If you re using a single color on a piece of furniture and want to expose the original wood layer henry says dry distressing is the way to go.
Distressed painting wood furniture.
This distressed painted dresser will be getting a very subtle glaze for a worn and antiqued finish.
The antiquing glaze over white sometimes adds a slightly grungy aged feeling.
These are the steps with a simple explanation as to how to distress wood painted furniture.
Distressed technique is also perfect for flea market finds thrown away pieces or even those you might have kept from grandma around the house.
Both the candle technique see previous and the wet paper technique are good alternatives to distress wood or furniture using vaseline.
Dab dry to make sure your sandpaper is damp but not soaked.
All three methods work similarly in the way that they create a resist in certain spots so the paint can be lifted off later.
To distress the finish and make the painted surface look more naturally weathered take the sander back to the surface of the furniture when the paint has dried.
Once all of your distressing is complete you must still seal your piece of distressed painted furniture.
Distressing wood using wet paper technique.
If you want to evoke the look of old painted wood that has faded in the elements a simple method involves painting the new wood with two different colors.
Wrap your sandpaper around a sand block.
If you want wood peeking.
To create an even more antiqued look lightly sand the edges and corners of the table with fine grit sandpaper concentrating on edges and areas of natural wear to keep it authentic looking.
Apply light pressure to sand away paint along edges.
Distress wood furniture edges.
Create distressed wood look with dry brush painting technique.
For another tutorial on distressing painted wood make sure to check out how to distress painted wood furniture.
Distressed wood furniture is perfect for rooms decorated with a rustic cottage or farmhouse style.
Wipe clean with a tack cloth to complete your painted distressed furniture.
For a dry distressed look you can use tools such as wire brushes sandpaper files or even chains and hammers to mimic the appearance of years of rubbing and impact damage she says.
Sealing distressed painted furniture.
With emphasis on the edges of the furniture use the sander to gently remove some of the paint and primer allowing the underlying wood to show through.