Distressed Furniture: Which Paint Distressing Technique is Right For YOU?

Congratulations! You’ve painted a piece of furniture and you’ve done a smashing job. It looks great. But now you’re wondering what distressing technique is right for you? What’s going to give you the EXACT look you’re after?

Well… I’ve distressed my fair share of furniture over the last 3 years so today I’m sharing my thoughts.

Rather than write another “How To” tutorial (I have included links to prior projects if you’d like more info!) let’s focus on Which Distressing Technique Is Right For YOU … so let’s dive right in!

Simple Distressed Edges and Time Worn Areas

Do you want a beautiful finish with simple distressed edges? Definitely the most popular way of distressing painted furniture is simply sanding down the furniture’s edges, corners and areas where the finish would naturally wear with time. Good ol’ fashion sand paper is the way to go! You control how much paint is removed by the grit of sandpaper and the pressure applied. A #400 grit sandpaper or sanding sponge work nicely for a softer distressed look. And a #220 works great for a more pronounced look.  The cons of sanding – it’s dusty and a mask should be worn for your protection.

Authentic Primitive Chippy or Cracked Finish

Are you swooning over those authentic primitive chippy pieces that Miss Mustard Seed is so well known for? One of the easiest ways to get an authentic and gorgeous chippy or crackle finish is to use 100% all natural Milk Paint. This Chippylicious Dresser  is a great example… and the wonderful thing about milk paint is it does all the work for you!

For the chippy effect, let the milk paint do its thing. For a crackle effect, just add heat while the paint is drying.  If you’re not into the unpredictable chippy finish, a bonding agent can help you control where the distressing occurs by acting as an adhesive/primer.

Old World Antiqued Finish

Looking to create a convincing antiqued old world finish? Dark wax or glaze will highlight and age details like it did on this China Cabinet. This distressing technique will immediately create depth and make your new paint job look old! Seriously, it will add years!

It can be used on an entire piece or simply to highlight your paint’s texture, grooves and decorative moldings. Wax and glaze work amazingly on ornate detailed pieces! You control the intensity of the finish by how much product you apply and wipe off… and also how many coats you use.

Two Toned Color Distressing

So you want to create interest with a color on color distressed piece? I did just that by painting this desk green and having some dramatic black show through.

Trying to get this effect by sanding is difficult. It’s too easy to sand through both colors of paint right down to the original surface.  By using a resist method (ie. using a Wax Puck or Vaseline) it’s easy to achieve this look. You control the soft or hard edge by using a soft rag or sand paper. The resist method can also be used on bare wood or stained surfaces.

Weathered Distressed Finish

If you love that light weathered distressed look, dry brushing is the way to go. Here’s my most recent restyle – a romantic Valentine’s Dresser that I used this technique on.

Dry brushing creates interesting lines and a transparent effect. This looks like a complicated technique, but it’s actually really easy!  It can be used over a paint color or applied over natural or stained wood. Use it on small areas of furniture like decorative moldings and details or an entire piece. Dry brushing uses very little paint, is quick to apply and just as quick to dry. It’s also easy to soften and change the look by sanding.

Wash &  Show Off Some Wood Grain

Want to add color to your furniture while still showing off some beautiful wood grain? White-wash, grey-wash, blue-wash…  I love this look! Here’s an example on a French Provincial Dresser I painted.

You can control how transparent you want your wash to be by the water/paint ratio and how many coats you apply. A wash adds depth and tone while giving an outdoor beach faded look. Like the dry brushing, it uses very little product and is simple to apply.

Wet Distressing

With the popularity of chalk paints, wet distressing has become a trendy option and the big benefit is – no dust. Here’s an example of wet distressing on this General Finishes Chalk Style Painted China Cabinet.

I have to admit this is probably my least go-to method. Because I sand all my pieces for a professional finish, I already have sand paper in hand so I just go to it! However, you can achieve a soft muted effect by gently rubbing with a damp cloth.

All distressing works well on imperfect furniture. The above styles can hide irregularities and flaws while giving your furniture a ton of character. I hope this helps you decide which paint distressing technique will give you the EXACT look you want.

What’s YOUR favorite distressing technique? Which of the above would YOU like to try? And ohhhh, if you haven’t entered the Bluestone House™ $150 Chalky Paint Giveaway yet – you can check it out HERE!

Happy painting…have a wonderful day.

Denise x

_____________________________

Like what you see? Subscribe to Salvaged Inspirations so you’ll never miss a post!

Follow along on Pinterest, Google+, and Facebook for more inspiration!