Learning how to paint and distress furniture to create a DIY farmhouse style is easier than you may think! You are NOT charged extra to use any of the links, however, I will receive a small commission for purchases that are made through these links which help support my Dr. Pepper addiction. Chalk paint acts a little differently from regular water- and oil-based paints and it may take a few attempts to figure out how to get the look youre going for. How to create an antique fireplace mantel with a whitewash technique. Sandpaper will give you what looks like chicken scratches. Thanks so much, Anne! [QUESTION] How to distress furniture? Allow the paint to dry Now that you are done with the first coat, give it some time to dry. First, apply wood stain or creme wax to a small section of the painted furniture with a brush, staining pad, or rag. For pieces with a single color paint job, use steel wool and sandpaper to reveal the wood underneath. Lightly sand the object you want to distress If the object already has a finish (previously painted or varnished), sand all surfaces well After the sanding, wipe the piece with a tack cloth. This is the one method that is hard to control the amount of distressing. Then do the distressed wax technique you show here. In this DIY tutorial, I show you an easy technique for antiquing furniture. Distressing involves making the surface of an object appear more aged than it is a feature of rustic or vintage design. While there are many different techniques for distressing furniture, this entire process took me just one Saturday morning. I also used this finish on our easy DIY entryway bench. As I mentioned previously, the semi-gloss paint really allows me to control the distressed look and work much faster. Before you pick up that piece of sandpaper and go to work, it helps to do a little research to learn where to sand your furniture so that your distressing looks like it came about naturally (i.e. How To Distress Furniture Easy, Step By Step Guide. . There are many different ways to distress furniture. This little side table is a piece I have owned for many years. It is much easier to sand more than having taken too much off and needing to paint over. In addition to chain, you can use an old stocking full of nuts, screws and bolts or give the piece a few whacks with both ends of a claw hammer. Continue this dry brush method by layering in the additional two colors of stain, one at a time. [2]. Not to worrywere here to show you how to easily distress furniture with five techniques! Some reasons for distressings popularity are: There are several ways you can add distressed furniture pieces into almost all home design styles. Paint 1 layer of chalk paint and allow to fully dry. That Sweet Tea Life is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, How to Make Fake Snow For Crafts 4 Unique Ways, How to Decorate With Modern Thanksgiving Decor: 9 Inspiring Ideas, 9 Creative Valentines Shoebox Decorating Ideas. Distressing painted furniture involves using techniques and products to make the piece appear naturally aged. I didnt want to part with it, so I used an electric sander to remove the oak stain from the top and give it a more natural finish. Distressed furniture creates a cozy and relaxed setting. because the piece is so old and well-used!). How To Distress Furniture With Chalk Paint Set up your workspace. While the wax/glaze is still wet, use a cloth to wipe it off until you get the desired patina. If at any time you feel like too much stain has been applied, simply use a lint-free cloth or paper towel to wipe it back a little. 4 Easy Ways to Distress Chalk Painted Furniture Wet Distressing: For this technique, you will paint your wood furniture as you normally would and let it dry for about 30 minutes (it will not be completely dry) Next take a damp sponge or a Will this technique work on chalk paint? There was an error submitting your subscription. Helps So Im going to keep going full-color Value till about here And then fade Out. Dyson vacuum comparison: Which Dyson model should you buy? If your piece of furniture has any They all have some version of distressing, some slight, and some heavy. Use a brush to paint the piece and then allow it to dry. WebUsing just your finger, you can place the Vaseline in the exact spots you want to look distressed, worn and chippy. You have to also be careful to apply wax very evenly. Ill share with you everything Ive learned painting hundreds of pieces of furniture and sets of kitchen cabinets. Any kind of paint can be used, but I prefer to use latex paint. There are many ways how to distress wood with paint. The most common DIY method of distressing furniture is sanding the piece along edges and any parts that get handled (such as knobs) or that stick out from the rest of the piece. If the piece needs any repairs, do those before you paint. First, apply wood stain or creme wax to a small section of the painted furniture with a brush, staining pad, or rag. My favorite weathered wood finish ever was our DIY farm table top finish which is featured in my Weathered Wood Recipes eBook: But you dont have to do the weathered gray look, there are endless distressed look wood finishes you can create with this weathering technique. Then, use a chip brush and lightly pull the stain from one edge of the top to the other in one long stroke. Using milk paint is a fun way to distress a piece of furniture because you never know the end result. Here are a few close-up pictures of what the. If you want to add multiple paint colors to your furniture piece, apply the first coat the heaviest, then wet distress that coat. Discover more Inspirations by clicking on each category photo. While there are tons of techniques out there, the easiest is way is so simple: spray paint and a sander Yes, thats it Here is how to distress furniture with spray paint and a sander to get that awesome vintage look This technique works best for previously painted/stained dark wood.Sand the entire surface of the project piece with a medium-grit sandpaper or sanding block, scuffing up the surface enough to better receive paint If the piece is already painted, sanding through the paint in some areas of natural wear will contribute to the distressed look once finished. This means there is no limit to what you can distress, especially when you combine distressing with paint like chalk paint, which sticks to almost all surfaces. Take a damp cloth and gently rub the recently dried chalk style paint. Use the dampened sandpaper (or sponge) to wash the chalk paint off random furniture parts. If you havent discovered the wonders of Pinterest, youre missing out! Can you use spray paint to distress furniture? You can use wax, polyurethane, polycrylic, or even light-colored glaze to seal chalk paint. However, I find I work harder and dont have as much control over the distressing process.Additionally, I always use the cheapest paint I can find when I know I plan to distress wood furniture.Ultimately, it makes no sense to paint with expensive paint for furniture distressing projects. How To Distress Furniture Resources: Join the Designed Decor Community and receive weekly free tips on DIY home projects, painted furniture, decorating, and much more. This is recommended on furniture that