How to Whitewash a Table

A whitewashed table can add instant romance, along with an old-world feel, to a room. Whitewashing was originally executed with a lime-and-water solution.It offers a slight change in the color of the wood, but still allows the textural characteristics of the wood surface to be apparent. Two simple ways to whitewash a table are to apply off-white paint mixed with water or to paint on a commercial whitewash-stain product. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

Paint-Water Solution

1




Unfinished wood aptly absorbs stains and paints.

Buy an unvarnished, unfinished wood table. Unfinished wood absorbs paints and stains best.

2

Purchase gloss-free, off-white latex paint. Shades such as cream or ivory will work well.

3




Add water to paint.

Mix the paint with enough water to achieve the desired effect. You may decide to create a solution of somewhere between 20 percent and 40 percent water to the respective amount of paint. Test water-to-paint proportions by mixing small amounts of solution and painting them onto the unfinished underside of the table.

4

Apply the solution to your table in the direction of the grain.

5

Watch for the paint to dry. This may be overnight or up to 24 hours.

6

Apply the latex varnish product, and let it dry.

Whitewash Wood Stain

7

Purchase wood stain that offers a whitewash effect. The home-improvement or hardware retailer is a good source. You can also find such products online.

8

Brush on the stain. Be sure go with the grain as you paint it on.

9

Brush on two to three layers of the varnish and wait -- possibly 24 hours -- for it to dry.