Techniques for Distressing Cabinets

Preparation

• Before you begin any distressing on your cabinets, you will have to do some preparation work. You should sand off the paint and stain that is currently on the kitchen cabinets before you begin aging them. Use various gauges of sandpaper to remove the finish from the cabinets. Start with a medium gauge sandpaper or 60-80 grit paper to remove the old paint or stain. Finish with a fine or 150-180 grit sandpaper to smooth the surface before applying paint.

Nicks and Dents

• While sanding the piece in preparation for eventual painting or staining, create small dents and nicks in the surface of the cabinets. When distressing the kitchen cabinets, you should place dents and imperfections in areas where they would naturally occur. Around the handles and edges of the cabinet are common areas for small nicks and dents in the wood. You can use tools such as hammers, screwdrivers and mallets to create a small amount of damage, but use care so that you don't destroy the kitchen cabinets in the process. The damage should appear natural.

Wax and Paint

• Wax can help to create a naturally distressed appearance on kitchen cabinets. Use a warm darker color, such as gray, to paint the cabinets first. Apply the wax to the edges of the cabinets and sporadically around the interior face of the doors. Use a haphazard approach to applying the wax, but make sure you don't cover the entire surface. When you apply another coat of paint, a lighter shade, over the waxed cabinets, the color will not adhere to the waxed areas. This creates the worn appearance on the cabinets. The darker color pokes through the surface and gives the cabinets a nice aged look.

Crackle Varnish

• Crackle varnish is another distressing technique that will create rustic, country-inspired cabinets out of a brand new surface. The crackle varnish applies to the surface of the cabinet in the same manner as wax, but you will apply the varnish to the entire surface of the cabinet face instead of in random areas. The base coat of paint is the color that will show through when the varnish begins to crackle the paint. Choose a darker color for a dramatic effect when distressing kitchen cabinets. To use crackle varnish, apply a base coat of paint to the cabinets and allow it to dry. Apply the crackle varnish on top of the base coat and allow it to dry as well. Finally, add a lighter of paint on top of the crackle varnish to complete the distressing.

Sanding

• Once you complete your distressing project, use sandpaper to add worn areas to the cabinets. Sand the paint slightly in the handle areas of the cabinet to create a worn look that would be natural on kitchen cabinets. Sanding adds the final touches to a cabinet distressing project.