How to Distress White Furniture With a Black Undertone

Apply the Undercoat

• 1

  Apply a coat of black paint to the surface for the undercoat. This can be brushed or sprayed on, but it should cover the entire surface for the most authentic-looking finished product.

• 2

  Allow the black coat to dry completely. It is important that the surface be completely dry before proceeding with the next coat.

• 3

  Examine the dried coat of black paint for any pooling or running of paint. Smooth these areas out with sandpaper, being careful not to take the paint off completely.

Apply the Top Coat

• 4

  Before applying the white paint over the black, splatter some wax on the surface of the furniture from various directions. This can be done with a paintbrush or directly from the can. Allow the wax to dry. Alternatively, products are available at craft and large paint stores that are made specifically for this purpose. Both wax and these faux paint preparation products work well and can be used in combination with one another for a more random effect.

• 5

  Apply a coat of white paint over the surface of the furniture, either by brushing or spraying. Allow the paint to dry.

• 6

  Locate the spots of wax on the furniture. The white paint will not adhere well to the wax and should break off easily with a fingernail. This will expose, randomly, the black underneath.

• 7

  Lightly sand areas that would normally be exposed to use with the 80-grit sandpaper. These include areas around handles or knobs, corners, edging around the top of the piece, etc. Sand lightly to keep from going through the black paint as well. The goal is to expose some of the black through the white, making it appear that the white paint has worn off with years of use.

• 8

  Beat the furniture with the chain in areas where normal impact may be sustained including the bottom, feet and lower sides. This will create uneven denting and chipping of the paint as though the piece had been hit with a vacuum cleaner, toys or other hard objects.