How to Give a Rustic Finish to a Pine Door

Wood furniture is popular for its rustic aesthetic, but homeowners often prefer older wood furniture that takes on what experts refer to as a "distressed" look, a natural texture and color that the wood takes on as it ages and endures normal wear and tear. Homeowners who wish to take advantage of this look without waiting for their pine doors or other wood furniture to age naturally can artificially distress their furniture.

Sandpaper
Varnish
Wood paint

Instructions

- 1
  Crumple the sandpaper in your hand and dip it in the wood paint. The wood paint should be a contrasting color from the paint already on the door. Crumpling the sandpaper helps give the artificial distressing a believable, rustic look.
- 2
  Dab the sandpaper over the pine door. Focus on parts of the door that typically see the most wear and tear, such as around the doorknob, down near the kickplate and near the hinges. Allow the paint to dry completely before sanding the door to give a uniform texture.
- 3
  Seal the door with varnish. Apply the varnish according to the labeled instructions and allow it to dry completely. After drying, the door should have a pleasant, rustic, distressed look. This process can be repeated to enhance the distressed look of the door.

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