About Distressed Finishes

Many finishing techniques can drastically alter the way that wooden furniture and wood floors look, but few can create as distinct of a look as a distressed finish. These finishes can add the look of years to new furniture, allowing it to better fit in with antique furniture or creating an antiqued look that can't be replicated by other means. Different distressing techniques can produce different results, allowing you to create either the look of well-weathered wood all over or simply using a mild distress to add accent to an otherwise pristine piece. Many distressing techniques involve using multiple coats of paint and sanding equipment, though some use chemical strippers or other solutions to create their own unique effects.

Function

Distressed finishes produce the look of weathered paint or wood on new furniture and other wood surfaces. Though the finish gives the piece a "vintage" and often neglected look, the wood beneath the finish is generally quite well protected because it has several layers of paint and sealant on top of it. Because the look of the distressed finish would be ruined if the paint actually started to strip or peel, higher-grade paints are often used to ensure that the furniture piece will retain its distressed look for years.

Uniqueness

Because of the manner in which distressed finishes are made, no two pieces of furniture or wood products with a distressed finish will be alike. Even if the same method is used to create the distressed finish, there is always a degree of randomness involved to simulate the effects of time on an antique finish. Many distressed finishes are created using a randomized rotary sander, meaning that even if the same sanding patterns were applied during the creation of the finish, the result would still be randomly different.

Benefits

Because of the multiple layers of paint used in the creation of a distressed finish, many furniture pieces will actually be sealed against the abuse of time than those featuring non-distressed finishes. A number of distressed finishes also include additional sealants that are applied at more than one time during the creation of the finish, further increasing the protection that the furniture has. In addition to providing this improved protection, distressed finishes allow those who prefer vintage-looking furniture pieces to find furniture that they like for a significantly lower price than it would cost to buy antique furniture in similar condition.

Significance

Distressed finishes provide an opportunity for artists and decorators to create a unique antique look on furniture pieces without the cost of actual antiques. They also mark a major trend in furniture production and decorating in general, combining modern sensibility and workmanship with the look of furniture that has stood the test of time. Some distressed furniture pieces have become collectibles in their own right, being viewed both as a form of artistic expression and useful furniture pieces that are more resilient than similar antiques.

Potential

Distressed finishes can be used to add weathered-looking yet strong furniture to older homes in order to create an antique feel, or they can be used as part of a decorating scheme that combines the look of the old with rooms that are decorated using a modern sensibility. Because they can be prepared in different ways, distressed finishes can be as subtle or obvious as the creator wishes. In addition to being used on furniture, these finishes can be applied to carvings, reliefs and other wooden art pieces in order to create an even more unique look.