I love the look of a distressed dresser, and it makes the bumps of life on your furniture so much easier to swallow. Oh, it’s gonna happen. It’s just a matter of time, and when it does, it just adds a bit more character.
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Tips For An Effortless Wet Distressed Dresser – Before
For a little backstory… this dresser belonged to a local couple whose house was totally destroyed by a tornado. When I heard about the tragedy, I knew I wanted to help in some way. The dresser had been donated to her, but she didn’t love the wood and asked if I could update it. And an update she got!
Product List:
- Dixie Belle Paint Black Caviar Chalk Mineral Paint
- Cling On Paint Brush
- Kitchen Scrubber Sponge
- Mini Whisk
- Clear Wax
- Lint-Free Cotton Cloths
- Wax Brush
Choosing The Right Paint For A Wet Distressed Dresser
I like to use chalk mineral paint when I want a distressed look on my furniture makeovers. Having a peekaboo of the beautiful wood showing through gives it so much character. You can’t go wrong with a black-and-wood combo. It’s a classic look!
This wood dresser was painted with two coats of caviar chalk mineral paint and allowed to dry to the touch only.
Shortly after painting the second coat, I used a damp kitchen scrubber sponge to distress the edges in carefully chosen areas, adding a bit of depth and character.
It’s so easy to do! Just wet the kitchen sponge, use the scrubber side to carefully remove the paint you want, then wipe the distressed area clean with the smooth side of the sponge. Done!
Sealing Your Distressed Dresser With Black Wax
The easiest part of all is sealing the paint.
Did you know you can make your own black wax with clear wax? It’s a great way to complement this black chalk-painted, distressed dresser, and you don’t have to worry about messy, streaky topcoats.
Black-painted furniture can get tricky, but using this wax method works! I love the feel of a waxed piece; sometimes, it’s the logical choice.
How To Make Black Wax
To make black wax for your distressed dresser, use about 4 Tbsp of soft furniture wax and add about 1 tsp of the Caviar chalk mineral paint. I really just eyeballed it. Just add enough paint to the wax to tint it a bit. The chalk mineral paint is highly pigmented, so it’s great for making colored waxes with their paints.
Sealing The Distressed Dresser
Applying black wax is fairly easy with a soft wax brush.
To apply it to your chalk-painted furniture, use a circular motion to ensure the wax covers the paint completely; then smooth it in one direction. If you let the wax dry in a circular pattern without buffing it out, the finish will be uneven, and you’ll be calling me for help. LOL, It ain’t pretty!
Only allow the wax to set on the paint for a few minutes, then buff away any remaining wax with a clean, lint-free cloth until it’s silky smooth.
Black Distressed Dresser
Black and moody all day long! I love how using this simple wet distress technique changed everything about the dresser, and my client LOVED🖤 her new black distressed dresser.
Black is always a stunning look for dressers, and adding distressing makes it even better, in my opinion. What do you think? I’d love to hear from you or say hey in the comments below so I know you stopped by.
Until the next project… xo, Do