How to Paint a Black Distressed Wood Table

Sand the table with medium-grit sandpaper to roughen up the surface. This provides a base to which the primer can adhere. Wipe off the sanding dust with a soft cloth

Brush a coat of primer on the table. Allow it to dry for the length of time indicated in the manufacturer's instructions.

Paint the table in your chosen base color -- light gray, taupe or white or any light or bright color that you want to show through the black. Allow the paint to dry.

Rub a candle on various parts of the table where you want the base coat to show through. The deposited wax will prevent the top coat of paint from adhering to the base coat. Rub the wax onto places that would naturally see more wear and tear, such as the edges, on any decorative work on the legs and in random patches on the top. Brush off any
small particles of wax with a clean, dry paintbrush.

Paint the table black. Allow the paint to dry thoroughly. Apply a second coat and let dry.

Scrape off the waxed portions of the table with a metal scraper. Take care to scrape off only the black paint and the wax, not the base coat. As you work, stand back from the table to assess the look.

Sand the scraped portions of the table gently with fine-grit sandpaper to blend the scrape marks. You can also use the sandpaper to reveal more of the base coat, if you wish. Wipe the table with a soft cloth to remove the sanding dust once you are satisfied with the result.

Seal the table with a matte varnish or a wax finish.