How to Distress Rub Through Cabinets

You can achieve a distressed look on your kitchen cabinets for less by doing it yourself. The distressed look goes well in country and shabby chic style kitchens. One way to achieve this look is to apply a glaze over a base coat and then rub through the glaze in areas where it would normally wear just after it is applied. Don't be afraid to experiment and have fun with the process of distressing your cabinets until you achieve the look you want.

Sandpaper, fine-grit
Tack cloth
Acrylic latex paint
Paintbrush
Dark paint glaze
Steel wool pads, fine
Clear polyurethane
Nylon brush

Instructions

- 1
  Sand the exposed surfaces of the cabinets with fine-grit sandpaper to prepare them for paint. Clean them off with a tack cloth.
- 2
  Brush an even coat of paint onto the cabinets with a paintbrush. Allow the paint to dry 24 hours.
- 3
  Sand the edges, corners and other areas where natural wear would occur over time to create a distressed appearance. Wipe down the sanded areas with a tack cloth.
- 4
  Brush on a dark paint glaze over the cabinets with a paintbrush. Rub through the glazing with fine steel wool pads in any areas where you want a distressed look just after painting the cabinets. Allow the glaze to dry for 72 hours.
- 5
  Apply a clear polyurethane finish with a nylon brush to seal the distressed cabinets. Allow the finish to dry for 72 hours before use.

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