Distressed Furniture Adds Instant Character

Distressed furniture adds rustic chic character... instantly!For me, distressed furniture is something of a way of life. Years back, when we were newlyweds, our house was filled with a variety of hand-me-downs that ran the gamut from a lovely French trestle table, to a utilitarian ladderback chair, to an entire set of mismatched maple bedroom furniture that had been “antiqued” sometime in the 1970s. I would say that “distressed” was the overall theme!

Today, my furniture has evolved nicely with some strong anchor pieces that are quite good, mixed in with a few amazing estate sale finds. But, adding the occasional distressed piece provides some much-needed character and interest to my somewhat bland 2-story colonial.

Most recently, I have been obsessed with painted furniture, which offers the perfect opportunity for a little creative enhancement. A navy blue island (to contrast with our white kitchen cabinets) was a fun experiment, as was a cherry red bedside table. And, painting and distressing furniture is easy. Both DIY Network and HGTV provide easy-to-follow tutorials.

A distressed furniture fave! Greenview Kitchen Island, Distressed Black

If you don’t have the time or inclination to paint (and then distress) current pieces, there are still wonderful options. One of my favorites include the Provenance Country Whitewash Finish Wardrobe Armoire from Houzz, pictured above. This gorgeous piece has a wonderful “linen” finish (only lightly distressed), detailed mouldings, and plenty of storage. It’s also a piece that could be moved from room to room, as your needs change. Retail $2,290.

Another is the Greenview Kitchen Island in black, shown. This is a much more rustic and rugged distressed piece. But, the use of clean lines ensures it doesn’t veer off into “curbside pickup” territory. Plus, I the use of barn doors is a charming cottage detail that I love. This piece is also available at Houzz and retails for $1,394.76.

Ready to get started? For even more great ideas for upscale, DIY and distress furniture ideas, please visit Susan’s Projects: Furnishings to upcycle, recycle or build on Pinterest.

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DISCLAIMER: No financial compensation or product samples were received in exchange for this distressed furniture post. Regardless, I only recommend products or services that I believe will be beneficial for my readers.

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2 Comments

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  1. 1
    gloria patterson

    Totally agree I have a Chester drawer and dresser set. That is at least 70 yrs old my mother bought it new, then had it in a apartment they rented out. When I moved out she gave it to me. One of my treaures

  2. 2
    Rosie

    I can see I have very similar taste as you. I love everything that you like, too. I had searched for a nice armoire like this, but then figured I don’t really have the room or the money, and I don’t want to try to refinish one, in a small condo, forget it. But painted pieces can really add the charm, a lot more character than modern and often built better, unless hugely expensive.

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