How to Distress Black Furniture
- 1). Remove any furniture knobs, hinges or hardware that may get in the way of the distressing process, using the appropriate sized screwdriver. Place the hardware pieces together in a baggie and store them in a safe place.
- 2). Sand the surface of the furniture piece with medium (80 to 120) grit sandpaper. If the black furniture has a sheen or gloss to it, it will need to be removed in order to give it an aged and worn look. Distressed furniture often has a dull or matte finish.
- 3). Use a coarse (40 to 60) grit sandpaper to distress the edges of the black furniture piece. Rub the sandpaper back and forth along the edges and corners to achieve a worn look.
- 4). Sand the areas underneath and around where the hardware will be replaced with the coarse-grit sandpaper. The areas around knobs and latches are a usual spot for natural distress. Also remember to sand around moldings and crevices.
- 5). Create further signs of distress and wear with tools such as a hammer and screwdriver. Running the screwdriver along the wood will leave distress lines and scratches, and bangs and dings can be left with a slight hammering.
- 6). Continue the distressing process, by sanding and scratching the black furniture piece, until it looks worn. Re-attach the hardware, and display.
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