How to use Lime wax with a Lime Washed Coffee Table Makeover

Do you ever wonder how to get that white washed light wood furniture finish? Have you ever stopped your scroll through Pinterest when you landed on a beautiful “white oak” looking piece of furniture?  This can accurately describe me in the past few months. I have a solid wood Ethan Allen coffee table sitting in my garage that is screaming for a makeover! Come along and I’ll share my tutorial about how to use lime wax with a lime washed coffee table makeover.

I scored this coffee table from a friend who sells antiques for $30. She needed to get rid of it and I happened to need a coffee table (like I needed a hole in the head, lol).  If you’ve been around here long enough you know I don’t pass up solid wood furniture! 

I loved the lines in this coffee table. It’s big, it’s heavy and it was screaming to get rid of that dark wood!

Let’s talk about Lime Wax for a minute.

Liming wax is meant to set in the open grain of the wood. This is what gives it that cerused finish.

Unlike regular furniture wax, which is meant to highlight the moldings, liming wax highlights the wood grain to give it that white wash finish or weathered wood finish.

How do you lime wash wood?

Because liming wax has to penetrate the wood to the grain, I had to remove the top layer of sealer.

First, strip off at least the first coat of sealer.

I had my CitriStrip paint stripper, paint brush and gloves and I was ready to go!

I won’t go into too many details on how to strip the finish off of this coffee table because this post is mainly about my lime wash finish.

Below is what the coffee table looked like after I stripped at least the top layer off.

Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links. This means that if you purchase from one of these links I will receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

Next, start the liming process by adding lime wax.

For this project I decided to use the Amy Howard Liming Wax.

I’ve heard great things about it so I knew I had to try it out.

Materials needed to Lime wax or lime wash furniture:

• Liming Wax
• Gloves
• Lint free cloth
• Chip brush 
• Drop cloth
• Furniture piece to refinish

There are a ton of ways to apply the liming wax.  I’ll share the way I do it.

How to use Lime wax for a cerused finish;

• I started by applying the wax to the top of the coffee table.
• I dipped the rag into the wax and pulled out a dime size portion and then started to apply the wax IN THE direction of the grain.

• After I was done applying the lime wax on the top, it was time to wax the spindled legs. I wanted the legs to have a heavier “white wash” finish.
• Next let the wax sit for about 30 minutes.
• The last step is to “buff the surface” with a clean lint free rag. Be careful not to buff too much because you don’t want to remove the finish. You want to buff just enough to give it a small shine.

That’s it! No need for a top coat because the wax acts as one.

A quick note: Liming wax is best used on an unfinished open grain piece of wood like Oak to highlight the wood grain. This coffee table has been heavily stained, and even though I removed the first layer of varnish and stain, the wax will not penetrate the wood grain. Because of this, I’m using the liming wax to lighten or “white wash” the table and cover up some of the red tones. 

Video on how to Lime wash wood

Ready to see the coffee table makeover with liming wax?

I’m so pleased with how this coffee table makeover turned out!

If you enjoyed this post feel free to pin the image below to Pinterest.

Want to see more furniture flipping inspiration? Come check out my super talented blogger friends and their furniture flips below.

1. Upcycled Chest to New Coffee Table by Houseful of Handmade
2. How to Build Easy Built Ins from IKEA Bookcases by Lovely Etc.
3. Lime Washed Coffee Table Makeover with Liming Wax by Repurpose and Upcycle
4. How to Use Gel Stain to Change the Color of Stained and Finished Wood by Refresh Living

Thanks for following along guys!

Lindsey**