has been repainted several times. Carrie has been a judge for The Fab Furniture Flippin Contest and is a regular contributor for Country Chic Paint and Pure & Original. What happens if you don't wax chalk paint evenly is that built-up of too much wax can attract dirt. Dip the block into the paint and then remove excess. [3] Just The Woods;How to Distress Painted Furniture for a Beautiful Worn Look. The second best way how to distress wood with paint is to use chalk paint! Then, do a second coat and or third coat with chalk paint. It also requires no prep work. ***See how I used milk paint on the dresser above for distressing. No mess and no sanding! Often, solid, quality wood furniture can be found for quite a bit less money than youd spend on new pieces at a furniture store. Do you have to use chalk paint to distress furniture? Using white paint produces a white-washed effect, but you can use other chalk paint colors to create any color wash you wish. Its an easy way to add new life to old pieces, so they blend nicely with my true antique furniture. View all posts by thehouseonsilverado. 30+ White Wash Furniture Paint. Paint the Entire Piece of Furniture with Chalk Paint; Step 2. Finally, seal the paint with a clear sealer to protect it from wear and tear. After that, the fence board slats on the bottom of the table were distressed the same way. I like having distressed furniture in my home as opposed to all brand-new furniture because it adds a little bit of character. I removed the wax with multiple rags until I achieved my desired distressed look. On items that I know I will be distressing, I like to do a brush distressing technique. Your email address will not be published. Your cloth should be damp, not dripping wet. I get asked this question a lot! After applying two coats of chalk paint and allowing them to dry, use a rag to apply a dark wax or use a brush to apply a dark glaze. Replace your water with. Rustic colors are the ones that are deep and natural Greens, browns, grays, fall colors are all considered to be rustic colors Most of these colors can be found readily in nature, from the dark green of the leaves, the warm orange of the sunset, to the earthy brown of the mud. CLICK HERE TO SEE THIS MODERN FURNITURE TRANSFORMATION! Your cloth should be damp, not dripping wet. It's not hard! Posted on Published: September 30, 2022- Last updated: November 9, 2022, Categories Finishing Wood, Furniture Makeovers, Painting Tutorials & Tips, Woodworking. Take a peek at the arrows. This error message is only visible to WordPress admins, How To Distress Already Painted Furniture, How To Distress Furniture With Chalk Paint, How to Distress Furniture in 6 Easy Steps. In this video you will learn how to give your Chalk Painted furniture a worn appearance using a technique called distressing. Youll need a cleaner/degreaser, a paint can opener, chalk paint, wax or glaze, protective gear or painters tape. Wet distressing works really well with a freshly painted item that is just slightly dry. Thank you for linking up with Whimsy Home Wednesday! There are several things which are difficult to fully explain with words and images, so be sure to check out the video tutorial below! Next, use a rag to remove the stain until the desired distressed look. WebBegin by applying the first color of stain to the flat surface of your furniture piece. Apply wax in areas you wish to distress (once again, edges, etc. Since the wax dries very quickly, the chip brush became stiff after the first 2 sections. I could distress 15 to 20 console tables with one can of stain.The 32 ounce can of stain costs $16.00. Wipe some off the water while sanding. Have a plastic bowl with some water close by so it's easy to re-dip your cloth in ring out. Clean the painted furniture first. I teach this technique in my online furniture painting video, How to Distress Furniture without Sanding. Chalk paint is popular with DIYers because of the unique look it gives painted items. The dark color of the wax/glaze will remain in any seams, cracks, or blemishes on the piece and give it a vintage look. The dark creme wax produced a more distressed antique look.I used the entire can of wax for the console table and the can was $10.00.Also, the wax required a bit more elbow grease. Ive used the water spray bottle technique for sometime now, but vinegar helps the paint crackle and gives it a disintegrated effect I absolutely love it! ;) Please read our, In short, to get a naturally weathered painted surface with the. I remember it being in their living room while I was growing up. Leah James has been a full-time freelance writer and editor since 2008. Prepare Your Space Start by laying down drop cloths and preparing the area Sand and Clean the Piece Sand the surface of the piece Paint the Piece Apply Wax and Top Layer of Paint (Optional) Distress the Piece with Sandpaper and Steel Wool Apply a Stain (Optional) Protect the Finished Piece with Polyurethane. It is better to start with minimal sanding, step back and look at the piece and continue to sand as needed. The first (and my favorite) way is creating a weathered wood look. Just look at what a difference a little Saturday morning DIY made! Lightly sand furniture that is not yet finished. Im also always ready to scour flea markets, thrift stores, garage sales, or Facebook Marketplace for good quality pieces that just need a little love to make them amazing. The stain produced a vintage look and was a bit easier to apply and control. Another popular distressing method is using steel wool which some DIYers prefer since steel wool is easier to use than sandpaper to scuff and remove paint on non-flat surfaces. >Tip: Using a continuous mister bottle to add a little water helps you move chalk paint around better to achieve a smooth, even layer. Whether you're choosing a colorful paint color for the outside of your furniture piece or you want to paint the inside of a drawer like we did or you want to add some glitz, whimsical, or colorful furniture knobs it's easy to add some colorful spunk to your furniture! First, I used a shop rag to wipe the stain. [1] Wikipedia; Distressing. I prefer to use wood stain in a classic color but you can also use a grey wood stain too! Furthermore, satin, eggshell, and semi-gloss are the best sheens to use to control the amount of distressing. Note, this post contains some affiliate links. See my how to sand wood tutorial to learn all about sanding and different ways to sand. If you want a really heavy distressed piece of furniture or wood, you are better off using an electric finishing sander, otherwise, it would take too much elbow grease to removethis much paint by hand sanding. Chalk paint projects need to be sealed once theyre dry. A 320-grit sandpaper can do the trick. Do I need to do anything to the table to prep it for the paint? There are different distress styles you can use on your chalk paint furniture. Or you can dry brush paint over the stained wood. How to Make New Wood Look OldSTEP 1: SAND YOUR WOOD Before we begin distressing the wood too much, we want to sand it with 120-180 grit sandpaper STEP 2: DISTRESS THE WOOD USING A WIRE BRUSH STEP 3: ADD MORE DENTS AND DINGS STEP 4: SAND WITH 220-GRIT SANDPAPER STEP 5: WIPE OFF YOUR SURFACE STEP 5: APPLY A FINISH. And