# Distressing Shelves With Sandpaper
If your shelves look too new for your decor, distressing them may be the answer. Distressing is the act of marring the item to give it an antique or well used appearance. While there are many tools that can be used in distressing, sandpaper is readily available in many homes. Using sandpaper to distress your shelves can be done on both painted and stained surfaces.
Things You'll Need
- Sandpaper
- Tack cloth
- Polyurethane sealer
- Foam paintbrush
Instructions
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1
Remove the shelves if possible.
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2
Sand small areas of the shelf to expose the wood grain underneath the paint or stain. Pay attention to the areas that would have been worn through years of use from books being moved on and off of the shelves, such as small areas along the edges.
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3
Wipe away excess sawdust with a tack cloth.
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4
Apply a polyurethane sealer to the shelves with a foam paintbrush. This will help protect the exposed grain. Reinstall the shelves, if applicable, after the polyurethane has dried.
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Decor Styles
- How to Make a Desk With Three Shelves
- How to Build a Counter With Shelves
- What to Do With Plant Shelves?
- How to Remove Varnish With Liquid Sandpaper
- Information About Shelving With Pegs
- How to Decorate With Rattan & Glass Shelves
- Problems With Elfa Drawers
- How to Decorate a Large Wall With Wall Shelves
- How to Remove Paint With Sandpaper
- How to Cover Shelves with Liner
- How to Build Shelves With MDF
- Painting a Bed Frame With Varnish
