When my husband and I got married, I merged our decorative styles and tastes as best I could. The only thing that didn’t “mesh” was his knotty pine bedroom set.
I love a challenge, so, on his last deployment, I bit the bullet and, without the slightest idea of what I was doing, I set out to distress the entire set, including a head and foot board, dresser, mirror and end table. With a bold new paint color and light distressing, the set is much easier on the eyes. You can do the same with furniture you already own or a great pieces you find at a garage sale. It’s amazing what paint and a little elbow grease can do!
My husband's knotty-pine dresser before painting and distressing...yuck.
After two coats of paint and some light distressing.
What you’ll need:
120-grit sand paper
Latex primer (NO oil-based) in a color slightly lighter than your paint color
Semi-gloss latex paint
Tack cloth
Paint brush
Small paint roller
1. Start with a clean surface. Clean the piece thoroughly, removing any dust or dirt.
2. Sand. Use 120-grit sand paper to smooth rough edges and remove paint. Wipe clean with a tack cloth.
3. Prime. Apply one coat of primer and allow to dry.
4. Paint. Apply two coats of paint, allowing each coat to dry thoroughly before applying the next coat.
5. Distress. Using sand paper, roughly sand the edges of the furniture where wear and tear are most likely to occur-corners, sides, around drawers. You can also brush on a clear protective finish, if you like.
