If you’ve ever wanted to refresh a beloved piece of furniture or a vintage find, Niky from House on Silverado has the perfect project. In this guest post, she shares her method for painting and distressing furniture to achieve a classic DIY farmhouse look. Even dated pieces can become stunning focal points with just a few simple techniques. From choosing the right paints to sanding for an authentic aged finish, this guide makes farmhouse-style furniture approachable and fun for DIYers of all experience levels.
(The following is an excerpt from The House on Silverado. Read the full article here).
Learning to paint and distress furniture for a DIY farmhouse style is easier than you might think. Easy distressing techniques work on almost any wood piece, giving it a shabby chic or farmhouse look.
I love having distressed furniture at home because it adds character. It’s a simple way to bring new life to old pieces and make them blend with antique furniture. Plus, it’s a great way to save money on quality furniture. Solid wood pieces are often less expensive than new store-bought furniture, and usually better made.
This little side table is a piece I have owned for many years.
It was bare wood when I bought it in the early ’90s and about 10ish years ago I gave it a bad makeover with a dark-brown painted finish and boring silver hardware.
I have no idea what I was thinking.
Needless to say, it was time for an update! Just look at what a difference a little Saturday morning DIY made!
Supplies:
- Chalk Mineral Paint in Driftwood
- Chalk Mineral Paint in Hurricane Gray
- Continuous Mister Bottle
- Voodoo Gel Stain— Up in Smoke, Tobacco Road, White Magic
- Dixie Belle Chip Brush
- Angled Mini Paint Brush
- Best Dang Wax– in black, white, or clear ( I used clear)
- Dixie Belle Sanding Sponge
How to Distress Painted Furniture
Sand
The top of my little side table had seen better days, with several nicks and scratches in the paint.
I pulled out my favorite Ryobi Corner Cat orbital sander and evened out the paint a little.
When creating a distressed finish, you don’t have to worry about making it too perfect by doing a lot of prep work.
First Layer of Paint
Because you’re going to distress this piece later by sanding away some of the top layer of paint, choose a color for the first layer that will peek through the distressed areas just slightly.
I used Dixie Belle’s Chalk Mineral Paint in the color Driftwood, which is a very light gray, for my base coat.
–>Tip: Using a continuous mister bottle to add a little water helps you move chalk paint around better to achieve a smooth, even layer.
Second Coat
The second coat of paint will be the primary color of your piece, so choose the color that you want to be most dominant. I used a lighter coat underneath and a darker shade on top called Hurricane Gray.
This could be done the opposite way also, with the darker color as your first coat of paint and the lighter one on top.
Choose the paint colors that work for you.
Dry Brushing Technique
To create a distressed “barn wood” appearance on the top of my side table, I used a combination of three different colors of Dixie Belle’s Voodoo Gel Stain— White Magic, Tobacco Road, and Up in Smoke.
I really like this water-based gel stain because it’s so easy to use. It comes in bottles so that a little can just be squirted on as needed.
Begin by applying the first color of stain to the flat surface of your furniture piece.
Then, use a chip brush and lightly pull the stain from one edge of the top to the other in one long stroke.
Continue this dry brush method by layering in the additional two colors of stain, one at a time.
Add stain, lightly drag the paint brush through the stain in long strokes, and repeat as necessary until you get the aged look you want.
If at any time you feel like too much stain has been applied, simply use a lint-free cloth or paper towel to wipe it back a little.
Distressing
Begin with fine grit sandpaper, and rub gently along the edges and corners of the piece until some of the top coat of chalk paint is removed and the layers of paint underneath appear.
You can experiment with different grits of sandpaper, steel wool, or even a sanding block until as much paint or natural wood as you desire shows through.
Pay special attention to distressing the edges and corners where natural wear and tear would occur, rather than the flat areas. This will give your distressed piece a more authentic, chippy look.
When you achieve the amount of distress you are happy with, use a tack cloth or a damp cloth dipped in warm water to remove any sanding dust before moving on to the next step.
Wax
Another way to add some “age” to your piece is by using a dark wax and working it into some of the smaller areas– the nooks and crannies where dirt may have collected on an older piece.
Although I did not do that to this piece, I did buff a clear wax over the sides and drawers, to add some slight variation in the tone of the paint, and help achieve my distressed look.
DIY Project
While there are many different techniques for distressing furniture, this entire process took me just one Saturday morning.
From the ugly brown old paint that it started with, to the new little “old” table with just the right amount of “age”, it’s perfect for holding my cookbooks in a little alcove just off my kitchen.
Whether you’re updating your own thrift store treasure or refreshing a sentimental piece from home, Niky’s tips show just how transformative painting and distressing can be. With a bit of creativity and the right techniques in your toolkit, you’ll be amazed at what you can create—adding character, charm, and farmhouse flair to any space. For another fantastic farmhouse makeover, check out our blog, How to Refresh a Vintage Buffet with Paint and Stain.
