There is no shortage of painted furniture in our house, and every single piece of that painted furniture is distressed. I have 4 kids. They are not the cleanest kids around (if you’ve been privileged enough to see my van, you can attest to that). They are rough on everything in my house, and no matter how had I try to keep things looking “new” it doesn’t happen. On top of that, I like white or cream furniture. If I insisted on furniture that wasn’t distressed, every piece of our furniture would end up looking distressed anyhow. Lucky for me, distressed furniture fits with our decor. If our furniture gets a nick in it, I’m not as concerned. If there is a smudge on it, I don’t notice it right away. Honestly, distressed furniture is perfect for our house, and I love it! It’s a win-win!
How to distress painted
furniture
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supplies
- sanding block
- wood stain– I have used many different colors. It’s not uncommon for us to have a half full can of stain in the basement, and it’s not uncommon for me to get an idea in my head, and need to make that idea happen immediately. I’ll use whatever we have. Just keep in mind, you’re going to be wiping it so if you want your distressing to be extra dark, you need to choose a very dark color, or you will need to repeat the process until you get the desired look.
- painted furniture
directions
First let me start by saying, I am sure there are other methods that work well, that are completely different than this one. This is the method I have used on every piece of furniture I have ever distressed– and that number is pretty high! Also, (proof that I do NOT have my *you know what* together) this is an old piece I distressed because the piece I intended to use for this post is still not done. This also means my pictures of the process are limited, but the process is seriously SO easy, I don’t think you’re missing out without them.
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Sand your furniture.
Sand the furniture on the edges and corners. Focus on any grooves or areas that would likely get worn in day-to-day living.
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Wipe stain over furniture.
Use a rag to wipe the stain over sanded areas, and the rest of the furniture. The key is to add more to the areas that have been sanded, or again, would become naturally distressed.
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Let the stain sit for a minute or two.
The wipe any excess stain off.
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Repeat the process.
This process is not an exact science. It’s about eyeballing and making it look how you want it to. I tend to add extra stain in random spots of the furniture making it look less uniform. If there are divots or imperfections in the furniture, I will add extra stain there, and then wipe it off.
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Let it dry!
I love distressing furniture because most of the furniture I distress was painted by me. I don’t consider myself the best painter. I’m impatient, and messy. Once I distress furniture, it sort of pulls everything together for me. This method has worked really well for me on every piece of furniture I have done. I actually have furniture in my dining room that have been there for years, and are in great condition.
Have you ever distressed a piece of furniture? What tips do you have for us?
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