9 Steps to Distressing Kitchen Cabinets

Spread several drop cloths over the kitchen counter top to catch any dust and debris from the kitchen cabinets.

Take the doors off the kitchen cabinets with a screwdriver. Rest the doors on the drop cloths to have a sturdy, even surface to work on.

Open the kitchen windows to improve air circulation in the space. Put on rubber gloves and moisten a steel wool pad with paint thinner. Scrub the doors and the outside of the kitchen cabinets with the steel wool to make the paint look faded and uneven.

Dry the cabinets and doors with rags or cloths, wiping away any excess paint thinner. Then mix 1 cup of white vinegar with 1 gallon of distilled water and rinse the doors and cabinets to completely remove the paint thinner from the surface.

Let the doors and cabinets air-dry then scrape across the outside of the cabinets and doors with a metal fork in a wavy fashion, gouging into the finish.

Lay a chain on top of the cabinet doors and strike it firmly with a hammer, creating indentations in the doors.

Gouge the outsides of the cabinets as well as the doors with the screwdriver, creating more indentations and giving the surface a more aged appearance.

Sand the doors and cabinets with medium-grit sandpaper to abrade the finish further then wipe down the doors and cabinets with tack cloths.

Remove the door knobs and hinges and replace them with vintage or reproduction cabinet hardware and a screwdriver. Hang the doors back onto the cabinets and remove the drop cloths.