Most people who desire hardwood flooring love the silky, shiny look of wooden floors. However, if you’re someone who’s more into vintage designs, there are some great alternative options for you. The good news is you don't have to break the bank to get rustic-style floors. Putting an aged look on your hardwood is as simple as starting a DIY project. And even better, most of the items needed are probably already in your home. So, if you're eager to give your house a makeover, just keep reading.
There are three primary ways of giving your floors a worn look. You can chemically alter the wood by using white vinegar, put dings and rips into it manually or use paint to give it a weathered appearance. The option you choose should be based on the style you're going for. Softer woods such as pine and hemlock are easier to distress and respond better to the hands-on approach. The pliable nature of the wood is simple to manipulate and it also works well with liquid-distressing products. Nonetheless, no matter what type of wood you're working with, the below methods should do the trick.
1. Liquids
The most popular liquids to use on hardwood floors are white vinegar, stains and paint. The vinegar will alter the color of the wood and give it a more dull appearance. The stains add a darker pigment to the wood and expose the manually distressed parts of the flooring.
Believe it or not, there's a pretty simple recipe for getting the stained design on your floors without buying expensive products. Start by steeping black tea and allowing it to cool to room temperature. In a different jar, combine steel wool with the white vinegar and let it sit for about 10 hours. After the allotted time, brush the tea onto the wood and let it seep in. Then, brush on iron acetate so that the wood gets a darker pigment. On the contrary, if you don't have white vinegar, you can substitute it for a different type. Likewise, steel particles like nails, old screws and shavings can be a replacement for steel wool.
As a general rule, take a look at the condition of your floor prior to starting this process, as it might require a bit of sanding beforehand.
2. Faux Insect Damage
If you want your wood floors to look as if they’ve been damaged by termites and other insects, there’s an easy method for making it happen. You can push an awl or small bit into the wood to create the look of infestation. Be sure to research what termite holes look like so you can give the wood a more natural appearance.
Moreover, you can use any other sharp object to replicate insect bites. Try using a nail and gently hit it with a hammer. Make sure the dents you create look natural and not too forced. And since this is a DIY project, feel free to experiment with any other items that could create the look you’re going for.
3. Scraping
If you don’t have traditional polished hardwood, scraping is a great way to give your floors a worn look. This option works best if you have a light paint on your flooring versus glossy polish.
Cabinet makers generally use scrapers, but they are fine to use on other wood surfaces. Plus, they’re affordable. Slide the tool up and down your floors to gently remove the paint and give your hardwood a fatigued design. Scrub as much or as little paint off as you want to get the style you desire.
4. Paint
Another creative way of giving your floors a vintage look is to use paint. It requires using two different pigments and the bottom layer should be white or another soft hue. Begin by applying the lighter coat of paint first and make sure you add a nice layer to completely coat the wood. Then, let it dry. Next, add on the upper layer of paint. The top pigment should be a vibrant color because most of it will be removed during the sanding process.
After the coats are completely dry, begin scraping away the paint. The goal here is to sand it down enough so that the white layer shows through the darker pigment. This method should create the look of worn, weathered paint. As a side note, you might also have to sand beforehand if your floors have a thick layer of polish.
5. Wire Brushing
This method is a bit tedious to do on floors and it will definitely require sweeping or vacuuming once you’re done. Nonetheless, the end result will be one-of-a-kind. You’ll need a wire brush attached to the end of your drill to create this particular rustic style. The brush will give your floors the appearance of barn wood, which usually has a very weathered look to it. If you have a softer grade wood, this step should be a breeze. Make sure you use a gentle stroke for this option. You want to make your floors look worn without making it too choppy and difficult to walk on. Once you’ve completed the process and cleaned up all the shavings, add the finishing touches. For this style, it’s a good idea to stain the floors or add light paint that will provide a vintage touch.
6. Freestyle
Surprisingly, achieving an aged look on your hardwood doesn’t require a specific method. The idea is to make the floors look like there’s a lot of wear and tear, and that can be done in different ways. If you want to put dents in the wood, you can use both sides of the hammer to create holes and scrapes. There’s also the option to hit the floors with a chain link to puncture natural-looking grooves in it. The choice is yours!
Are You Ready to Remodel?
Giving your home a makeover doesn’t have to require a team of expert designers. It can be as simple as adding tea and vinegar to your floors to change the entire look. Now that you know how to age your hardwood floors, which method will you choose?
