How to Distress Molding

Distressing techniques used on paint and wood can also be applied to molding. There are different types of distressing, which include sanding, paint and crackle. Because molding is very small, crackling and sanding can be very labor intensive and difficult. Much of molding distressing involves using two paint colors to create an aged effect.

Base paint
Second coat of paint
Paint brushes
Plastic bags

Instructions

- 1
  Paint an acrylic base coat over the molding using a paint brush. The base should should be the lighter of the two paint colors. Allow the base coat to fully dry.
- 2
  Paint on the second coat of paint over the base coat with a paint brush. This second coat should be the darker of the two paint colors. Do not let the second coat dry.
- 3
  Dab the molding with bunched-up plastic bags. The plastic bag will remove spots of the wet second coat so the base coat can be seen. Change the bunching of the bag regularly to create different patterns. The plastic bag dabbing should be strong to create a good distressed texture.

Faux Finish Types

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Faux Finishing