How To Get An Aged Wood Look With Joint Compound

While many popular design styles embrace the look of aged and weathered wood, you may be looking for a fast, easy, and inexpensive way to make newer wood pieces look older than their years. Rather than waiting decades to achieve a worn and antiqued finish on wood pieces, there are a number of easy ways to fake an antique finish. TikTok user @v20designs recently showed off her trick for aging the wood of two brand-new pillar candle holders made from wood. By coating the wood with joint compound and then sanding off the excess to a smooth finish, she created the look of time-worn lumber in mere minutes. 

Joint compound, typically used between drywall sheets to close the gaps or patch holes, sticks easily to wooden surfaces, forming a solid bond. It's much thicker than paint and easier to lay a thick coat on most wood surfaces. When sanded, it shows off the grain of the wood while still leaving white behind, giving an antique-painted wood effect wherever you need it.

To age your wood pieces, use a tub of joint compound and a spatula, smearing it liberally on the surface. Allow to dry completely into a textured finish before sanding it down. Sanding will remove some of the compounds while leaving the thicker spots that look like white paint that has been worn away. It will also eliminate any sheen or shininess to the wood's texture no matter the finish, which instantly gives a sense of age. 

While @v20designs used this technique on two wooden pillar candles, it works for any type of wood, including larger furniture pieces like tables and chairs, as well as smaller items like boxes, trays, and wood accent pieces. Unlike many chemical techniques for aging wood that depend on oxidation, this is a low-mess, non-toxic way to coat the wood. It's also reversible with additional sanding. The finished pieces have an aged and beautiful look that fits perfectly in rustic-style rooms with cottagecore, shabby chic, coastal, or farmhouse aesthetics.