How to Distress Wooden Furniture

Clear the area where you will be working on your project. It is best to do this outside on a level surface, but if you do it inside, make sure there are no unsteady objects around.

Lay the tarp on the floor, place the wooden piece on top of the tarp and put your safety goggles on.

Use the hammer, chisel and chains to distress the wood. Bang along different areas of the furniture piece to add indents into the wood. Use the chisel to remove small pieces of wood, making it look old and worn. Use the chains to add stress marks by smacking the furniture piece all around with the chain links.

Gently sand the distressed areas along the surface to make them smooth and flush with the rest of the furniture.

Clean the furniture piece with mild detergent and warm water on a sponge. Dry it off completely before staining. Let it sit for about an hour or two so you know it is completely dry.

Dampen a rag and pour a small amount of liquid stain onto it. Swipe the stain up and down one area of the furniture, and then quickly wipe it off with another dry rag. Do this until the entire furniture piece has been stained. Allow it to dry for 24 hours.

Apply a thin coat of clear acrylic to seal the stain. Use the sponge or foam paintbrush for easy application, and then allow it to dry for 48 hours before using the furniture piece.