How to Distress Rustic Tables

Rustic tables have a sense of character that is hard to find in new furniture. The areas where the life of a family has bumped into the surface of the table, with scratches and stains and worn marks, make it a part of history that is hard to replicate. Although you might not have an heirloom table to add to your home, you can distress a new table to add that aura of family life. There is no set way to distress a table. Copy the look of old tables, or create your own look. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Rough up the surface of the table by hitting the surface with the end of a flat-ended screwdriver, a hammer, a shellfish pick, rocks or anything else available to show wear. Hit the legs of the table with a section of chain to show the wear that would come with normal life after several years. Scratch some corners with steel wool or a wire brush down to the bare wood. Gouge the wood with a scraper or even burn the wood with a soldering iron in some spots.

2

Sand down the table to wear off any new sharp edges created by distressing the wood. Start with medium 150 grit sandpaper and then drop to a finer 220 grit. Sand to smooth the surface, but not to remove the knicks and gouges.

3

Apply a base color stain, rubbing it in with a soft rag using a circular motion. This creates the almost dirty look in the cracks and dents of the table. Use a light colored stain with a yellow tone as opposed to a dark wood stain. Allow the stain to dry completely.

4

Seal the surface of the wood with varnish or lacquer to keep the base color stain from spreading. Allow the sealant to dry overnight or according to the manufacturers directions.

5

Add another layer of stain topcoat, painting it over the surface of the table and legs with a sponge applicator or fine paintbrush. After allowing it to dry to the touch, buff corners of the table with steel wool to remove some of the finish and to expose the wood below. Dry the stain topcoat.

6

Brush on the final finish with a fine 2-inch brush, working with the grain of the table. This finish will bring out the wood grain as well as the distressed look of the table while still giving it a smooth finish. Add several more layers of varnish to add the antique look to the table, waiting several hours between each application. Dry for 24 to 48 hours before using.