How to Distress a Bed

Take the bed frame apart. Remove the mattress and box spring, and set them aside. Use a screwdriver to take the bed frame apart. Store the screws or bolts in a plastic bag to keep them together, and put the bag in a drawer or other safe place. Move the frame to an outside work area.

Sand down the frame. You will need to remove the original varnish. If you want to re-stain the frame, you will need to sand down to the bare wood. Use a medium-grade sandpaper to start, and go over the entire bed. If the frame has carving or detail work, use steel wool to get into these small spaces. Wipe down the frame with a soft cloth and then go over it again with fine sandpaper.

Distress the wood. Fill a cloth bag with odds and ends like nuts, bolts or rocks. These items should be heavy. For small distress marks, use smaller objects. For large distress marks, use bigger items. Tie the bag securely. Put on your safety goggles and your gloves. Beat the frame until it is distressed to your liking.

Re-finish the wood if you have removed all of the stain. Allow the fresh stain to dry. Go over the wood with fine sandpaper. Wipe the frame down with a soft cloth to remove the sanding dust. Then protect the wood with at least one coat of clear polyurethane. It's important to protect the wood from additional cracking or even mold damage from the distressing.

Put the bed frame together. Take the frame back into the house and reassemble it. Put the mattress back on the frame.