Learn how to whitewash furniture with paint. This is a simple water and latex paint mixture that you simply use to wipe the wood surface with to create a beautiful whitewash finish.

I’ve been whitewashing furniture before I even knew what whitewashing was. It can also be called “pickling wood,” although some people would say they are two totally different techniques. Let me show you how to whitewash bare wood with a latex paint and water mixture.

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There are loads of paint products on the market that are made specifically for whitewashing. Some of these products are white gel stains and pickling stains and a white wax called liming wax that will give any piece a white washed look.

While these products work well, I’m sharing the old way to whitewash or pickle wood furniture; with regular old white paint and water. This doesn’t have to be hard work!

I just learned the other day that generally whitewashing is referring to a pine wood surface while pickling is referring to an oak wood surface. Did you know that?

A friend gave me this crate because she was about to throw it away. I kept it a while and almost gave it away myself. I’m so glad I didn’t.

It’s a simple wooden crate. You can see where the two top slats have come off.

There are so many uses for wooden crates. Not too long ago I rounded up ways to repurpose them. Why did I ever think of getting rid of this?

Supplies to whitewash wood

White paint (any type paint will do)
Water
Paintbrush
Lint free rags

Before diving into a good whitewash project; always prepare the surface properly. Give it a good cleaning with either a degreaser product (for an existing finish) or just a little soap and water (raw wood). Always make sure you wipe it well after it’s dried with a lint free cloth to make sure it has a clean, dust free finish.

Table of Contents

How to whitewash Furniture with Paint

Mix white paint with water; 1 part white paint to 1 part water.
Apply the first coat of paint solution in the direction of the wood grain with a paintbrush or lint free cloth.
Use the lint free cloth to wipe the excess paint away.
Continue this process with a second coat (and more if needed) until you are pleased with the finish.
Apply a sealer after the whitewash is dry.

Note; if you are looking for a more opaque finish, try using more paint and less water like 2 parts paint to 1 part water for a thicker whitewash. If you are looking for a more translucent finish, use less paint and more water like 1 part paint to 2 parts water. Most of the time a good paint wash finish is same paint ratio of water to paint.

Always test a small area before completing the entire project. Don’t forget to wait until it fully dries before deciding if you need another coat because it will look completely different once the paint dries.

Easy right? Like I said earlier, there are a ton of products on the market that will “whitewash” a surface without having to mix your own paint. When it’s this easy, why not whitewash it yourself?

This white wash technique will also work on any painted or stained surface too. Always test a small area first before completing the entire project to make sure the end result is what you want.

Side note; most “pickling” techniques (when working with stain) call for wiping against the direction of the grain when working with oak wood. This ensures that the paint or stain seeps way down into the pores of the wood. This doesn’t apply to this project because it’s not oak wood and we aren’t using a stain.

If you are looking for a weathered white wash look, I’ve shared a few different techniques for that. I created a post for a DIY weathered wood look on a smooth surface (like laminate) and also how to create a weathered wood look on new wood. The last post about DIY weathered wood techniques uses a product you never would think to use! I of course have video tutorials for both.

Also, let me share with you my post all about paint washing furniture! To paint wash is very similar to white washing, but you can pick any color paint you want. I normally use an off-white paint color to give a reddish toned wood a more “neutral” finish. It’s a great way to alter the tone of the wood with different colors while still being able to see the grain of the wood. Paint washing is one of my favorite techniques for a furniture makeover.

What kind of paint do you use for White Washing furniture?

This is one of the most asked questions about this whitewash paint technique. Ultimately the choice is up to you. Just make sure you know these two points:

If you plan to use a water based paint (acrylic, latex, milk paint, mineral paint, etc.), you can mix the paint with water.
If you plan to use an oil based paint, you can dilute it with turpentine, mineral spirits or paint thinners.

Remember the old rule of thumb; oil and water don’t mix. My best piece of advice for any furniture makeover; work in smaller sections and always test small areas before you cover the entire piece.

How to whitewash wood with step by step pictures

First, mix the paint solution 1 part water to 1 part white paint.

stirring the diluted paint mixture for whitewashing bare wood

Apply apply paint in the direction of the grain with a paintbrush.

applying paint mixture to whitewash the wood

Now for the fun part; Wipe excessive paint with a lint free cloth in the direction of the grain. Also watch out for drip marks!

I’m loving the way the old crate is looking now. It’s brighter with a more modern look.

I love how the whitewash look highlights the wood grain.

One of the benefits of whitewashing any wood surface is that it highlights the wood without hiding the wood grain.

Almost done! Funny how a little paint can transform a simple wooden crate. The old finish looked unfinished, don’t you think?

After the paint was dry, I used a Polycrylic spray sealer to seal the wood and give it more smooth finish.

sealing the whitewashed wood with polycrylic

The last thing I did was add a few cabinet pulls to really “jazz” it up.

I used gorilla glue to attach the pulls to the wood.

Video tutorial for how to white wash.

My intentions were to use this as shoe storage. I quickly changed my mind when I realized how well it could work as blanket storage in our living room!

Maybe I should have used a little wood filler or putty to cover up the holes, but it adds to the rustic vibe right?

If you are curious about my chippy blue antique barn door, it’s a staple in this room and I love it!