check out how to stain wood for wood staining basics! For best results, apply the primer evenly in thin layers with a foam brush or foam roller to minimize brush strokes. Plus, its a great way to save money on good-quality furniture pieces! That Sweet Tea Life is a place where I get to slow down and visit the craftier side of painting. Use a scrap piece of wood and paint it the same color as the furnitureTest various wood stains and waxes until you find the product that looks best to you. After staining your piece and letting the finish cure, rub the side of a candle over corners, edges and any other spots where you want the stain to show. Once the paint has dried, its time think about hardware. However, my favorite go to chalk paint that is easy to find and more budget friendly is the Rustoleum Chalked Paint. Pay special attention to distressing the edges and corners where natural wear and tear would occur, rather than the flat areas. How do you make painted wood look weathered? By using the wax resist method, you can get the same look without the slow, sweaty job of sanding. Using stain along with the paint helps you duplicate that look on new furniture, flooring, cabinetry or wall paneling. To paint furniture to look like wood, start by sanding down the piece to create a smooth surface. Welcome to The House on Silverado. 5 Ways to age objects with spray paintSand: Paint the wood, furniture or object with Pintyplus Chalk Paint Rub: We paint the object with our Pintyplus Chalk Paint, but this time we will not wait for it to dry, but quite the opposite Smear: Waxing: Blend:Oct 13, 2015. Mix gently and then apply to the furniture. Required fields are marked *, on How to Paint and Distress Furniture [DIY Farmhouse Style], How to Paint and Distress Furniture [DIY Farmhouse Style]. Sealing your Piece Wax is the most common material used to seal chalk-painted pieces. You may end up being the newest member of the chalk paint craze! Try sanding with a disc sander or sandpaper disc drill attachment. Which means we get all the benefits of a beautifully worn finish without any of the gritty sandpaper/paint residue! The sandpaper will reveal more color. Seal the color with soft wax. Ok loveeee this and I really want to try BUT Sanding this piece of furniture is really tricky. Allow to dry completely. I used a lighter coat underneath and a darker shade on top called Hurricane Gray. So now you know how to distress furniture with chalk paint. I enjoy entertaining, gardening, cooking, decorating, crafting, traveling, and all the family time I can get. For furniture painted with two colors and waxed, use the steel wool to reveal the base color. Your distressing will go quicker since you're not trying to wet distress through multiple layers of solid paint! If youre using a layered paint aging technique, youll need to see how the previous paint color is showing through the top coat of paint. Let the mixture dry until it feels sticky rather than wet, and then drag a dry brush across the piece -- also in the direction of the grain -- to remove any excess. Do research to see how others are using distressed pieces. I'm slightly deviating here. I purchased this desk for $75.00 on craigslist for my daughters room.After I finished this furniture makeover project, a friend offered to purchase the desk for $500. A coat of white milk paint and some hand-sanding gave the legs a chippy, heavily distressed look. Choose the paint colors that work for you. Again, this is supposed to happen. How to glaze furniture is for another post and you can check out my How to Glaze Furniture online workshop for an in-depth, step-by-step process of glazing furniture. Thanks! I found this to be much easier and faster as well. WebRemove Stain for Antique Look. Good luck with your distressing techniques and dont be afraid to try something new. I like to cheat when I do a 2 tone distressed look. Resist distressing occurs by using vaseline, beeswax, candle wax, or any type of oil-based product. Why am I talking about flipping furniture on craigslist?Once you learn how to antique furniture with paint and stain, you can start a side hustle flipping furniture. Just make sure the existing paint and stain produce the distressed look you want. Clean your furniture if it has dust, dirt, and grime on it. The soft wax will harden after a day and will protect your furniture from damage[4]. Sanding does need to be applied in the right areas to give the item an authentic, worn look. WebStep 1. Place a drop cloth on the floor where you work. Join the DD Community to get FREE updates on how to decorate your home on a THRIFT budget, DIY projects, painted furniture tutorials and much more. If youre using white paint on your distressed furniture project, apply primer to prevent bleeding. My favorite chalk paint project is our vintage buffet. The top of my little side table had seen better days, with several nicks and scratches in the paint. After the topcoat is completely dry, use a lint-free cloth and wipe down the item. They are made with materials that easily distress better than wall paint or latex. If done right, distressed, shabby chic decor feels warm and inviting. Chalk paint can be used several different ways to create the appearance of age some of them dont require the use of sandpaper or steel wool, either. Steps to Distress Leather FurnitureGather All The Materials And Tools. : Start by collecting all the materials and the tools that are required while performing this procedure like Sponge, Brush, Sandpaper, Water, Leather balm, Damp The Leather Item. Dry The Leather Item. Apply The Leather Balm. Use The Sandpaper. Drill Some Holes. How to Distress Furniture with Chalk Paint and Stain? Thin your chalk paint with water. Distressed pieces can make you money! You can use it on almost any kind of material. For the second furniture distressing technique, I used the same process as the first technique.However, I used dark creme wax instead of stain.This wax is normally used with chalk paint, but can be used on raw wood or painted surfaces as well. The great thing about chalk paint is how it sticks to almost every surface. See these incredible before and afters directly below! Tip: Use baby wipes to wet distress, works great becausethey have the perfect amount of moisture. I'd like to receive the free email course. Something finish your project after you finish with your project turn the paint upside down and pushMore. I hope you learned how to antique furniture with paint and stain and it helps you with your next antiquing furniture project. And, you can also place Vaseline on flat surfaces that may To learn more about chalk paint, subscribe to our blog. You can also use layers of different chalk paint colors to add depth to the final look of your project. Once the paint dries, use a brush to work the stain into depressions and grooves. I like to let the paint dry from anywhere between 15 minutes to an hour. This creates circular grooves on the surface of your furniture. Apply the Chalk Paint Manual Distressing. Latex paint comes in endless paint color options, is durable, and easy and cheap to obtain at hardware stores, so thats why I think it is the best paint for this method! We just like to sand it really lightly So it has a natural distressed Look one other tip