How to Make Wood Look Weathered: The Easy Way

Simple techniques to create a weathered and aged wood look for your next DIY project.

Weathered wood has a knack for creating beautiful rustic charm. When using weathered wood as part of your home decor it adds great texture and warmth to a space. But who has years to wait for this type of wood to age?

Create weathered wood in a few simple steps that only takes hours rather than years!

There are so many ways to incorporate weathered wood into a DIY wood project. Some ideas are picture frames, table tops, bed frames and so much more. This aging process is so easy and fun you may find yourself coming up with another woodworking project to do after this one is done.

Methods to Make Your Wood Look Weathered

There are so many different applications to apply aging and distressing techniques to new boards. You can use different pantry products like a white vinegar solution, black tea or stains to distress wood.

Some people also prefer a different color of distressed wood. I've used methods to get a grey weathered wood as well as a weathered white wood too.

New Method for Weathering Wood

While I love these methods, I wanted to find something that would speed up the weathering process. Luckily, a recent product I tried gives a weathered wood look in hours instead of days.

Vintage Wood, Better with Age by Amy Howard Home is a simple solution to speed up the process. And it is so easy. As a matter of fact, the process is just simply opening the lid and brushing it on. Another thing that makes this product a good choice is it smells wonderful and is non-toxic.

How to Make Wood Look Weathered

Learn the simple way to make weathered wood with these easy steps. Affiliate links below.

Supplies You Will Need:

• Pallet wood-rough sawn
• Vintage Wood, Better With Age
• Chip brush
• Fine-grit sandpaper
• Liming wax
• Wax brush

Lightly Sand Wood

Once you have all your materials, the first step is to sand down the entire piece of rough-sawn wood just slightly. The texture of the surface of the wood needs to be left intact. The texture helps to create a weathered effect.

Apply Weathered Wood Finish

Once it is slightly sanded down, use the Better with Age product. Simply apply with a thick coat onto your wood grain with a brush.

As you are applying this you will notice it goes on clear and looks like there isn't enough product on the wood. Give it time and it will slowly begin to be a darker color and age your wood as it dries. Let your wood surface dry all the way before adding another coat.

Let Wood Dry

Allow enough time for the wood to dry before moving on. As this product dries the wood will have a darker look. You can see the differences in dry time and coloring with each wood piece below.

The dark wood on the right was the first piece I did, followed by the middle and then the far left. I finished the light colored wood just before I took the picture. Wood is weathering right before our eyes!

Once your wood has dried all the way it is time for the next step.

Apply Liming Wax

Using your wax brush, press it into your wax in a circular motion until you have covered the bottom of the bristles.

After your bristles are covered, begin to press it into the wood so it gets stuck in the texture we left on the wood.

Continue to add the liming wax to your wood directly over the top of the Vintage Wood product. Distressing with wax is a super useful tool. Not only are you creating an awesome finish, but you are also sealing the wood at the same time.

Finish applying your wax and allow your wood to dry. Once it is dry, this is what your wood should look like! 

It doesn't have to be perfect and some spots may be lighter or darker on your wood. This is part of the process and exactly what the desired result is for appearance. Naturally weathered wood does not weather evenly.

And there you have simple steps on how to create weathered wood in hours!

DIY Chicken Wire Frame

Now that you have wood pieces that are weathered, you can make your wood into a functional chicken wire frame decor piece.

How to Make a Chicken Wire Frame with Weathered Wood

For anyone who loves the barn wood look, this simple chicken wire frame is the perfect addition for farmhouse decor. Easy to assemble and your wood is already prepped!

Supplies You'll Need

• Weathered wood pieces
• Saw
• Chicken wire
• Wood glue
• Upholstery staples or narrow staples
• Upholstery staple gun or normal staple gun
• Corrugated nail fasteners to hold 45 degree angles together
• Hammer

Cut Your Wood Pieces for Frame

The first thing to do is measure and cut your wood pieces to the size of frame you prefer. Remember to cut your ends at 45 degree angles so they will connect together nicely when you build your frame.

Assemble Your Frame

Use wood glue for extra support when you put your frame together. Then use a hammer and nail in your corrugated nails to secure your 45 degree angles together.

Add Chicken Wire

When your frame is complete, flip it over to the back side and add a piece of chicken wire. I used my upholstery staple gun to secure the wire, but a normal staple gun would probably do fine for this job.

You will want to start on one end and staple that side to the back of the frame first. Then pull it taut and staple the rest of the border. Make sure you are pulling tightly so it lays flat.

Finishing Touch

Hang this chicken wire frame on your wall with picture frame wire on the back. You can also prop it up against a wall if you don't want to hang it. This beautiful farmhouse style frame is gorgeous with its weathered wood and compliments our farmhouse decor.

Benefits of Making Wood Look Weathered

The coloring of the wood on this frame looks so natural and authentic.  The frame provides the charming rustic look that only weathered wood can do. And the best part is it only took a couple hours to achieve this weathered look.

Using the finish product in addition to liming wax is a great way to get an aged look on any DIY project in a very short amount of time.

If you have a scrap piece of wood that needs some distressing and weathering but don't want to wait years for the natural process of aging, be sure to try this process out. I think you will love the results.

Looking for more farmhouse style furniture? This farmhouse kitchen table is so beautiful and will go perfectly in your dining room. And I love my DIY farmhouse pallet top table that adds so much character to my entry way.

Happy Decorating!

Brooke