Learn how to quickly age furniture to a vintage appearance using sandpaper and a simple distressing technique.
Project Description
Work Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 6 hours
Skill Level: Kid-friendly
Aging furniture typically signals its age with worn, chipped paint and much-loved patina. That charming imperfection provides vintage furniture with character and texture. This simple trick on new furniture replicates the look. Here, we’ll take you through painting and sanding wood furniture to achieve a gorgeous aged look. This project is perfect for refinishing plain pieces you already own or applying a vintage touch on the cheap. The distressed white finish we employed also beautifully hides watermarks and tiny scratches, making it perfect for thrifted finds that aren’t flawlessness.
Pick a solid wood piece that fits your space and style. Choose two latex paint colors: one for the base and another for the top coat, which will show through the distressed areas. After painting, use sandpaper to gently wear away the surface to your preference. Follow the instructions below to master the art of painting wood furniture with a stunning distressed effect.
What You’ll Need
Equipment / Tools
Sandpaper
Tack cloth
Paintbrush
Drop cloth
Materials
Wood bench (or other furniture)
Primer
2–3 colors of paint
Wax
Clear polyurethane
Instructions
Prep Furniture
Choose a painted or raw wood piece. Sand for unfinished, prime, and base coat it. If already painted, clean with a tack cloth and paint over the base color—or re-prime if needed. Let dry thoroughly. Apply wax on top of base coat in the direction of the grain, paying particular attention to edges and areas of natural wear for a natural look.
Paint Bench
Apply top coat and allow it to dry completely. For exterior use, use exterior latex paint to keep it from fading; interior latex will suffice for protected indoor pieces.
Distress Surface
Place the piece on a drop cloth. Sand with medium-grit sandpaper until you have your desired distressed finish. To include a third color, wax, paint, and resand the process again. Finally, wipe the bench clean with a tack cloth and seal your finish by spraying two coats of clear polyurethane.