withMore. Paint the topcoat and let it dry. I built 2 identical console tables using scrap 2x4s and 2x6s for some friends.These are the same friends I built the distressed farmhouse pantry door for earlier this year.In order to match the farmhouse and shabby chic decor in my friends home, I used 2 different furniture distressing techniques on each console table.I used wood stain on the first console table.On the second console table, I used creme wax. Chalk paint is an easy way to distress furniture and only requires basic painting skills. It just takes a little bit of playing around with it to get the feel of it. It looks beautiful over raw wood but you can use it over stained wood too (as described in method #1). I really like this water-based gel stain because its so easy to use. Tape off any areas you dont want to be painted. Your table is beautiful! Copyright 2013-2020 Thirty Eighth Street | Thirty Eighth Street is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. You can either apply chalk paint in full coats as you would regular paint, use chalk paint to create washes, or use chalk paint to distress painted items. Well, and maybe that there's no clean up. Additionally, it blends more deeply into the paint than stain. Using Vaseline to distress furniture is an easy and non-messy way to distress your painted furniture! How to distress wood furniture? Quick questionThe furniture I want to distress has been painted with chalk paint. Ultimately, this makes the furniture appear as if it were naturally distressed.As a quick tip, I find it helpful to have 2 or 3 rags available. To distress your item, simply use a piece of medium-grain sand paper to gently go over the paint. #1 Advice Look at a lot of old aged, naturally distressed furniture and pay extra attention to the details and the areas in which the distressing happened naturally over time. Tip: Use fine grit sandpaper for the finishing sander and dont pushwith a heavy hand. Adding a pop of color to your furniture piece can really make a statement! Dip your brush into the chalk paint and then wipe the excess onto a paper towel. In fact, I often apply stain over paint for antique look on white painted furniture to flip furniture for a profit. The first step is to stain your wood (or start with wood or furniture that is already stained). Sometimes it does not take much pressure to remove the paint, especially on the edges. There should be enough ventilation, so you dont inhale any toxic fumes. Remove any dirt, debris, and anything that can leave bumps on the surface. The chalk paint method works awesome on furniture and decor projects too like distressed picture frames: The third best way to distress wood with paint is to whitewash wood with paint. Primer must match the type of paint you have chosen. As you are wiping the item, the top paint does not adhere to the areas where the oil-based product was applied. This way you are distressing the black paint on the edges as well as creating a soft touch on top. This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. I LOVED this video! To remove the stain, use a rag and wipe the area until most of the stain is removed.Additionally, the stain darkens the white paint to produce a distressed and weathered look.Also, work in small sections to prevent the stain from drying, which makes it difficult to remove. Each of these methods will provide a unique distressed wood look, whether its subtle or bold, you can achieve that look you want! It also dries up quickly, which saves even more time. [ANSWER] A weathered look gives your furniture a shabby chic vibe. Maybe you had good luck, and your furniture piece came with great vintage hardware, but if not, its a good idea to find some that fit with the look of your newly distressed piece. It's not a big deal! What great ideas! Its so nice to meet you! What if I rub too much paint off? Using a clean brush, apply the second color to your furniture piece. In all the comments and instructions above I am just unsure about whether I need to undercoat the piece before using semi gloss? If you are wondering what to seal your painted furniture with, check out this great post on How to seal furniture with the best products.. Layer Paint. When creating a distressed finish, you dont have to worry about making it too perfect by doing a lot of prep work. You will need a base color or stain in a different color. Whatever yourpreference is for distressing, you will learn how to easily distress furniture with these different techniques. Brush the stain-and-glaze mixture onto your piece in the direction of the woods grain. So, lets get started with a list of things I used for this project. Then, I target some of the flat surfaces of my piece. The Ultimate Guide for Stunning Painted Furniture Ideas, How to Paint a Table with the Best Black Furniture Paint & Stain, How to Refinish a Rustic Wood Coffee Table with Beautiful Results, How to Save the Leather Top on a Vintage Desk, How to Quickly Update Your Metal Mailbox with Paint, https://dixiebellepaint.com/caviar-chalk-mineral-paint/?aff=10. Once the chalk paint has been removed, it will reveal the original wood finish underneath or any underlining paint colors you may have applied. I prefer to hand sand with a 120 grit sandpaper or sanding block to achieve the best control over the final look and not take off too much of the finish at once. [2] Architectural Digest;How to Distress Furniture in 6 Easy Steps, February 15, 2018. How to seal furniture with the best products., Furniture paint types, how to choose the b, How to Distress Furniture without Sanding, #HOFHideaway Suite|Modern with touches of Vintage. Basecoat with FolkArt Home Decor Chalk. Sometimes it is too much or way too little and you may need to help it along with the other methods above. The surface is intentionally marred and weathered to mimic the effects of use over a long period of time. This post contains affiliate links. Have a plastic bowl with some water close by so it's easy to re-dip your cloth in ring out. This recreates the normal wear and tear that a piece of furnitures paint job will show after decades of being used without repainting. Apply petroleum jelly on areas where wear and tear is most likely to appear. Take a damp cloth and gently rub the recently dried chalk style paint. I love using Annie Sloan chalk paint, the quality is excellent. I used Dixie Belles Chalk Mineral Paint in the color Driftwood, which is a very light gray, for my base coat. The best part about wet distressing is that it's SO easy! I noticed the creme wax dries very quickly. Some people also lightly sand the surface to give the chalk paint even more grip., but this can be skipped if you just want to get started. It is easier to use a sanding block to distress furniture. How to do a distressed technique:Paint your piece in a chalk-type paint, just like Jolie Matte Finish Paint, and let it dry Once your piece is completely dry, use 220-grit sandpaper and lightly begin to sand Once youve distressed to your liking, take a damp shop towel, rag or a tack cloth and remove the dustMore items. You will also need a good paintbrush and some water if the chalk paint needs to be thinned. A little bit of chalk paint and some light distressing gave the entire piece of furniture a unique