is fixed with two layers of transparent varnish.

Source futurecdn.net

About patination of a furniture facade in the following video:

Application technology

The principles of patination of metal and wood are different. Powder (forge) patina is used for metal, and acrylic patina is used for wood.

Acrylic patina

This paint is almost never used on metal surfaces. The reason is poor adhesive properties. However, acrylic is perfect for painting wooden products, as it penetrates deeply into the pores of wood and emphasizes the beauty of its fibers and structure. Wood painted with acrylic patina takes on a noble appearance, its appearance is enriched with color transitions.

Note! It is not recommended to apply patina to furniture made in a modern style. Furniture painted this way will not look aesthetically pleasing.

Patina painting is often used for items made in the following styles:

• classic;
• baroque;
• Provence;
• country;
• ethnic motives.

The acrylic patina coating technology is called abrasion. Aging consists of first applying a layer of paint, which will act as a so-called substrate.

Sequencing:

1. Before painting, the surface is thoroughly but gently cleaned with a wire brush or coarse sandpaper. In this case, part of the surface is removed, and the structure of the tree becomes more obvious. You need to sand the wood in such a way that the movements are directed along the structure and only in one direction. This will show the texture without compromising the integrity of the wood.
2. The next step is to apply a thick layer of acrylic patina. Next, you need to wait a few minutes until the material penetrates the wood. At the same time, you need to remember: the longer the pause, the darker the painted product will ultimately be.
3. Excess paint is removed with a sponge or soft rag.
4. After the paint has dried, you can make the color more saturated by applying an additional layer of paint material. You can also varnish the surface.

Briefly about the main thing

A patina effect is created on the furniture to give it a more sophisticated “history-driven” look. The technology is characterized by minimal costs and simple operations, therefore it is common in home use.

In order to decorate a chest of drawers, a cabinet or a kitchen set, the easiest way is to use ready-made patination compounds, which can be found in a hardware store. The technology includes surface preparation using a wire brush. Patina paint is applied in one or several layers, depending on the desired effect; the result is varnished.

Question

Write in the comments what you think - how to make the patina as contrasting as possible to the base (for example, gilding on an oak surface)?

Imitating patina using paints and sprays: a modern version

If your interior is far from vintage, but you really like the patina effect and want to apply it somehow, then you can use the same paints, but in a slightly different way.

Buy acrylic paints in bronze and turquoise with a metallic effect, as well as brushes or a sponge and regular water spray.

Using a brush or sponge (you can achieve a denser and more structured coating with a sponge), paint ordinary jars with bronze paint and let them dry thoroughly.

After this, mix the paint that imitates patina with water and relieve your soul, spraying it on the jars as you please. A modern decorative element with a taste of antiquity is ready! By the way, you can decorate almost anything in this way.

What you need for work

The very meaning of the word “patina” has nothing to do with the dyeing process. It is of Italian origin and refers to the film that forms on metal after prolonged interaction with oxygen.

Initially, you had to wait a long time for the metal to oxidize itself, and the result was completely unpredictable; now this technique can be reproduced at home with your own hands using the following materials:

• patina of the color you like (in powder);
• liquid solvent;
• brush (size 2-3) or sponge;
• small plastic or glass trays (do not take metal ones, they can interact with the paint);
• metal product that you want to decorate.

Pay attention to safety precautions! Means for patination involve working with chemical oxidizing agents, solvents and require special care.

It is recommended not to work in confined spaces without respiratory protection. It is better to work in the fresh air, in rooms with good ventilation (with open windows, an exhaust fan on, a draft). If acid gets on the surface of the skin, immediately rinse under running water and then apply a paste of baking soda. If rashes, burns or any skin changes occur, consult a doctor immediately!

Surface preparation

Decorative application of patina requires careful preparation of the surface being treated; the metal must be perfectly smooth. There should be no signs of corrosion on it; it will not allow the surface to be well primed; the top layers will quickly bubble and peel off.

All burrs must be removed, chips and potholes must be filled and sanded with sandpaper (first coarse, then finer).

The prepared product is coated with a special primer (most conveniently, from a spray can), and then metal patina paint is applied to it.

Please note that the patina effect looks best on items painted with dark, especially black paint. The painted product must dry well, otherwise the patina will not adhere well and you will not achieve the desired effect.