We are finally kicking off this year’s Halloween Table Set Up with these DIY Faux Antique Gold Charger Plates! I know… this particular tutorial doesn’t seem like my usual Goth-it-Yourself project, and certainly doesn’t seem like a Halloween decoration. After all, what’s so dark & spooky about a gold charger plate? Let me explain…..
With a very general theme idea in mind for my Halloween table, I began my usual research for images to use as inspiration. Over and over again, I found myself drawn to Vanitas Still Lifes. No, that did not become my theme for this year’s table, but components of the images resonated with me. Vanitas Still Lifes contain certain standard elements…. symbols of worldy pleasures, symbols of wealth and power, and symbols of death and decay… to name a few. Once I reveal the entire table in a couple of weeks, you will see that wealth and riches is a consistent theme, so while the artwork did not have the opulence I had in mind, the mix of time worn wealth and death was appealing.
So back to the chargers…. to me, the colors black and gold have always represented a Gothic elegance. It is certainly my personal favorite color combination when it comes to decorating my home. The combination was also going to be heavily represented in this year’s Halloween Table. In keeping with the time worn element that I loved so much in the artwork, the gold I used had to have an antiqued feel. So, while a gold charger plate may not be very gothic on it’s own… give it an antique finish, and mix it with black elements, baroque details, and rich textures, and you have the beginnings of a dark and dreamy table.
My first step was to find the charger plates. I did not want the standard plain or beaded edge charger. Those are a dime a dozen. My table was supposed to look rich, so an over the top ornate charger was a must. These are unfortunately hard to find unless you’re willing to drop some money. I found these Gold Charger Plates
Now, getting the chargers to look like Antique Gold is the challenge. I promise you… if you go buy a can or bottle of “antique gold” paint…. whatever you paint will NOT look like antique gold. Antique finishes have layers and layers of time, so I needed to create those layers myself. I set out to find the perfect mix of colors. I’m not one to leap head first into a project. Instead I’m a bit overly obsessive about testing a million options before making a decision (must be the Libra in me!).. I went to a craft store, and filled my cart with literally every bottle or can of gold paint I could find, tested samples of them ALL, and came to a conclusion that I’m very happy with. I only say this so you don’t go to the store thinking any gold paint will do.
Here’s how it all came together….
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What you’ll need:
- Gold Spray Paint
(optional)
- Paint Brushes
- Glorious Gold Paint
- Burnt Umber Paint
- Cloth
- Dark Burnt Umber Paint
- Floating Medium
- Grecian Gold Rub ‘n Buff
(optional)
If any of your chargers are white, like mine, I highly recommend spraying a coat of gold paint as a base. It doesn’t really matter what color because you’ll be covering it up anyway…but painting directly on a charger can get pretty streaky, and without a base coat, the white will always peek through.
Paint the entire plate with the Glorious Gold until fully covered. I used two coats.
Working in small sections, paint the Burnt Umber onto the plate. Be sure the paint gets down into the crevices.
Immediately use the cloth to rub the paint away from the raised surfaces (leaving the dark in the crevices). The burnt umber paint will dry very quickly, which is why it’s best to work fast and in small areas.
You may need to use a bit of elbow grease to rub the paint away so the gold peeks through, but you can expect the gold to be dulled a bit.
Continue working your way around the plate, until you have covered the entire surface with the dark umber.
Paint the burnt umber onto the center of the plate with a few light brush strokes. Immediately rub them using your cloth. This adds a bit of dimension to the center of the plate. I didn’t get too carried away with the center since it’s usually covered up with a dinner plate.
For more depth, I added some Dark Burnt Umber. Instead of painting all around the entire plate, I choose specific areas that I thought needed to be darker.
Brush the floating medium onto the raised areas. This enhances some of the colors.
Lastly, add some Grecian Gold Rub n Buff to some of the raised areas to add some of the metallic back to the dulled surface.
All done! Go grab your black dishes and get that table started!
Check out the 2018 Witches’ Dinner Party and the 2017 Macabre Dinner Party for more great Halloween Table ideas.
Alexandra,
Your work is absolutely beautiful! I have a kinda related question for you. Do you yourself serve the meals for your parties or do you have someone else do so?
Hi Kathi! Great question! While my tables tend to look elaborate and sometimes “fancy”, I’m not a huge fan of plated dinners. I like for my dinner parties to be relaxed and fun and lively, and have found that a buffet gives a bit more of a casual vibe, allowing everyone to relax. I also like letting everyone help themselves to as much or as little as they want of whatever looks appealing. I have, however, hired bartenders to not only tend bar, but to come around and refill drinks or water glasses. Again.. I find having a bartender has also created a bit more of a fun vibe. For me, it’s all about my guests having a great time!
Love it. Have to try these. Just love the way your mind works. You come up with the best ideas. And they are always something that I can do. They are not beyond the reach of the ordinary reader. Thanks so much for being you.
Wow Nora! Best comment ever!! Thank you so much for your kind words! Let me know how it turns out if you try it!!