Get a Distressed Painting Look Out of Your Wood

If you’re looking to add a warm and more casual atmosphere to your home, then you should try using distressed wood elements. This doesn’t mean that you have to go out and use distressed wood – you can actually distress it yourself. The following are a few tips to help you do just that:

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Use sandpaper to create an uneven surface on your wood, thereby allowing it to unevenly absorb paint.
On the underside of the wood, use different thicknesses and shades of paint in order to figure out a look that you like the best.
Apply the first coat of paint using a darker shade. Make sure that you spread it thin so that the cracks show through. Let it dry for a full day.
Combine one teaspoon of water at a time with a light shade of the paint until the paint becomes thin – but not to the point where it bubbles when applied.
Apply the mixture using a foam brush. While wet, wipe some of the surface with paper towels to get the antiqued look.