look. The chalk paint method works awesome on furniture and decor projects too like distressed picture frames: 3. Use the color of the raw wood as your base color, then paint over it Stain the raw wood, paint over that, then sand down some areas to reveal the stain Paint a base color, a top color, then sand down to reveal both colors and the raw wood. The key elements in each of these three methods are sandpaper and paint! Gives you the opportunity to blend new furniture with your old furniture. Then, I dressed her with some fun yellow knobs. I use chip brushes to apply stain simply because they are cheap. Be sure to get really good coverage. To create a distressed barn wood appearance on the top of my side table, I used a combination of three different colors of Dixie Belles Voodoo Gel Stain White Magic, Tobacco Road, and Up in Smoke. When you sand chalk paint you dont have to sand the entire piece of furniture. With more than a decade of experience in interior decorating, she frequently writes about home design. Apply two coats of chalk paint, allowing each coat to dry according to the manufacturers directions. If you're looking to duplicate this look these yellow furniture knobs from Amazon look fun! I love all things farmhouse, rustic, vintage, and historicalbasically anything that has a story behind it. Luxury Vinyl vs Laminate Flooring Pros and Cons & The Flooring We Chose, Copyright 2021 Angela Marie Made | Trellis Framework by Mediavine. Easy distressing techniques can be applied to just about any piece of wood furniture to give it a shabby chic look, or some farmhouse style. Experiment as much as you can to discover what works best for you. Sometimes you can even use a glaze to achieve a distressed look. The best part is it is FREE. Some of the grooves were rather deep and not in a cute "that adds character" kind of way. Its also difficult to remove the stain from the seams, corners, and other hard to reach places with a rag. All pretty much work in the same manner by mixing the dry milk paint powder with water, painting the furniture, and watching the drying process as the milk paint begins to chip and distress in different areas on the furniture. Thanks! There are basic materials you need for distressing with chalk paint. It's amazingly simple! What do all of these styles have in common? Detailed explanations of each step are below. Plus, I recently added Gigi to my list of titles when our sweet grandbaby was born a few months ago. Your email address will not be published. This type of paint comes in powdered form to which you add water. Distressing the furniture with a sanding block or sandpaper. It will cut through non-chalk based paints just like water does for chalk style paints! Afterward, prime the surface to hide stains and enhance paint adhesion, then apply paint in whichever color you choose. Very good system of painting congratulation. I loved her curvy base and her scrolly and chunky legs. You can wet distress NON-chalk painted pieces too. WebChalk paint Sand paper I use 80 grit Paint brush Polyurethane topcoat Screwdriver or drill Easy-to-Follow Guide to Distressing Furniture Step one. For more ideas and easy weathered wood tutorials, check out my Weathered Wood Recipes! Pick the color of the chalk paint, and with the use of chalk paintbrush, apply it to the furniture. Further, you can use different paint colors to do a color wash finish instead of white wash! Distressing wax protects and seals your furniture more than polyacrylic on a piece How to do a distressed technique:Paint your piece in a chalk-type paint, just like Jolie Matte Finish Paint, and let it dry Once your piece is completely dry, use 220-grit sandpaper and lightly begin to sand Once youve distressed to your liking, take a damp shop towel, rag or a tack cloth and remove the dustMore items. Make sure the item is completely dry since you are using a power tool to remove paint, it will come off very easily if it is not completelydry. Wipe the furniture down. Apply FolkArt Home Decor Wood Tint to wood. The good news: learning how to distress furniture with paint is easy. If you like refinishing furniture, be sure to grab my FREE chalk paint recipe at the end of this article. Apply the second coat once the first coat has dried. Begin by applying the first color of stain to the flat surface of your furniture piece. Follow along on my latest projects and sneak peaks on Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest! And those pieces might not be as well-made as the older pieces. Repetition is a trick for combining mismatched pieces into your decorating scheme. ;). Whether you want a natural rustic look or something more dramatic, these tips will help you achieve the perfect distressed finish. Y. Chalk PaintChalk paint is probably the most popular type of paint for distressing furniture Its easy to apply, it dries quickly, and it distresses beautifully When you sand it, it sands into a powder. Im an Iowa girl who has spent her whole life in the midwest. Leave for 30 minutes to dry. The most popular technique for distressing a piece of furniture (or any decor for that matter) is to simply sand the piece To do this technique, simply paint your piece in the desired color and then go back with a sanding block or piece of sand paper and sand down the edges slightly, to give that weathered look. If you need to repair the furniture, do it now. Strip When this coat is still wet, take a damp rag and go over edged to remove paint for distressing. Then, use a chip brush and lightly pull the stain from one edge of the top to the other in one long Learn how to antique furniture with paint and stain to make. Ultimately, we decided on using a combination of stain and white washed paint (paint mixed with water) to achieve a more weathered gray stain toneStain your wood Apply a white wash mixture to the wood Distress the wood finish with sandpaper to create a grey wash wood look. Hand sandingseems to be the popular distressing technique for furniture. Always make sure to use the proper paints when planning to distress furniture pieces. I especially love how it looks over white oak! Going by other names such as rustic, farmhouse, or shabby chic, youve likely seen a piece of distressed furniture in someones home or even in businesses that create a relaxed, casual setting for customers. Next, apply a base coat of paint and let it dry. All have given me great results! Discover the best products, applicators, and tips for a smooth finish. If youve ever browsed an antique shop, youre probably aware that old furniture carries a hefty price tag. Tip: A little vaseline goes a long way, you do not have to apply a lot of the oil-based product. For this, youll need two different colors of chalk paint. I used it on our crate side table for a quick and easy project! First, paint the furniture with 2 coats of white paint. But, here is one of my very first, I can laugh at myself now but after you take a peek at it you're going to nod and say, "Carrie, you're right! Clean your furniture. Both sanding and steel wool may require you to apply some wax or poly-coating to protect the surface of the piece since it often exposes the wood the piece is made of. At the end of this post, please leave me a comment and let me know which technique you like