How to Distress-Paint Chairs in Black

Salvaging furniture is a great way to decorate your home and save the environment that your checkbook will thank you for. A black distress-painted chair will make an excellent addition to your fabulous shabby chic decor. Next time you see a worn chair at a flea market or thrift shop, take a second look. It might look like something that belongs in a trash heap, but all you need is some paint and a few items from the hardware store to give that chair a stylish makeover.

Sandpaper
White candle
Soft cloth
Black spray paint
Baby wipes
Wipe-on polyurethane

Instructions

- 1
  Sand the entire surface of an old wooden chair with fine-grit sandpaper. Remove more wood from areas around the edges that would typically show more wear to give the chair an antique look.
- 2
  Rub wax from a white candle on the edges of the chair and other spots where you want the natural color of the wood to show through the paint. Focus on the arms and legs of the chair as well as any cracks or crevices in the wood.
- 3
  Wipe away excess wax with a soft cloth. Make sure to rub gently or else you could remove too much wax.
- 4
  Spray-paint a small section of the chair. Wipe the wet paint with a baby wipe over the areas where you applied wax to remove the paint. Continue working in small sections until the entire chair has been painted. Allow the paint to dry for at least 24 hours.
- 5
  Sand the seat of the chair with sandpaper to mimic a distressed and worn look. Sand the arms and legs of the chair as well for a more dramatic effect.
- 6
  Apply a thin protective coating to the chair with polyurethane wipes. The polyurethane will not only work to protect the paint on the chair but also enhance the natural look of the wood underneath the paint.

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