How to Distress Furniture for Shabby Chic

The shabby chic style uses distressed white furniture paired with old-fashioned print fabrics and feminine accessories, such as crystal chandeliers. The look is bright and fun. You can easily add years to the looks of a piece of painted furniture by removing the paint along the natural wear pattern or by painting a piece of dark furniture with light paint. You can also achieve this effect by painting a piece of unfinished furniture a dark color and adding a coat of white paint over it.

Chocolate brown latex paint
Brush
Ivory acrylic craft paint
Foam brush
Fine grit sandpaper
Clear shellac

Instructions

- 1
  Paint the entire piece of furniture with a coat of chocolate brown paint. Allow the paint to dry overnight.
- 2
  Cover the brown paint with a coat of ivory acrylic craft paint, using a foam brush. Allow the paint to dry for two hours.
- 3
  Sand the edges of the furniture with fine grit sandpaper. Concentrate on the corners, edges and any other part of the furniture which would receive a lot of wear, such as around any handles. Try to only sand down to the brown paint. You may sand down to the wood on the corners. Lightly sand any raised areas. Allow the paint to rest overnight.
- 4
  Paint the piece with a coat of clear shellac using a brush. Allow the shellac to dry according to the manufacturer's directions before applying a second coat. Allow the shellac to dry completely before using the furniture.

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