DIY Antique Distressed Flag
Updated: Sep 10, 2021
As I was looking to finish up Phoenix's room, I realized there was one big empty wall that needed filling...
If you remember, we have a very subtle pirate theme going on in there so I thought a nautical inspired flag might be cool. I remembered this flag that Emily Henderson had hung over the console in her living room at her old house.
I immediately knew that something like that would be perfect for this wall. I spent a few months searching for an old worn and tattered flag at antique and thrift stores with no success so I started looking online. That's when I found this baby at Pottery Barn Kids.
It was perfect except for the fact that it wasn't old or tattered, but I thought maybe I could do something about that!
The first step was to give the flag a good tea stain to make it look old. I filled up a tall trash can with warm water and dumped a bunch of tea leaves in, I only had k-pod tea which was a bit messier than tea bags would have been, but it all worked out ok!
I let the flag soak in the trash can for about 2-3 hours before pulling it out and I was left with some awesome old worn in color!
I spread the flag out on the lawn and then splattered it with a bit of bleach to mimic the bleach stains on Emily's flag. Then I threw it in the dryer for about 30 minutes. Next, it was time to hang. I found these cool antiqued brass hooks from Lowe's to tie the ropes at the top of the flag to (I couldn't find them online, but these are similar).
At the last second I decided to shred up the bottom of the flag a bit- this thing was so big that even when I hung it from the ceiling it was draping onto the floor.
I cut the ends off and ripped them up a bit and was left with this!
I love how it fills the space and it seems to chat with the ship mural in the closet. And the rope tied to the brass hooks is such a fun detail!
It hangs right over Phoenix's toy chest which is old and beaten up as well and it feels like it was always supposed to be here! I love it!
Need to catch up on Phoenix's room?
Looks like the flag for the country of Finland