Vibrant colors and shiny paints on your furniture give them an elegant look. But for the sake of art, you can turn it into something different, something that looks unique but classy. And this calls for the distressing technique on furniture. So, if you have old furniture in the house that needs a makeover, give it a good look and learn how to distress furniture with chalk paint.
The Concept
Have you seen a house with distressed furniture? For others, it is something weird to look at, but some people treat it as a piece of art. It is the application of a distressed finish to make furniture look old by making the paint seem scratched or worn out. This technique is common in chests, drawers, and cabinets. So, how to distress furniture with chalk paint?
There are three most distressing techniques that you can apply:
- Wet-Distressing Technique
In this technique, you will be using two colors. This is the most common among designers because it is easier to create a natural-looking worn effect by layering colors. - Dry-Distressing Technique
With the dry-distressing technique, you will only be using one color to give the furniture that old look. - The Resist Technique
This is a technique used when you want to create a chippy paint look on the furniture.
Creating a two-color Distress Look with Chalk Paint
Distressing furniture using chalk paint requires minimal effort and time. Chalk paint is thicker compared to regular paint. So, to start the process, you can choose two colors from the chalk paint palette. Once you have chosen the two colors, it is time to brush them over to the selected furniture. Here is how to distress furniture with chalk paint:
- Using a paintbrush, apply the primer color to the furniture. Leave it to dry.
- Once the base color is dry, get a clean paintbrush to apply the second color. Avoid applying too much because you need to sand it back later.
- Once dry, add a coat of chalk wax. Use a chalk wax brush to get into the carvings easily. Remove the excess wax using a lint-free cloth.
- Check if the paint is already dry and start sanding it before it gets hard.
- Remove the top coat of the paint to reveal the color beneath it. You can start with a coarse pad and move down.
- For the last touch, apply a coat of clear chalk paint wax to seal and protect your furniture.
Distressing Furniture with Chalk Paint with Three Easy Steps
This method is another way on how to distress furniture with chalk paint. The procedure involves the creation of dent to give the furniture an old look. Creating dents and holes can make the furniture more vintage.
Creating a Character to the furniture
- Before you start with the painting task, make sure you have cleaned the furniture using mild dish soap. Allow it to dry completely.
- Once the furniture is dry, get sandpaper with a high grit and start rubbing. Do it in a circular groove in the wood.
- Hit the edges with a hammer.
- Create a wormhole effect using a nail and a hammer.
- Create different grooves and divot with the use of tools you can find at home.
Painting
- Pick the color of the chalk paint, and with the use of chalk paintbrush, apply it to the furniture. Leave for 30 minutes to dry.
- Once dried, apply the second coating. Let it dry.
- Distress the furniture using sandpaper. Go over the edges and corners. Start it with light sanding until it reached your requirements.
- Dust off sandy pieces, and you are done.
Waxing
- Distress wax will serve as the protective layer of the distressed furniture. Use a wax paint or a lint-free cloth and apply the wax over the furniture. Start it by applying small sections at a time until the whole furniture is waxed.
The 4-Step Distressing
- The First Coat
Apply one coat of paint with the color of your choice. And once done, leave it to dry completely. - Applying the wax
Get a wax of your choice. Apply it to any part of the furniture where you want the second coat to come off. The wax will allow the paint to resist. It would be ideal for applying the wax to the edges, area, or corner that are naturally get more wear and tear like the arm of a chair. - The Second Coating
This is the time where you apply the second paint all over the furniture. After application, wait for it to dry for one to two hours. - Distressing
After the paint is completely dry, it is now ready to distress. You may use a wet rag for this or fine-grit sandpaper, or a combination. Rub either the rag or the sandpaper to the part where you want the paint to go off.
Once everything is set, you will have nice-looking distressed furniture. Find out more about furniture care.
Conclusion
Distressing furniture is another interesting way of giving them a unique look. You can do this to the selected items in the house. And if you find this appealing, learn how to distress furniture with chalk paint, and enjoy the view!