There’s an appeal to reclaimed or aged wood that adds a rustic or casual touch to any space. Ideal for creating a more homey atmosphere in what could be a cold space, distressed wood is meant to soften a room. If you want to buy new furniture, you can check out the distressed wood furniture collection available online. However, if your furniture still has that radiant out of the store glow and you want to add a distressed look, fortunately, there are multiple ways to get a gorgeous worn look without waiting for years to achieve it. After you learn how to make wood look old, be ready to transform a new piece into vintage appeal.
How to Prepare for Distressed Furniture?
Distressed furniture is ideal for rooms decorated with antique and vintage treasures. Before starting:
- Pick the piece of furniture you’re planning to give a distressed finish.
- Pick furniture with solid wood and a stained finish.
- Don’t worry about scratches or watermarks, the painted finish will hide such flaws perfectly. You should also look for wood furniture with lines to add more aesthetic appeal to your space.
You can also choose two colours of furniture pain to complete your distressed finish. It can work well with two shades of the same colour or select complementary or contrasting shades for a vibrant look. However, it’s not just through paint that you can get a distressed look for your furniture. There are several different ways to get distressed wood furniture, and everybody has a preference.
So, if you’re new to the distressed furniture world, here are some of the best ways to give your furniture a perfect distressed look:
Make Weathered Wood With Sanding Method
The easiest and straightforward technique to distress wood furniture is to sand some of the paint off. It works well on both already painted and unpainted wood surfaces. The main focus is to sand random areas that tend to get scratched or bumped naturally, so it seems more organic. You can also repeat the procedure on the same piece with multiple layers of paint. Allow every layer to dry and sand in between layers.
Distressing Wood & Furniture With Candle Method
It is a super versatile way to distress wood or furniture with almost guaranteed excellent results. It can be done on raw wood or already painted wood and furniture. You can try the candle distressing method for making either a single or multi-layered distressed look.
Pouring Paint Method
It is a one-step process to distress wood and makes a gorgeous whitewashed barn wood look. It is perfect for wood with plenty of textures on the surface. The pouring paint method is one of the easiest ways to get perfect distressed wood furniture to match your interiors.
Distress Wood With Scraper Method
It is the same as the sanding method. The only difference is that sanding removes more paint and wood and can also expose the raw wood. This method can also remove some of the pain before it dries completely. If you’re painting furniture, those spots that naturally get scratched like edges and corners are the best areas to have the chippy paint effect. The main focus is to scrape the paint when the paint has created a ‘skin’, but the surface can be a little tacky to the touch.
Distressing Wood Utilizing Wet Paper Technique
It is a perfect technique to get that ideal distressed look on your furniture. You can create a resist in specific sports for the paint to be lifted off later. Take a paper and tear it into small pieces; vary the sizes and shapes for a natural look. Dip every piece in water and put it onto a piece of wood. Before the wet paper dries completely, paint the wood, then carefully lift each paper piece off the surface. You can even do this while the paint is still wet or dry.
After you know the best distressing methods, check out some basic tips that you can apply to all these methods for a perfect result:
- If the surface you’re planning to paint has a finished of wax, sealer, or lacquer, it’s best to sand it a little so the new paint can adhere better.
- Ensure to practice on some scrap wood pieces or less noticeable spots. For instance, work on the interior face of a cabinet door before working on a big piece or a much visible spot.
- Don’t worry about messing up, as you can always paint things over and sand spots to make it appear better. You can also mix two techniques to get a more refined look at your furniture.
In Conclusion
Now that you know all about how to distress your furniture get on and start with it! If you want your interiors to have more antique vibes, invest in quality vintage furniture online India and distress it on your own at home by employing any of the mentioned above methods.
