How to Distress a Newly-Painted Wooden Mantel

If you are not happy with the look of your newly-painted mantel or just want to add some character, you can try distressing. With this technique, you will remove some of the paint in areas to make the mantel look as though it has been used for many years. One of the good things about distressing is that you can choose how much paint to remove and where you want it removed to give your mantel the look of a custom job.

200-grit sandpaper
Tack cloth
Antiquing glaze tinted in a color of your choice
Paintbrush
Paint tray
Rag

Instructions

- 1
  Rub 200-grit sandpaper along the edge of your mantel in random areas. Rub until the wood grain beneath the paint has shown through.
- 2
  Rub sandpaper in small areas on the face and top of the mantel to expose the wood grain. You can also expose the wood grain on any decorative molding on your mantel.
- 3
  Use a clean tack cloth to wipe down the mantel.
- 4
  Pour a small amount of glaze into the paint tray. Apply the glaze to the mantel with a paintbrush over the areas where you sanded. Wipe away the excess glaze with a clean rag. Continue applying the glaze, working in small areas at a time. Let the glaze dry completely before placing items on the mantel.

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