Guilding wax for DIY projects has been my secret go-to since moving into the château. I used it when I transformed my toddler’s room into a princess paradise for example. It’s an absolutely magical substance that can transform any old object into something worthy of a princess, or a French château for that matter.
How to use gilding wax for DIY projects
You can use gilding wax on many different types of material. So far, I’ve only used it on metal, and the results have been fabulous! It’s much easier to apply than gold leaf, and I also find it more subtle. Where gold leaf is really shining its goodness into your eyes, gilding wax often compliments an object without making it tacky.
I say ‘often’ because I’m also totally in love with projects with gold leaf, however, for most of the things I’ve done here in France I wanted a more subtle look.
There are many tutorials out there, like this short video that shows you just how easy it is to apply. The one thing that works best for me, other than in this specific tutorial, is that I use sturdy, squared-off brushes. A stiff brush makes it easier to work the gilding wax onto the material.
Using different colors gilding wax
When you are going for a subtle upcycle, it’s often recommended to use multiple colors of gilding wax. For these specific lanterns, I used Royal Gold for the window frame and Aged Brass for the top and bottom.
Had I used just the Royal Gold, which is more like gold leaf in color, they would have turned out too bright and shiny. The combination of the two makes it look more authentic.
You only need a very small amount of wax to get results. Too much of it will come off difficult, so it is better to build it up a bit. For the top of the lanterns I streaked the Aged Brass on and then rubbed it out with a microfibre cloth.
A perfect sheen to make the old material look better, not so much that it looks shiny and new.
Upcycling two old lanterns
At some point in their lives they must have been cute. They’re a sort of brass, or pewter material and were once coated with a gold material that could still be seen on the edges of the window frame.
My guess is that they have been hanging there since the 60’s, when they built the giant wooden wardrobe into that hallway. They were possibly thrifted at that time as well, as the wiring was very, very old.
Their little windows are too dirty to look at, and I’ve cleaned them to the best of my ability. They did not suddenly become beautiful, but I think no one will notice that over much since they hang close to the ceiling.
Cleaning, rewiring and gilding
To breathe a bit of new life into them, I rewired them with modern cables instead of the cotton-wrapped wires that were in them before. After that I gave them a good clean, trying to get the windows to clear. However, that didn’t work at all and I just have to live with the little windows looking old.
I hoped to uncover some hidden brass gems, but my Miroir copper polish only revealed more of the dark material and no shininess. And so it became a gilding wax DIY!
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This post contains affiliate links. This means that, at no cost to you, I’ll receive a commission when you make a purchase through this blog post. Merci!
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