A distressed look is always in style, and furniture is no exception. With this easy guide, you’ll be able to paint furniture to look distressed in no time! All you need is a little bit of paint and some imagination, and we guarantee that you won’t look back after following these simple steps on how to paint furniture to look distressed. Let’s get started!
What You’ll Need for This Project
Distressed furniture is all the rage right now, and for good reason. It looks beautiful, vintage, and unique. To create the distressed look on your furniture, you’ll need some paint and a light hand.
- Paint
- Stains
- A brush
- White furniture polish
- Black furniture polish
- (Optional) Sandpaper or grit sandpaper
- A piece of wood or a piece of furniture to distress
How to Paint Furniture to Look Distressed
Paint furniture to look distressed? It might sound like a daunting task, but with a little patience and some practice, it’s possible. In this blog post, we’ll guide you step-by-step through the process of painting furniture to look distressed.
- Begin by thoroughly cleaning the furniture piece that you want to distress with a cloth and white polish. Be sure to get any excess paint off of the surface too!
- Once the furniture is clean, mix up two different shades of paint in a small container – one for the base coat and one for the accent color(s). Choose colors that will complement your decorating scheme – light blues make an ideal distressed look, while dark browns or greys are perfect for more traditional styles.
- Apply a light coat of paint to the piece of furniture using a brush. Be sure to evenly distribute the color throughout the piece. Allow the paint to dry completely before proceeding.
- If desired, apply another layer of paint over the surface in distress – this will help create a more distressed look and feel. Again, make sure that you cover all areas thoroughly with color and allow it time to dry fully before moving on!
- To create shadows or highlights on your distressed furniture piece, mix together white polish and black polish in a small jar or bowl- adding more black if you’d like your piece to appear more distressed overall. Apply this mixture using a brush to areas that you want to be highlighted- be sure not to apply too much of the polish, or it will become difficult and messy to remove.
- Finally, lightly sanding with grit sandpaper (or sandpaper if using an optional step) will give your piece of furniture a worn, battered appearance. Be careful not to overdo it – just enough so that the paint is visible but does not look chipped or cracked.
Tips for Completing the Paint Job
There are a few key things to keep in mind while painting distressed furniture:
- Work quickly! The paint will dry very quickly, so be sure to work within the time constraints given.
- Make sure you use light layers of paint- too much color will make the piece difficult to sand and polish later on.
- Keep your brush movements even and consistent- this will help avoid creating unwanted strokes or lines on your furniture piece.
- Clean your brushes and utensils regularly- paint can be difficult to remove cleanly, so make sure you are careful when working with it!
- Begin by sanding the furniture to remove any excess paint or layers of wax.
- Apply a light coat of distressed paint in an interesting pattern or color, allowing it to dry before completing further detail work.
- Paint over areas with darker colors, leaving distressed highlights for added depth and character.
- Next, add accents of color using a water-soluble marker such as blueberry, crimson reds, and oranges to achieve desired effects – be sure not to overdo it!
- To complete the look, lightly sand with grit sandpaper (or sandpaper if using an optional step) to create a weathered appearance.
- Allow the furniture to dry completely before moving on to another project!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there any difference between painting and distressing a piece of furniture?
There is definitely a difference between painting and distressing furniture—the former will give your piece a new lease of life, whereas the latter will make it look more lived in.
Paint can be used to distress pieces of furniture by adding cracks, chips, and water spots. Distressed furniture looks great when there are blemishes and imperfections because it makes the piece appear more worn and authentic.
How much time will it take me to paint my furniture to look distressed?
This is a difficult question to answer as it will depend on the type of furniture and how distressed you want it to look. Generally, though, distressed furniture takes more time than painted furniture to achieve the desired look.
What type of paint should I use to distress furniture?
Different types of paint will give different results when distressed. For example, acrylics are great for adding cracks and distressing highlights, while latex paints can be used to add water spots and make the piece look wet. Make sure you test out which type of paint works best on your particular piece of furniture before starting your project.
Conclusion
Painting furniture to look distressed is a popular technique that can add a touch of distressed elegance to any room. By following this step-by-step guide, you’ll be able to achieve the desired look with ease.
Make sure to have all the necessary supplies on hand before starting the project, and don’t be afraid to experiment with different colors and techniques to get the look you’re going for. Have fun and let your creativity run wild!