To distress, or not to distress. . . .that is the question?

I have a beautiful piece of furniture that I just finished painting for my daughter's room. And I am having a reeeeally hard time deciding if I should distress it. After-all, I worked long and hard on this paint job I don't want to "mess" it up!

Originally this table was in our family home when I was a kid. When my parent's divorced my Dad ended up with this it. He was a pack a day smoker,{He recently quit smoking after 53 years!} and needless to say this table reaked of smoke. I wasn't even sure this beauty had any hope. But I decided it was a good piece to try out my refinishing skilz.   

I have painstakingly cleaned, stripped, sanded, primed and painted this piece. It has taken weeks,{there is never enough time in the day!}and I just don't know if the perfectionist in me will allow me to "mess" it up.

Here it is minus the hardware and the drop side pieces. . .if I decide to distress it, I need to do it before I add the poly coat. Which will be the final step!

McKenna is dying to have this in her room. . . .she wanted it like, yesterday. So What to do?

 

Have you ever distressed a piece, do you like how it turned out? Any tips or suggestions? Is a sanding block the best thing to use?

This was a fun piece, and I'm looove with the color, can't wait to get it completed and finally see it in her room!