How to Distress Cabinets Painted With Rub-Through

Certain decorating styles are enhanced by furniture with a weathered, or distressed, appearance. Farm-style or Tuscan-themed kitchens, in particular, are ideal locations for distressed cabinets. This style is readily accomplished at home with a few basic tools and a little creativity. The result is furniture that appears age-worn or even antique -- with signs of the dents, dings, wear and tear of old furniture.

Clean, dry wooden cabinet
Screwdriver
Drop cloths
Paint of choice
Paintbrushes
Hammer
Heavy chain or padlock
Fine-grain sandpaper
Sealant, optional

Instructions

- 1
  Prepare each cabinet for painting by cleaning and drying the surfaces to be painted. Remove any handles or other hardware and set aside. Spread out a drop cloth to protect the work surface, and place the cabinet in the center of the drop cloth.
- 2
  Paint the cabinet in the desired color to coordinate with the decor of the room in which the cabinet will be placed. Allow the paint to dry completely, according to the paint can instructions and local climate conditions. Humid areas require more drying time. Add a second coat of paint, if desired, and allow it to dry completely.
- 3
  Create the distressed appearance by hitting the surface of the cabinet with a hammer, heavy chain or heavy padlock. Hit the cabinet at random, scattered locations to create the appearance of normal wear and tear.
- 4
  Complete the distressing process with the rub-through technique. Sand away areas of the paint along the edges and counters of the cabinet, as well as around handles and knobs -- any place that would normally be worn away over time, through daily use. Sand the areas unevenly, since normal wear and tear is not uniform or symmetrical.
- 5
  Replace any handles or other hardware removed in Step 1.

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