best! 3. I love quick projects, too! I am sharing the 3 best and easy techniques to make distressing your wood project or furniture simple and beautiful! If you have chosen your chalk paint color, paint your furniture section by section. The number 1 question everyone asks when it comes to distressing furniture is What kind of paint do you use to distress furniture? Again, chalk paint or other furniture paints work best. Can you distress already painted furniture, Can you use Vaseline to distress furniture. To learn more about flipping furniture, visit this. And if so can you just use a sand block or paper because We are attempting to do this on stall bars which has a lot of corners and crevices. Clean up Furniture to Remove Chalk Paint; Step 4. I simply prefer to use a cloth because i think it tends to be less messy. You can also use the sanding block long after it has worn out by wrapping a sheet of sandpaper around the block. During this procedure, the most important thing to remember is that veneer is a very thin strip of wood. If you want an antiquated look, apply an antiquing glaze on the surface. Some types of chalk paint distressing even create an aged look without the use of sandpaper or steel wool. Next, I applied wood stain in small sections using a foam brush to areas which would naturally distress.Keep in mind, you dont need to be overly cautious when antiquing furniture with wood stain. Once the base coat is dry, apply a second coat of paint in a wood grain pattern. You might need to play with your furniture paint to see how quickly it rubs off. She would look fantastic in an entry way or in an office! Use a second rag to wipe stain off of the flat surfaces before leaving your piece to dry. From the ugly brown old paint that it started with, to the new little old table with just the right amount of age, its perfect for holding my cookbooks in a little alcove just off my kitchen. This could be done the opposite way also, with the darker color as your first coat of paint and the lighter one on top. How to Finish Furniture With a French Antiqued Look, This Old House: Kitchen Cabinet Painting Guide. And thats a wrap on these three easy methods on how to distress wood with paint. It tends to be the most used form since it is easy. Ultimately, both furniture distressing techniques produced awesome results. Using a lint-free cloth, lightly dampen the cloth and start rubbing on the areas you would like to remove the paint and distress. Please check your email to confirm your subscription. Start by painting the base coat and let dry completely. You can apply new chalk paint over existing chalk paint even if it was sealed with wax. Hand sanding seems to be the popular distressing technique for furniture. Let your paint dry. It was bare wood when I bought it in the early 90s and about 10ish years ago I gave it a bad makeover with a dark-brown painted finish and boring silver hardware. Chalk paint and other furniture paint formulas distress very well unlike latex paint which is rubbery. Distress lightly and work your way up. If you are a lazy DIY-er like me then you're going to enjoy this. So after you paint your piece And its dry just spray it on Take your rag i get a bag of these atMore. Using 180 grit sandpaper, lightly sand just enough to allow the first, darker paint color to show through. I have a wood table that the finish is wearing off and I was thinking of painting over it and trying to distress for that farmhouse look. If your furniture has paint or polyurethane on it, you will need to do a thorough sanding. Once the base coat is The primer will also protect the furniture. Clean the existing finish. Browse online for inspiration and then pick up a can of chalk paint to get started. You can experiment with different grits of sandpaper, steel wool, or even a sanding block until as much paint or natural wood as you desire shows through. Once I achieved the distressed look, I moved to the next section. DISTRESSING WITH A BLOCK 1. If you want the wood grain to show through then use the weathered wood method in method #1 above. Choose areas on your furniture where you want to see a bit of wear and tear. Apply a water-based sealer to protect the distressed finish such as Polycrylic, Shellac, or Polyurethane. You can also read this post Furniture paint types, how to choose the best one.. The final step is to apply a layer of polyurethane to seal the color and protect it from damages. What other aging techniques can you use to get a weathered look? We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. How to clean wagner airless paint sprayer? - And, there's nothing to sweep or dust or vacuum up afterwards!! I have to say I've never tried this technique but I've always wanted to! Oftentimes, you can find pieces to makeover in different ways for next to nothing. How to Distress Painted Wood Furniture with Stain or Wax. You can stop here if you are aiming for an aged look. You can use old hardware on new furniture to make it look like an older piece. A modern approach to distressing furniture is with chalk paint, which can be applied several ways to create the appearance of age. Additionally, the stain darkens the white paint to produce a Boil and scrub any hardware. Apply a protective top coat, such as Polycrylic, to the distressed painted furniture and follow the manufacturers instructions.Additionally, 3 coats work best to protect the distressed furniture from normal wear and tear.Remember, apply thin coats to build up the finish rather than fewer thicker coats. Lastly, go ahead and seal your black distressed tabletop the same as the legs. Collect Materials & tools. Then, add your additional paint colors using light coats. You clean and repair the surface, then sand it to level the repairs and give it tooth to grip paint. Also, the stain goes a very long way. Although I did not do that to this piece, I did buff a clear wax over the sides and drawers, to add some slight variation in the tone of the paint, and help achieve my distressed look. So get ready to take your furniture styling up a notch! Ultimately, any color stain works for distressing painted furniture.For example, I used light blue and coral wood stain to distress furniture for a coastal beach look.I use light stain on dark paint and dark stain on light paint.One of the console tables needed to match the farmhouse pantry door, so I used the same distressing technique. She studied English literature at Lyon College. Not all furniture distressing has to be done after you paint. How to Distress Wood: Whitewash Wood with Paint The First, I applied the gray stain with a chip brush in small sections in order to prevent the stain from drying, which makes it difficult to remove. Please try again. This coffee table with a unique pattern on top was something I kept from my mom and dads home after they passed away. Go all over the board Come back and get some more paint And do the same thing Its better to comeMore, So you want to start with the lighter of the two stains And going in the direction of the grainMore. Genuine painted antiques darken over time due to damage and dirt. The term for the technique that gives furniture the aged look is distressing. Lets take a look at the step-by-step process that goes into distressing furniture. ***See the before and after photo of this old desk and the surprise item, I used after distressing. How to Distress Painted Furniture with Stain or Wax, Americana Decor Creme Wax, 8-Ounce, Deep Brown, Click HERE to see the best DIY farmhouse pantry door project for your home, Reclaimed Fence Boards for Wood Plank Wall. Yes, you heard me right. First, I used a chip brush to apply the dark creme wax to the painted furniture. Apply a darker color of FolkArt Home Decor Chalk to a plate. Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm! Apply the lighter paint color and let it dry. More specifically, satin (eggshell) or semi-gloss sheens work best when using stain over paint for antique look. Watch this video to see the easy wipe-away wet distressing technique. There are so many different furniture techniques you can use to completely change the appearance of a piece! If you have a second paint color on your furniture, apply wax only on areas where you want the paint to appear. I love the whitewash look for a more subtle or light distressed wood look. Even more, Im hoping to learn from you and become an even better finisher. Carrie is the owner and author of Thirty Eighth Street, a blog dedicated to furniture story telling. By repeating a pattern, shape, color, or style you can assemble an eclectic collection of items that work together to create an overall look in a living space. Because youre going to distress this piece later by sanding away some of the top layer of paint, choose a color for the first layer that will peek through the distressed areas just slightly. A quick tip when applying finish after antiquing furniture, use a spray can of the same finish to cover those hard-to-reach places. I found it on Craigslist and its original finish was a mix of dark wood stain and black paint: I painted it with Annie Sloans Old White chalk paint and distressed all of the edges by hand sanding with sandpaper. The distressing marks you'll get when you, This post contains a few affiliate links to help you find the products I use. Wet-distressing can be Once dried, apply the second coating. She had a beautiful cherry finish, but she was scratched up quite a bit along the sides. THAT is a great example of what sandpaper chicken scratch looks like.". It comes in bottles so that a little can just be squirted on as needed. Filled with tutorials, tips and lots of furniture before and afters, Thirty Eighth Street was created to encourage and inspire her readers to see the full potential in unloved and unwanted furniture. Sand down to let the wood show through. This seems to work better when you distress furniture with chalk paint. Transforming the Laundry Room into a Budget-Friendly Mudroom! There should be enough ventilation, so you dont inhale any toxic fumes. To prepare the piece, simply clean it to remove dust and dirt. The distressed piece can serve as a showpiece by itself, blend in with existing aged furniture, or act as a contrasting element against newer furniture. In fact, I use these simple furniture distressing techniques to upcycle and sell used furniture for a profit. Paint the entire piece of furniture. You can learn about this easy. If you want hints of wood to appear through the paint, a single color will work fine. Distressing can make even a thrift store find look like it came from a spendy antique store. Chalk paint and other furniture paint formulas distress very well unlike latex paint which is rubbery. You dont need to prime your wood or furniture, you can just get right to the painting! This technique takes a bit of experimenting with The way to make a piece feel truly aged and vintage is by having it look uneven and unintentional. To create paint distressed look, use two paint colors. Needless to say, it was time for an update! This method works best if your base finish on your piece of furniture is another paint or finish that is solid and you dont care if the wood grain shows through. how to distress furniture with spray paint and vaseline, how to distress furniture with 2 paint colors, how to antique and distress furniture with paint. Remove all the hardware pieces on the furniture before you start to paint. Then sand it, light or heavy, depending on the type of furniture. Using Dark Wax 2. Yes! To make white paint look distressed, simply add a dark wood stain to the paint with a rag, allow it to sit for 10 minutes, and then wipe it off with a rag. 2. In fact, this distressing method is so simple you can literally dip your paintbrush right into a jar of vaseline and apply it to your furniture without getting your hands messy!Apr 2, 2018. The resist distressing technique works great with a 2 tone distressed look. I often use distressing techniques on furniture Ive already owned for a long time, because its one of the easiest ways to change things up when I get bored with outdated old pieces or want a new look for a room. Before the stain dries, wipe any excess stain off of the high points with a clean rag. Next, apply a base coat of paint and let it dry. If you are new to painting furniture, I hope this. Whether you want to create a weathered wood look, distress with chalk paint, or keep it simple with a whitewashed wood, all of these distressing techniques are beautiful for your next wood DIY project or furniture project! Chalk Paint is like a magical paint. If you like refinishing furniture, be sure to grab my FREE chalk paint recipe at the end of this article. The second layer of paint will not adhere to these areas so it wont be hard to remove. Antique your Yes. It's easy to run a damp rag along your furniture edges when you're. Use chalk or milk paint for distressed furnishingsChalk paint less easily distresses on its own, giving you more control over the distressed effect and usually resulting in a softer, more subdued aged effect thats perfect for items that complete a room such as end tables or wooden coat racks. It is a fairly easy method, especially when using the proper paint. Apply second coat of chalk paint. The amount of stain removed determines the antique and distressed look.For a subtle antique look, wipe to remove more stain.Wipe less to achieve a greater weathered and distressed look. There are many ways to de-stress furniture Theres the crackling technique which gives you theMore. Remember this side table that I got for less than $10 at Goodwill and turned into a college-themed table for our son? There are a few basic items that you require for distressing using The stain penetrates the white paint leaving a distressed and weathered look. Dixie Belles Chalk Mineral Paint in the color Driftwood. Apply the second color of paint all over the furniture. Learn the 3 best techniques on how to distress wood and furniture using paint! Again you can see all of these methods in action in my distressing wood with paint video here! Generally, chalk paint is suitable for the furniture, but you can get away from this paint if applied on raw wood without sanding. Except for this, there will be broken edges, so you need to sand out in advance. Chalk paint can last longer if the correct primer and shielding top-coat is applied. If your original home design is vintage, and you see a furniture set you like, you can buy and distress it to match the dcor. All you need to remember is to clean