Shoppers pay a great deal of money for distressed furniture from flea markets, antique stores, and furniture companies, who charge more than they should for their merchandise. But learning how to apply a beautiful faux-antique finish yourself is so easy, there’s no need to buy distressed furniture at all. You can get the same beautiful look by using a simple technique that won’t take more than a weekend to finish, and it’s far less expensive than buying.
The good news is, even if you’ve never tried to distress furniture before, you really can’t go wrong with it. It’s basically goof-proof, doesn’t require a lot of supplies, and since you will be using used wood furniture, it’s not expensive either. Begin with something small, like a chair, and work your way up to something a bit larger, such as a bench, with practice. Before you know it, you’ll have learned how to distress furniture so well, you’ll be able to add a beautiful faux-antique finish to a hutch or armoire, or even your kitchen cabinets!
Supplies needed to distress furniture:
– Used wood furniture
– Medium-grit sandpaper
– Fine-grit sandpaper
– Face mask
– Paintbrush
– Hammer
– Water-based primer
– Water-based paint
How to distress furniture:
Step 1 – Since you will be sanding and working with paint products, be sure you are working in a well ventilated area. You’ll also want to wear a face mask for the duration of the project.
Step 2 – Being by roughing up the surface with a medium-grit sandpaper. If the furniture you are distressing has dings and knots in it, don’t worry! These imperfections will only add to the beauty of your distressed furniture. However, if chipped paint is present, be sure to sand it down to an even surface.
Step 3 – Wipe down the surface with a damp cloth to remove any dust or debris.
Step 4 – Working in the same direction as the wood grain, apply a water-based primer. Be sure to use a light-colored primer, as it will show through the painted areas that you sand down later. Using a primer will give the final coat of paint something to hold onto, and will prolong the life of the finished paint job.
Step 5 – Allow the primer to dry completely, and then apply an even coat of water-based paint (color of your choice). Allow it to dry overnight.
Step 6 – Now comes the fun part! It seems crazy to turn right around and mess up your nicely painted furniture, but that’s what you need to do to give it that worn, distressed look you’re after. To distress furniture, you’ll need to use a combination of medium-grit and fine-grit sandpaper and go to work sanding down the paint. Using two different types of sandpaper will give the furniture a more inconsistent look. Remember, the beauty of distressed furniture is in the imperfections!
Step 7 – To create those lovely knots and dings so commonly seen, complete your faux-antique finish process by lightly banging into the furniture with a hammer. Although it goes against everything you were taught to do, hammering the furniture will add character and rustic charm to your distressed furniture.
Step 8 – When you’re happy with the way your furniture looks, wipe it clean with a damp cloth. Be sure to remove all trace of dust and dirt.
That’s all there is to learning how to distress furniture! Although I do not personally go any further than the steps listed here, you can apply a coat of water-based polyurethane to protect the furniture, if you desire. Although this will extend the life of the paint, it will give the distressed furniture a glossy finish that isn’t typically seen on furniture that has really been worn and used.
More from Jennifer Wagner:
Shabby Chic Paint Technique
How to Paint Wicker Furniture
DIY Faux Painting: Marbling
SOURCE:
Personal knowledge
Jennifer Wagner – Yahoo! Contributor Network