How to Distress Furniture With Sandpaper

If you are looking for a way to spruce up a piece of furniture, you may want to consider distressing. Distressing techniques can be applied to almost any wood furniture piece, changing the look of the piece with a weekend DIY project. The technique also works well for items that you are ready to throw out or items you pick up for a steal at a garage sale or thrift store. When choosing your color palette, remember that the base coat will show through after the distressing technique; pick colors that are different but that match well.

Orbital sander
Tack cloth
Tinted primer base coat
Paint tray
Roller
Paintbrush
Paste wax
Rag
Top coat
Coarse-grit sandpaper
Polyurethane sealer spray

Instructions

- 1
  Sand the entire furniture piece enough to remove the current finish. Wipe away the dust with a clean tack cloth.
- 2
  Pour the base coat into a paint tray. Apply the base coat color with a roller or paintbrush, in even strokes going in the same direction. Allow the base coat to dry completely.
- 3
  Apply paste wax to the furniture in the areas you want to base coat to show through. Focus on the areas of the furniture that would naturally show wear, such as the edges, drawer faces, tops and legs of the piece. Wipe away any excess wax.
- 4
  Apply the top coat paint in even strokes in the same direction you applied the base coat. Allow the top coat to dry completely.
- 5
  Use coarse sandpaper to rub the areas where you applied the paste wax. Rub until the base coat shows through. You can also rub through the base coat in some areas to expose the wood grain. Wipe away the dust with a clean tack cloth.
- 6
  Spray the entire furniture piece with a coat of polyurethane sealer. Spray the piece in a well-ventilated area.

How to Distress a Cedar Chest

How to Repaint & Distress a Dresser

Faux Finishing