How to Distress & Antique Furniture

Wipe down the furniture with a damp cloth to remove any dust and dirt. Take off the hinges or drawer knobs so you have a smooth surface to work with. Set the hardware aside so you don't lose it.

Strike the furniture with a hammer, mallet, chisel or chain to distress it. Use any combination of these tools, or any other appropriate tool, to create the look. Focus on the areas where the furniture would naturally be more worn, such as around door handles and the edges. It's better to use a light hand when distressing and go back and add more than to do too much at the beginning.

Sand the furniture with fine sandpaper. This gives you a chance to inspect your work and it also removes any wood burs and smooths the surface.

Wipe the furniture again with a damp cloth to remove the wood dust and let it dry completely.

Stain the furniture using an antique-style stain such as whitewash. Make whitewash by mixing 12 cups lime, 4 cups salt and 2 gallons water in a large bucket. Stir carefully and let it sit overnight. Stir it again and apply a thick coat to the furniture with a bristle brush. The white wash will coat the furniture like a glaze and give it a nice, antique finish.