How to Crackle Distressed Furniture

If you are looking for a way to make your distressed furniture look more rustic, crackle finish may be for you. Crackle finish is achieved by applying a medium that when painted over dries to a cracked finish exposing the finish beneath. Crackle finish furniture fits in well with rustic and shabby chic decor.

Furniture
Drop cloth
Painter's tape
Latex paint
Paint tray
Roller
Crackle medium
Paintbrush
Polyurethane sealant spray

Instructions

- 1
  Set the already distressed furniture onto a drop cloth. Use painter's tape to protect any of the furniture you do not want to touch.
- 2
  Apply a coat of crackle medium to the furniture. Use a thick coat for large cracks and a thin coat for smaller cracks. Let the medium dry according to manufacturer’s directions.
- 3
  Apply the top coat of latex paint to the furniture using a roller. Try not to go over the same area twice. As the paint dries, it will crack, showing the finish underneath.
- 4
  Spray the furniture with a coat of polyurethane in a well-ventilated area.

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