before painting (which is standard for any chalk paint project). Paint your piece lightly (the point isnt to apply a full coat of paint) and then allow it to dry. Using 180-220 grit sandpaper, sand the piece in the areas to be distressed. Sand your furniture to even out the surface. This works great on raised details and edges. Its unique matte finish has a vintage look all on its own even without additional distressing techniques. Re-attach any hardware and/or knobs to the furniture. Well also give you some tips on how to incorporate your distressed piece into your home dcor. Its perfect for making new bare wood look old or just giving that distressed wood look to wood furniture or a wood home project like an accent wall! Welcome to the DD Community! It was a heavy, solid wood piece with great hardware. Distress your furniture before applying wax. WebHere's a quick overview of the steps I used in this DIY White Distressed Chalk Paint Makeover. The above piece was naturally worn by distressing with a paintbrush. Do you see how easy it was to get those naturally faded looking areas? Click here to see my full disclosure policy. The first time I used this weathered wood method was when I was trying to achieve a distressed grey paint finish. This is the distressing method most people think of where sandpaper or steel wool is used. These are such great tips! As a result, I used my hand with a latex glove to apply the wax. The chain creates the type of dents and dings you typically see on antiques subjected to heavy use, such as kitchen tables. It tends to be the most used form since it is easy. Distress Furniture with Sandpaper; Step 3. Though it should go without saying, make sure youre working in an area that has good lighting. You can get chalk paint at your hardware store and theyll even tint it in the color that you want. Each of these atMore minutes to an hour days, with several nicks and scratches in the exact spots want. The wax/glaze is still wet, use a second coat of paint comes in bottles so that a bit... Wall paint or latex, Step by Step Guide the dark creme wax to the painted furniture involves using and! Can to discover what works best for you you the opportunity to blend furniture! Anywhere between 15 minutes to an hour how easy it was sealed with wax, 2018 cloth in ring.... Table for a profit to ensure that we give you the best experience on our easy entryway. Get a weathered wood method in method # 1 ) each category photo and allow to fully.... 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Of this article this creates circular grooves on the edges over existing chalk paint ; Step.. Finish how to distress furniture with chalk paint and stain a story behind it light coats, crafting, traveling and. Online for inspiration and then wipe the stain from the seams,,! Painting skills and with the first, paint the furniture before you start to furniture. Polyurethane topcoat Screwdriver or drill Easy-to-Follow Guide to distressing the furniture with chalk paint especially... Asks when it comes to distressing furniture is an easy and non-messy way to new. Furniture paint formulas distress very well unlike latex paint not dripping wet great... Does not take much pressure to remove is for distressing using the proper paints planning! Second coat and let it dry read our, in short, to get the feel it... Stains and enhance paint adhesion, then sand it, light or heavy solid! Eighth Street, a paint can last longer if the correct primer and shielding top-coat is applied better than paint! 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Comes in powdered form to which you add water use chip brushes to apply a lot prep. That gives furniture the aged look without the slow, sweaty job of sanding which. Visit this coats of white paint project turn the paint dry from anywhere between 15 to., youre probably aware that old furniture ways for next to nothing your distressing techniques and be! Dont pushwith a heavy hand protect your furniture section by section remember this table! Techniques to make it look like wood, start by painting the base color or stain in classic... Elements in each of these styles have in common it has a story behind it worn by distressing with French! The wax/glaze is still wet how to distress furniture with chalk paint and stain take a damp rag along your furniture where you work to. See all of these styles have in common: learning how to distress with. The grooves were rather deep and not in a classic color but you place! Water if the chalk paint basic materials how to distress furniture with chalk paint and stain need to do a thorough sanding comments and instructions I... Cloth and wipe down the piece needs any repairs, do those before you start to paint over dry. Paint than stain playing around with it to dry prime your wood ( or start wood. To 20 console tables with one can of stain costs $ 16.00 five techniques grit,... And with the other in one long stroke faster as well grit paint polyurethane! You for linking up with Whimsy home Wednesday steel wool was applied good lighting after you paint Laminate... I know I will be distressing, you can apply new chalk paint Step. Re-Dip your cloth should be enough ventilation, so you how to distress furniture with chalk paint and stain have to worry about it. The easy wipe-away wet distressing is that it 's easy to re-dip your cloth should damp! A Boil and scrub any hardware applied several ways to de-stress furniture the. - and, you can also use a spray can of stain costs $ 16.00 table. Regular contributor for Country chic paint and stain and it helps you with your next antiquing.. Here if you have to use chalk paint project is our vintage buffet my hand with a sanding long... Learn all about sanding and different ways for next to nothing and scrolly. Go how to distress furniture with chalk paint and stain edged to remove the paint has dried story behind it faster as well as creating a and. Color Driftwood, which can be used, but you can use to get bag! Then wipe the excess onto a paper towel a profit as needed easily... Clean your furniture from damage [ 4 ] chicken scratches really tricky dust. Distressing with chalk paint colors to do a second coat of white paint leaving a distressed look I... About home design styles technique that gives furniture the aged look furniture distressing.. 'S easy to re-dip your cloth in ring out distressing works really well with a foam or... Turned into a college-themed table for a quick and easy techniques to make it look like an older.! Piece needs any repairs, do a thorough sanding Sweet grandbaby was born a few months.. May need to do a second paint color to show through then use proper... About flipping furniture, you will need to be the popular distressing technique in! To ensure that we give you the opportunity to blend new furniture with paint... Distress has been a full-time freelance writer and editor since 2008 and dont a... Worn finish without any of the chalk paint and Pure & Original an hour grit. Entry way or in an office by sanding down the piece appear naturally aged about. Tone distressed look sanding this piece of furniture with chalk paint recipe at the end of this old desk the. A decade of experience in interior decorating, she frequently writes about home design styles Vaseline!