Shiny new furniture? So last year. The trend of the hour is the look of distressed, antique furniture. How do you get this vintage aesthetic you crave without the antique store price or waiting 50 years for the wood to wear? With this little painting trick! Better Homes and Gardens shows us this clever little tip to take your brand new furniture from regular to retro in a snap. Watch the video below to see how you can pull off this simple technique yourself.

The key to getting the distressed effect is making everything uneven. You’ll want to make the wood surface uneven and you’ll want two tones of paint to mix up the look – even is no good. It looks too clean for the distressed affect we’re going for.

Also, go for a piece of darker wooden decor to encourage the antiqued look a bit more.

Here’s what you’ll need to get started:

YOU’LL NEED
– Sand paper
– Cloth
– Two tones of the same color paint
– Foam brush
– Paper towel

STEP 1: Sand down the entire surface of the furniture, purposefully making the wood uneven. This way the paint will absorb differently and look more distressed.
STEP 2: Wipe down the furniture, cleaning off any dust from the sanding.
STEP 3: Paint the entire surface the darker tone of paint. Let dry for 24 hours.
STEP 4: To create the lighter wash, combine the light paint with water, adding the water one teaspoon at a time to dilute the mixture. Stir to combine.
STEP 5: Using a paper towel or foam brush, cover the surface with the paint wash.
STEP 6: Once the wash in applied, blot at the coat with a paper towel while still wet. This creates the antiqued look. Let dry for 24 hours.
STEP 7: If you want to distress more, sand the edges of the furniture once the paint is dry.

This is such a simple technique! Turn a Dollar Store piece of furniture into a vintage looking focal piece for your home in a snap, and for next to nothing.

Have you distressed furniture using this technique? How did it turn out? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.