How to Create a Shabby Chic Distressed Look on Wood Using Paint

Sand the wood to prepare the surface. Begin with 60-grit sandpaper attached to an orbital sander. Remove paint and rough wood grain with the sander. Sand in a circular motion rather than across the grain of the wood.

Fill holes and cracks with wood filler. Gather the wood filler onto a putty knife and press it into the holes and cracks, smoothing the filler with the blade. Allow the wood filler to dry for one hour before sanding.

Sand the wood filler with 80-grit sandpaper. Smooth the wood grains with 120-grit sandpaper to finish the wood preparation.

Mix the base coat of milk paint in a 1-gallon bucket and stir with a food blender. Follow the mixing instructions on the milk paint bag.

Paint on two coats of base coat milk paint, allowing 30 minutes drying time between coats. Sand between coats with 220-grit sandpaper to remove paintbrush stroke marks or other surface imperfections.

Mix the topcoat milk paint for the wood in a clean 1-gallon bucket and blend the paint with a food blender. As with the base coat paint, follow the mixing instructions located on the paint bag.

Apply one coat of top coat with a fine-bristled paintbrush. Allow the paint to sit for 30 minutes and wipe away various painted surfaces with a damp cloth rag to expose the base coat paint, simulating worn paint. Wipe corners and areas beneath knobs and a handles to expose the base coat paint. Allow the paint to dry for one hour.

Apply two coats of organic milk paint sealer (satin). Wipe the sealer between coats with #0000 steel wool to provide a bonding surface for the remaining coat. Allow one hour drying time between coats.