Easy Methods For Distressing The Black Furniture To Give It A Natural Look
If you have an old furniture piece at home and you want to distress it in order to make it look natural, you can do so very easily. Two easy distressing methods are mentioned below:
Method 1: Apply Primer To Distress Furniture
- Sand & Remove Dust: Start the process by using a medium-fine sanding sponge and start sanding all surfaces of the furniture. The sanding is used not to remove the existing finish, but to rough it up. The surface of the furniture should look chalky, even when trying to wipe away the dust. After the sanding is done then remove all the dust with the help of a tack cloth.
- Apply Primer: After the above step is done then spray one coat of black primer on the entire surface. Leave it flat while painting and until it dries. The spray primer option covers so well, that there is no need for black paint. It is important to walk around from all sides of the piece to ensure that the user is not missing any spot.
- Distress: Once the furniture is fully dry then perform distressing. This is when the furniture piece comes to life. Using the sponge, begin sanding away as much or little primer from all of the corners, edges as well as at the high spots. In order, to prevent the scratched appearance, once the user has sanded all edges, then gently sand over the entire piece of furniture, this time even the areas the user did not distress. Use the tack cloth to remove all sanding dust.
- Apply Clear Coat: When it comes the time for clear coat application, the user should apply several light coats. Apply 4 to 5 light coats of lacquer, but allow it to dry between each coat. The lacquer is very sensitive to the temperature as well as the humidity. So check the conditions before applying it. An alternative option is to spray polyurethane. It dries more slowly than the lacquer.
Method 2: Chalk Paint For Furniture
The chalky paint has a matte finish, and it goes on with minimal preparation work, besides that it is very easier to scrape off while distressing the furniture. Choose a black color chalky paint for furniture.
- Add Dings And Dents: Adding the marks to a table surface or furniture legs can help it to seem much older than what it actually is. Lightly tap the furniture with the end of a chisel or even a hammer to make indents on the surface of the furniture. Make the marks randomly so it does not look like an intentionally done.
- Sand The Furniture: Use the 120-grit sandpaper to roughen the surfaces of the furniture. This will help the paint adhere to the surface strongly so it is less likely to peel off or chip.
- Wipe The Furniture: Wet a cleaning cloth with the warm water and wring out the excess water until it is only damp. Wipe down all the surfaces that the user plans to paint to get rid of any dust. After that use another cloth to dry the areas that are wet before starting.
- Apply A Coat Of Paint: Dip the ends of the bristles in the paint. Start applying the paint from the top of the piece of furniture and then work towards the bottom. The user needs to apply a thin layer of paint on the surface so that it can dry fast leave it to dry overnight. Apply a second coat onto the furniture and let it cure for 3 to 4 days.
- Sand Edges And Places Of Wear And Tear: Corners, as well as the edges, are mostly the first parts that wear away with the time, so start distressing. With the help of 120-grit sandpaper rub the dry paint from the surface to expose the wood or laminate under.
- Finishing Wax: The wax acts as a sealant to protect the furniture from any damage in future. Simply dip the end of cheesecloth in the wax and then apply it across the surface of the furniture.