How To Paint Furniture With Distressed Look

Rustic Rehab: 7 Ways to Distress Piece of furniture to Get That Antiquarian Look

A dresser in the rustic style. You lot don't have to be a home décor expert to know that the rustic scheme rarely goes out of style, nor does the wait of distressed antique furniture. Although, sometimes, it can be difficult to find a rustic one-of-a-kind piece that's still in practiced status. This is where we challenge you to think outside of the box, because achieving that antique wait for your wood furniture is possible if you're upwards for a fun project.

The next time you detect a used tabular array that's in excellent condition, only lacks the grapheme y'all love well-nigh antique finishes, don't swear information technology off. Here are seven ways to distress piece of furniture to go the look you love.

Apply Antiquing Coat to Absurd Colors

How it distresses: Antiquing glaze is available in liquid form and glides on hands with a castor. You'll probably want to remove much (if non near) of the glaze with a lint-free cloth so that merely a hint of the dark, moody color remains behind.

Where it works best: On handles, knobs, and pulls, on cool colors that can benefit from some warmth, and on wood grains that are worth calling attention to.

Utilize Chalky Pigment for a Matte Expect

How it distresses: Chalky paint results in a matte and (you guessed it) chalk-like advent, which can exist further enhanced with other hands-on distressing techniques, such every bit sanding or removing pigment with steel wool.

Where it works best: On big or imperfect pieces. Chalky paint is a novice's dream: information technology requires no prep work (also cleaning the surface) and the paint can be practical heavily and nonetheless turn out great.

Twin Cities Habitat ReStore's Jan Hagerman shows you how to transform cheap furniture with chalk paint in this video:

Get a Two-Tone Effect with Petroleum Jelly

How information technology distresses: A little planning can produce a stunning, ii-tone result. Apply jelly to areas where yous want the base of operations coat to show through. Wait for the jelly to set up before painting or staining the furniture (or parts of it) a contrasting color. Then lightly sand the jellied areas. The meridian coat won't stick to these areas, revealing the two-tone effect.

Where it works best: Large, ordinary pieces of article of furniture that cry for an infusion of character.

Distress Similar a Pro with Dry Brushing

How it distresses: Dry out brushing requires the smallest amount of paint applied lightly over a previous glaze. This two-footstep process – removing as much pigment from the brush as possible and then using a light touch on to apply what's left – requires restraint. But information technology's one of the surest means to distress furniture like a pro.

Where it works all-time: Anywhere you wish to add together visual involvement, but especially on alpine, vertical sections or long, horizontal sections of article of furniture.

Inflict Impairment for True Character

How it distresses: Information technology's off-white to say that nada can distress furniture more convincingly than a hammer, a fundamental, a smash, or the beard of a sharp wire brush. The trick is not to get carried away so that y'all damage the furniture to the betoken that it needs repair.

Where it works all-time: Whatsoever place where a random dent, scrape, or gouge will not expect contrived, but specially around edges and bottoms.

Control Where to Distress by Sanding Paint

How it distresses: Removing paint with a sanding block or mitt sander gives y'all great control over where you want the habiliment to be visible on a piece of furniture. Simply once the paint is gone, it'south gone, so it'due south best to use a low-cal bear on and begin on a somewhat hidden expanse to distress furniture.

Where it works all-time: Around edges and handles, where many antique pieces show the most wear, too.

Strip the Paint Off (Just Don't Get Too Far)

How information technology distresses: Removing pigment with paint stripper isn't the ordeal information technology used to be — plenty of natural, chemical-free products are available that make removing pigment with a scraper elementary and straightforward. The trick with stripping is not going down to the bare wood.

Where it works best: On pieces with either many layers of paint or a heavily lacquered finish.

Sad article of furniture is both fun and rewarding, specially if yous practice offset to ensure that y'all're exerting the right amount of strength or emphasis. To keep your losses to a minimum, practise on a fleck slice of wood. In no time, yous'll have the skills to create the wait you've e'er wanted.

Not certain if the rustic, antiquarian look is what you're going for? Here are some additional ways to restore wood furniture: Furniture Facelift: 4 Means to Restore Old Wood Furniture.

If reading this weblog inspires you lot to keep a furniture treasure hunt, come check out the ReStore. We get piece of furniture donations every 24-hour interval that may be perfect for this type of project, and there are e'er pieces yous won't find anywhere else. Visit either of our locations and come across for yourself!

DIY Project Instructions