How to Distress Whitewashed Floors

Whitewashing and distressing are techniques used to give wood an old-fashioned, antique look. When combined, they create wood that is quite authentic looking. To give whitewashed wood a distressed look, you need to ruin the whitewashing. However, this is easily fixed by applying another coat of whitewashing when you are done. Only use this technique on real hardwood floors. Laminate or engineered hardwood floors won't accept the treatment.

Damp cloth or mop
Hammer or chain
Fine-grit sandpaper
Professional sander (optional)
Lime
Salt
Bucket
Bristle brush

Instructions

- 1
  Remove all the furniture from the room. Wipe down the wood with a damp cloth or mop. Let the floor completely dry.
- 2
  Gently tap the wood with a hammer or chain. Do not seriously damage the wood. You should see just a bit of wear in the wood as you work but no major gouging. Stress the wood where it would normally see more action, such as high-traffic corridors.
- 3
  Sand the entire floor using a fine sandpaper. This can be done by hand if the room is small, but renting a professional sander makes the job easier. As you work, you can see if you distressed the wood to your liking or if you want to do it more.
- 4
  Add 12 cups lime and 4 cups salt to 2 gallons of water and thoroughly stir it. Let the mixture sit overnight, then apply it to the floor with a wide bristle brush and heavy hand. It will go on more like a glaze than thick paint. Let it dry overnight before walking on it.

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