Add old-world charm to a piece of new furniture or refurbish an older piece with a distressed finish. Creating a distressed look is easy to achieve with the right tools. Distressed furniture goes well with many decorating styles, including French country, cottage style and rustic country.
Remove any hardware, such as handles, clasps and hinges.
2
Using a fine grit sandpaper, lightly sand the surface to remove any old paint or debris.
3
Clean the piece with warm soapy water.
4
Take a wax crayon and rub it along the edges of the piece of furniture, and along the corners, where it would normally get wear and tear.
5
Apply a base coat of dark paint, such as black, hunter green or navy blue. Let dry completely. Apply a second coat if needed.
6
Wipe off the crayon wax using a damp cloth.
7
Apply a crackling medium found at most paint supply stores. Follow the manufacturers instructions.
8
Apply a coat of light paint, such as white, ivory or pastel over the crackling medium. Let dry completely. Seal with a coat of clear varnish.
Tips & Warnings
If the piece of furniture you are distressing is made of very old, porous wood (it has the look and feel of driftwood), you may want to spray it with a coat of matte acrylic sealer before painting.
Make sure you work in a well-ventilated area to avoid harmful paint fumes.
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