How To Mix Up And Apply A Paint Wash To Whitewash Your Timber.

Ever dreamt of lightening the colour of your timber furniture by creating a stunning whitewashed effect? Look no further! In this detailed blog post, we'll explore the step-by-step process for achieving a stunning whitewashed timber effect.

Welcome back to the world of DIY and Furniture Flipping; I'm Jade, and let's delve into the art of whitewashing timber.

Supplies: Before embarking on this creative journey, ensure you have the following basic supplies at your fingertips:

• White paint (acrylic, latex, mineral, or chalk paint) (I’m using a white paint called cloud by Pureco. You can purchase here https://lebellemaison.com)
• Water
• Paintbrush (My favourite good quality brushes https://amzn.to/3HzbZ2Z)
• Clean microfibre cloth (https://amzn.to/4aFxcW3 (Amazon)
• Container for mixing (I like to use these disposable containers https://amzn.to/48Qbe0M)
• Topcoat (I used Pureco Topcoat available from https://lebellemaison.com)

*Some links used in this article may be affiliate links

Preparing the Whitewash:

1. Choosing the Right Paint: You want to get any water-based white paint. It doesn't really matter whether it's acrylic, latex, mineral, or chalk paint, just make sure you don’t use oil-based products because you won’t be able to dilute these in water.
2. Mixing the Whitewash: Open your paint and pour it into a container. The goal is to create a liberal amount of whitewash to ensure an even consistency throughout the application. You don’t want to create a small amount of whitewash and then run out halfway through your project. If you are unsure about ratios, a general guideline is approximately 1/4 paint to 3/4 water. For this example piece I’m using anout 1/2 water to 1/2 paint.
3. Stirring the Mixture: Using your paint brush, thoroughly mix the paint and water. This process may take some time, ensure there are no lumps or chunky bits. You are aiming for a smooth, runny consistency.

Applying the Whitewash:

1. Surface Preparation: Before diving into the application, make sure the timber surface is clean and ready to absorb the whitewash. There should be no previous stain, varnish or paint on the timber. You need to have stripped the timber back to raw before you can apply a paint wash. If any of these products are still on your furniture then the timber won’t be able to absorb the white or paint wash.
2. Working with Speed and Precision: Since whitewashing is all about letting the paint and water soak into the timber, it's crucial to work swiftly. You are going to start painting on the whitewash. You want to try to avoid visible brush strokes, and immediately wipe away the excess paint with a clean microfibre cloth.
3. Blending Sections Seamlessly: If you choose to work in sections, to prevent noticeable lines between sections, work efficiently to blend them together. The goal is to achieve a smooth and consistent look, you don’t want to have join lines where your sections meet.
4. Consider Temperature Conditions: Ideally, pick a day with moderate temperatures. Working in excessively hot conditions might make it challenging to wipe away excess before it dries, leading to uneven results.

Tips:

• Customisation with Different Paints: Experiment with different white paints or even subtle shades of different colour paints to achieve a personalised finish that complements your style.
• Neutralising Pine's Yellow Tones: If you are working with pine it is notorious for its yellow tones, whitewashing helps neutralise and brings out a refreshing light vibe.

Upon completing the whitewashing process, step back and admire the transformation. The timber should now be a beautiful, lightened surface, ready to elevate the overall aesthetic of your furniture piece.

Top Coat Application:

1. Ensuring Durability: While the whitewashed timber looks stunning, it's crucial to protect it with a top coat for durability. Timber should not be let expose without a topcoat. You can choose from a range of topcoats depending on the furniture and it’s intended use. A clear polycrylic top coat is a great choice. I like to apply it with a sponge and apply between 3-5 coats.

I hope this informative article has empowered you to tackle your own whitewashing project. If you would like to see how to apply the whitewash this tutorial is also available as a video that you can watch below. 👇

Thank you for joining me in the world of DIY and furniture flipping, and until next time, happy crafting!