Do It Yourself Distressed Wood Painting

Give a plain chair character by using a distressed painting technique.

Distressed wood painting, also referred to as antiquing, makes a bland piece of furniture or cabinetry look like it has had a long and interesting life. This type of finish fits in perfectly with shabby chic and French country style decor, but can also be thoughtfully blended with both modern and traditional styles.

Things You'll Need

• Paint in two different colors
• Beeswax
• Clean rags
• Paintbrush
• Drop cloth
• Fine-grit sandpaper
• Antiquing glaze or wax (optional)

Instructions

1. Sand the wood lightly. This will roughen the surface so the paint can adhere better.

2. Clean the wood by wiping it down with a damp rag to remove dirt, as well as any dust from sanding.

3. Place a drop cloth under the wood object being painted.

4. Paint the entire wood piece with the base color that you have chosen. This is the color that will show through after the piece has been distressed.

5. Wait for the base coat to dry and cure completely. This usually takes at least 12 hours.

6. Rub beeswax on areas of the wood that you want revealed as distressed areas after the top coat is applied. This should include corners, edges, high points and anywhere else that wear would naturally occur.

7. Apply the top coat color, covering the entire piece.

8. Wait for the top coat to dry. This usually takes about 12 hours. Do not wait longer than 24 hours to proceed to the next step.

9. Rub away the top coat of paint using a rag from the areas where the beeswax was applied. This will reveal the base coat color.

10. Sand any additional areas where you would like the base color revealed. Use a fine-grain sandpaper and a light touch so that only the top layer of paint is removed.

Tips & Warnings

• Apply a thin coat of glaze or antiquing wax over the wood after it has been painted and distressed to bring out even more details.

• Do not apply the second coat of paint too soon, even if the first coat is dry to the touch, or the two coats could bond tightly together, making it difficult to reveal the base coat.

References

• Art Sparx: Furniture Painting and Antiquing Techniques
• North Dakota State University; Painted Finishes for Special Effects; Annette L. Bach; April 1993
• Tuscan Home: Distressed Kitchen Cabinets