Distressing is one of several faux painting techniques used to create a worn and weathered finish. The distressed effect on wooden items endows them with an antique or ’shabby chic’ look that is essential in a variety of dcor schemes, from antique elegance to the informal rustic style. Distressing is an effective way to age doors on bedroom, kitchen and other cabinets to produced a textured and less bland appearance.

Distressing Techniques

As well as faux painting techniques, there are other ways to simulate the wear that older furnishings characteristically display. Giving a door a bit of a hammering or gouging with a chisel creates age-related damage, but faux painting is a gentler way of creating an all-over aged effect.

The appearance of age is based on simulating patina. Texture is created when the original color of the wood shows through the faux patination. On top of a base coat another color is applied. Scraping through the wet topcoat to reveal the color beneath creates an impression of depth and hence age. Dragging or combing are two techniques for removing the top layer of wet paint, with different implements producing different textures. Applying paint with a fine brush can also create the effect, but is a more demanding way to achieve the distressed look.

Because the principle of distressing is based on a simulated patina, the base coat will be a lighter color than the faux patinated layer. Shades of brown are obvious choices, but you can use other colors (such as brown and gray) to create different effects and degrees of contrast.

Distressing With Wax:

One of the most popular methods entails using wax to ensure that the base paint layer is exposed. Beeswax is especially suitable though candle and other waxes can be used. The wax is applied in streaks and/or patches and allowed to dry before the second coat is applied. When dry the door is then sanded down. Paint applied on top of the wax comes off easily, exposing the undercoat. Depending on how vigorously you sand, a textured effect with clean ‘wood’ showing through the patinated surface will result.

Using Crackle Glaze :

Crackle glaze is a special kind of paint that is meant to crack and peel as it dries, giving the effect of varnish peeling with age. The crackle glaze is painted on top of the base coat and the topcoat is painted on top of the crackle glaze. You need to use latex paint for this technique, since oil paints will not crackle properly.

Pickling:

Pickling is another technique for distressing wooden surfaces such as cabinet doors. It is especially good if the wood you wish to treat is attractive and you don’t necessarily want to cover it up. It simply requires painting your door and then carefully wiping off areas of paint before the layer dries.

Whichever technique you choose, adding texture to plain surfaces is not complicated and can add the finishing touch to your chosen dcor style.