If you had the choice would you rather use weathered barn wood boards as an accent wall or would you rather use new boards? How about new boards with the weathered look! That’s the best of both worlds right? The weathered barn wood look is in, and I can’t wait to show you how easy it is to create it!
It’s interesting to me to see how trends change. Growing up the home trends seemed to be all about new homes and new decor. Lately (as in the last 10 years) the home trends are moving more towards “antique, aged and restored.”
I do love a new home (especially that new home smell!) but you don’t get that authentic character that you see in an older home.
That’s why this weathered wood technique is so great; you get the best of both worlds. As a matter of fact, recently I shared a weathered wood look on a smooth piece of faux wood (it was actually laminate). All that to say, it’s so easy to find a way to create that aged look to new wood or even faux wood!
A little disclaimer; this technique works best with wood that has a prominent wood grain. It doesn’t matter what type of wood (as a matter of fact, I’m using a scrap piece of deck wood for this project), just as long as it has a nice wood grain. The heavier the wood grain, the better the “weathered look” will show up.
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Another disclaimer; I’m using joint compound for this project, but you can also use plaster of paris.
The picture below is the new wood before this awesome aged treatment has been applied.
Materials needed to make new wood look aged:
- Wood
- Wood stain
- Staining rag or brush
- Putty knives
- Joint compound
- Paper towels
How to Create the Weathered Barn Wood look with New Wood.
- Stain the wood and let it dry completely
- Apply the joint compound heavily on the wood with a putty knife or a regular knife
- Use the putty knife to “rake” most of the excess joint compound off of the wood. Rake in the direction of the wood grain.
- Once the majority of the excess joint compound has been removed, use a paper towel or lint free cloth to wipe the wood down.
- You can use a wet cloth to remove as much as you want until you get the desired look
- Wait at least an hour to let the wood dry
- Repeat the steps to get the desired finish if the first finish wasn’t “aged” enough
Let me show you the aged wood process in pictures.
Below is what the wood looked like while scraping a few layers of joint compound off of it.
Pictured above is what the wood looked like after about ten minutes of removing the excess compound.
Below is the wood after about an hour that I removed the joint compound.
I love my “new weathered wood” now.
Who says you can’t make new things look old!
This wood project was so much fun because it didn’t cost me a dime or take much time at all!
Now I’ve got to find a piece of furniture or accent wall that I can apply this aged wood technique to. Wish me luck!
How to create the Weathered Barn wood look on new wood
Learn how to create that weathered barn wood look with new wood. This is such a simple tutorial to make new wood look aged with just a few materials.
Materials
- Wood
- Wood stain
- Staining rag or brush
- Putty knives
- Joint compound
- Paper towels
Instructions
- Stain the wood and let it dry completely
- Apply the joint compound heavily on the wood with a putty knife or a regular knife
- Use the putty knife to "rake" most of the excess joint compound off of the wood. Rake in the direction of the wood grain.
- Once the majority of the excess joint compound has been removed, use a paper towel or lint free cloth to wipe the wood down.
- You can use a wet cloth to remove as much as you want until you get the desired look
- Wait at least an hour to let the wood dry
- Repeat the steps to get the desired finish if the first finish wasn't "aged" enough
Thanks for stopping by friends!
Lindsey**
I love this Lindsey! Using the joint compound really gives the new wood an authentic looking aged finish! Pinning!
Thanks Michelle!
I’m a little confused….do you let the joint compound dry before scraping it off?
Hi LoReah,
no you don’t let it dry. Apply it heavily and then scrape it off! Let me know if you have any more questions.
Is it the same concept to do the faded paint effect?
not really because you are not using paint.
When do you seal it? With what ?
Hi Eileen, since most joint compounds are paintable, I’m sure you could use most sealers. I would use a product like Polycrylic that doesn’t yellow over time.
Thanks for the tip. I was going to try glue paper to my my project before I painted & distressed so it looks like years of paint.
I was looking at the wood you had before you put the compound on it. It looks likes it was presser-treated wood you use for putting on decks, is that right? If so it is posioned. They treat it with all kinds of stuff, most if not all is very posionas. If you cut the wood some of the dust may go into the lugns, or a cut on your hands. Painting will not help. It would be far safter if you used ruff cut lumber, you would also get more of that weathered look. I hope that this might help.
Good to know about the poison on the treated lumbar. Yes, rough cut lumber would be a better choice!
It possible but highly unlikely. Treated wood is safe just don’t eat it.
I want to do this on some pressure treated wood slats which have been on outdoor benches. Would that work if you topped it with marine spaar urethane?
I don’t see why not!
Hi I absolutely loved the tutorial I’m thinking of making a coffee table and the weathered barn look is just I was looking for so thank you so much for sharing it. Also I’m interested in the color of your wall in your video behind you it’s so pretty. I was hoping you would share the brand and color. I’m wanting to paint the interior of my home. Thanks again I love to see all your project’s. Rita
Thank you Rita! I’m so glad you like the post. As far as the wall color, it’s Sherwin Williams Drift of Mist. It’s a great neutral that goes with grays and browns! I hope this helps.
It sure does thanks so much!
This is a very interesting treatment for raw, rough grain boards. Love the final barn wood effect. Have you tried any other color stains or further distressing before staining, like wire brushing, scraping in the softer grain areas, dinging up in general etc.? Since joint compound is not waterproof, what did you seal it with? I’ve saved a tutorial for making a blanket ladder from the rough, utility grade 2×2’s and I think this would be the perfect finish treatment to use. I also saved the how-to for some heavily distressed plank style interior/decorative shutters. They were only stained but I think this idea would work on them as well. Now I need to get some scrap wood and start experimenting! Thank you for sharing
Color stains would look beautiful with this treatment! I haven’t tried it but now I want to! As far as sealing it, my go to sealer is a Minwax Polycrylic water based. Here it is:
https://amzn.to/2AUHgL4
Hope this helps!
What color stain?
Minwax Quart Weathered Oak Interior Stain
My only worry is that using deck boards might not be safe for indoors, as this wood is usually treated.
I wonder what would happen if a second coat of stain was applied and wiped off after the joint compound was applied, scraped off and dried.
Good question. That would be neat to see! Are you thinking of trying it?
Not to sound totally dumb, Is joint compound pudding for drywall applications or can the stuff you plug holes be sufficient? Ty
Lol that’s a totally legit question. The drywall application will work, you might have to water it down a bit.
Do you think I can do my kitchen cabinets with this process?
Actually I thought you were referring to another post so for this technique I would not use for cabinets. You could use a technique like I shared in this post for your kitchen cabinets:https://repurposeandupcycle.com/weathered-wood-finish-smooth-surface/
Well, I was thinking of painting some actual old fence boards to use for a cooler project. I will give one a shot and see how THAT turns out. Thanks for the idea. Sounds better than staining, painting, sanding…. getting lazier in my new 60’s. I’ll certainly tackle some wood work!!!
Awesome! Check out this tutorial too if you do feel like aging some old fence boards. https://repurposeandupcycle.com/how-to-create-the-weathered-barn-wood-look-with-new-wood/
Well, I did it. I used old fence boards, and it was awesome. Didn’t even clean them. Well this was for an outside cooler. It turned out better than I could have imagined. My sister loved her Christmas present. I loved how it turned out.
I’m so glad, it turned out well!