Techniques for a Distressed Wood Finish

Distressing wood -- whether painted, stained or bare -- adds the effects of age to the piece, whether going for a well-worn and well-used look, or a weather-beaten, abandoned-object vibe. Combining several distressing or aging techniques gives the piece a more realistic appearance than using just one, in many cases, although overdoing any one method may detract from the look, much like how machine-faded blue jeans bleached on only the thighs or back side do not look like genuine aged, worn jeans.

The Beat

Dents and dings, wear and tear are what gives wood a distressed look, whether that wood is on a table, a crate, a beam or a floorboard. Whacking the project with various parts of a hammer head, claw included, gives it a used and abused appearance suitable for table and desk tops, chair seats and floorboards. For an industrial-scale beatdown suitable for a warehouse floor look, set screws, nuts or bolts randomly over the wood, then hit them with a hammer to leave an impression. A chisel or screwdriver can also be used to inflict random dents. Keep things on the realistic side by limiting damage to areas that would typically see the most wear, such as edges, corners, seats and tabletops.

Rough Stuff

Sandpaper or a wood plane remove parts of the wood or finish for that well-worn look. Run a plane over parts of a crisp edge on a tabletop or chair seat to make it look as if the piece has been used for many years. Sand over the planed spots to smooth them out to make the planing less obvious. Sandpaper rubbed along edges of wooden objects smooths them down, again implying the project piece has been well-used. If the wood has a finish such as paint, sanding through the coating in some areas gives it a naturally worn appearance. A small chisel or utility knife can also be used to chip or remove some of the finish for added realism. Smooth over any reworked areas with sandpaper to make the wear look older.

Brushed Age

A dry-brush technique using watered-down latex paint adds an aged, worn appearance to plain or painted wood. For a faux whitewash look, mix white latex paint with water until it is thinned to your liking; the more water, the less obvious the finish. Dip a paintbrush into the mixture, then brush over a scrap piece of paper or cardboard to remove most of the moisture. Brush over the project piece in slapdash fashion, creating streaks of thin paint, which makes it look as if paint has simply worn off over the years. A light gray or even pale green paint can be used in place of white, creating a slightly different look.

Drill Team

Clusters of tiny drill holes emulate the look of worm-damaged wood. Select a bit 1/16-inch wide or smaller, then drill a grouping of several holes close to one another in several areas spanning the piece. Rub a bit of dark paint into the holes, wiping the excess away, to make it appear as if the holes happened long ago. Spatter a few flecks of watered-down black paint in a few places over the wood to emulate pollution or specks left behind by insects as if a piece had been left outdoors for years.