How to Distress Wood to Create an ‘Antique’ Finish

The finish on wood furniture and other wooden items is one of the simplest things to change.  With that change, you can achieve an entirely new look.  One of the most popular looks right now is distressed wood, which gives the piece an antique look.  How do you distress wood to achieve this style?

 

You will need:

 

A hammer

A drill

Sandpaper

A wood file

 

Steps:

 

The first step is to sand down the wood so that the original finish is mostly gone.  Ideally, you will leave at least a little bit of the original wood finish in place, as it can add to the overall look when you are done.

 

Next, use a mallet or hammer to tap the wood gently all over.  You want to leave very small dents and scratches in the wood, but you do not want to damage it structurally.  You can also use the claw portion of the hammer to scratch wood away. 

 

If you want, add some screws to a sock and use this to hit the wood to add even more texture to the piece.

 

Steel wool can be used to give wood a worn appearance, and you can use a drill to put “wood worm” markings in it.  Use a wood file to round off corners and edges, as well. 

 

Once you have abused your wood enough to achieve the texture and look that you want, use your choice of varnish to coat the wood.  You don’t have to use any stain – distressed wood is beautiful unfinished.

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