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Give your new Adirondack chair an aged finish. The distressed look is a way to impart a sense of age and use to a wooden piece of furniture. Why would you want new furniture to look old? Some people enjoy the sense of comfort and history that this look brings, but they don’t want to spend money on expensive genuine antiques. Others enjoy the look, but just can’t find what they want in stores, so they take new furniture and customize it to their liking. If you want to test the aged look of your Adirondack chair, you will need paint, sandpaper, and a clear sealer for the top coat. Stay away from a glossy finish though, as this will only make your chair look like new.
Start by lightly sanding your Adirondack chair so the paint will adhere better to its surface. Wipe the chair with a clean cloth to remove dust. You can use a primer first, if you like. Paint the entire chair with the matte paint shade you selected. Darker colors look especially good with an aged finish. Allow paint to partially dry between coats. After you’ve applied the last coat of paint, allow it to dry completely. If the air is humid, wait longer.
Once you are sure the chair has completely dried, grab a new piece of sandpaper. It will sand in the same direction as the wood grain, but it will not sand the entire chair. Sand only the areas that are usually the first to show signs of wear. On your Adirondack chair, these can be the edges of the armrests, feet, etc. If you need additional guidance, examine images of deteriorated furniture to get an idea of where you could sand.
Don’t sand too much. You are not trying to strip wood or remove an entire section of paint. Sand lightly, just enough to give your Adirondack chair the appearance that it has been used. You should remove a little paint as you sand. When you have finished this step, get another clean cloth and wipe the entire chair to remove any dust that may have caused the sanding.
Apply your clear sealer according to the manufacturer’s instructions. This top coat should help preserve your calculated soft-wear appearance so that it does not degrade into a real heavy-duty overall appearance.
You’re done. You have sanded your chair, primed or painted it with the required number of coats and let it dry. You have then used sandpaper to abrade key areas and edges of your chair, the same areas that would normally be the first to show signs of wear. Then you’ve cleaned the chair to remove any dust and finished applying a clear top coat. Once the top layer has dried, you should be able to use your Adirondack chair with its distressed finish. Now what is your next project? A matching side table? Maybe an Ottoman?