How to Make Furniture Look Rustic in Easy Steps
You can find distressed furniture at flea markets, garage sales, and Craigslist. If you don’t have access to such a resource, you can always make some yourself. Distressing gives furniture a worn-in, vintage look and can give it the appearance of having been passed down through generations. With a little bit of paint and sandpaper, you can easily recreate the look of old-fashioned furniture.
Distressing
If you are looking for a rustic style for your home, you can distress your furniture to achieve the desired look. Generally, distressed furniture is made of wood that has several layers of paint or a heavily lacquered finish. Distressing wood furniture can be a rewarding project, and although it may take some practice, you’ll soon be able to achieve the look you want. If you are not in the mood to work on your furniture, you can try other ways to restore wooden pieces.
Wire brushing
To create a rustic finish, wire brush your wood furniture. This process uses a wire brush to create a subtle, yet noticeable texture. The bristles of a wire brush will wear away the softer wood grain and leave behind the harder wood grain. This will create ridges on the surface of the wood. While wire brushing will add a unique, distressed appearance to your wood furniture, it can also create splinters. If this is an issue, simply use fine-grade sandpaper to smooth out the wood.
Sanding
To achieve the look of vintage, distressed wood, you can start sanding your furniture. You can use a sanding block to remove any paint or finish. You may also use steel wool to remove any paint or wax that has been applied over the wood. If you do not like the look of the finished product, you can simply repaint it again in a different color. Here are some tips on sanding furniture to make it look rustic.
Painting
If you want to refresh your old wood furniture, you can simply paint it a white or fun color. A variety of paint products are available, including chalk and semi-gloss. You can also sand the pieces down to their original white color and apply a layer of clear furniture wax. You can even paint it with a kitchen sponge if you don’t have a paintbrush. Using a sandpaper pad or kitchen sponge, remove any excess paint before you start painting.
Priming
If you’re considering giving your home a rustic look, consider painting your furniture. Painting wood reveals the original wood layer underneath. Depending on the material, one coat will be enough to achieve the desired look. Raw wood and MDF surfaces can usually be painted with a second coat after an hour. If the wood has been painted before, give it ample time to cure before applying a second coat. Laminated wood, for example, will require light sanding before the first coat of paint is applied. You’ll need to give it at least 24 hours to fully cure.
