Transforming your furniture to give that antique effect is not as easy as you think. We reveal the best ways to achieve the look you want

ELEGANT antique furniture is often the key to a beautiful home.

But for many of us, it is simply out of our price range

However, there is an alternative.

Using the latest decorative techniques, furniture can be transformed in a matter of hours, creating a time-worn look..

Achieving a 'distressed', 'aged', or 'antique' effect on wooden furniture is relatively simple and it's cheap too - though it's probably best to practice on an old piece of wood before letting yourself loose on any precious furniture.

Tools and products for the job are available from most DIY stores such as Focus, DIY, Homebase and B&Q, or art and craft shops such as HobbyCraft.

Distressing

As painted furniture ages, colours mellow and fade and vulnerable areas become worn and scratched.

The distressed technique simply recreates this look.

Fortunately this doesn't involve beating up furniture with a hammer or exposing it to the elements for days.

Distressing is a very simple, effective paint finish.

It looks best on wooden cupboards, tables and chairs, giving furniture an antique or rustic feel.

Distressing Technique:

* Thoroughly sand surface of furniture.

* Apply a coat of pale-coloured water-based paint. Work along the grain of the wood, making sure the surface is evenly covered. Allow to dry, then lightly sand. Remove excess dust.

* Apply top coat in a darker-coloured water-based paint.

* When dry, sand top coat in direction of wood grain to expose paler colour underneath. Do this on vulnerable areas such as edges, corners and behind handles and doorknobs.

* To seal, apply two coats of antique pine furniture wax with a soft cloth. Allow to dry, then buff.

Crackle glaze and Craquelure

Traditional oil-based paints and varnishes dry out over a long period and crack.

This typical ageing effect can be recreated with crackle glaze, crackle varnish and Craquelure. Ideal for most furniture, including doors and wooden panelling, these finishes give furniture an appearance of cracked paint or varnish, or simply a fine network of cracks found perhaps on an old wooden tray, a painting or even a vase.

Using Craquelure:

* Sand surface of furniture.

* Apply base coat of Craquelure using a soft brush. When dry it becomes clear, remaining slightly tacky.

* Apply topcoat. As it dries, fine cracks appear.

* To produce an authentic aged effect, rub raw umber oil paint into the cracks with a soft cloth and polish off.

* Seal with a varnish or lacquer. Varnish and wood treatments are available from Cuprinol.