Is there a white wash stain for wood? I’ll discuss this with product examples and ways to make your own white washed product.
The use of wood in home décor is timeless and classic, right? Whether it’s used to create furniture, flooring, or wall paneling, wood is a great way to add warmth and character to any space. One popular look for different wood projects is the white wash stain look, which gives the wood a light, weathered look. But is there actually a white wash stain available for wood? I’m not talking about white paint here, but a white stain.
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What Is White Wash Stain?
White wash stain is a type of finish that gives wood a light and white appearance. It’s often used to give furniture and other wooden items an aged or vintage look. The white wash effect can be achieved by using either paint or stain, but the latter is more popular because it allows the natural grain of the wood to show through. There are a couple ways to achieve a whitewash stain look. The final white wash look will depend on the different types of wood you choose and the white wash technique used. Let’s talk about a few of these techniques with product examples.
I’m no stranger to whitewashing wood or even painting wood white to give it a whitewashed look. As a matter of fact, I’ve created many posts about how to whitewash and all things in between.
Related Whitewash furniture posts
In my post, How to Whitewash Bare Wood with a Latex Paint and Water Mixture, I shared how to use a part water part white latex paint to create a lovely white washed look on wood. This is probably the easiest way to achieve the white wash look and it allows you full control over how white or how translucent the finish will be.
If you are looking for a heavier and bolder white wash look, then you need a thicker whitewash mixture (more paint, less water). If you want a slight whitewash look where you can see more of the wood grain, you need a thinner and mixture (more water, less paint). The great thing about this kind of white wash mixture is that the paint mixture will (most of the time) be a low VOC formula with a low odor (or even zero vocs) in comparison to using other techniques like white stain products. Soap and water cleanup also makes using this technique a breeze.
One of the first projects I did to give an old piece of wood a white wash finish is this post on How to Create an Antique Fireplace Mantel with a Whitewash Technique. This was a heavily stained mantel from early 1900’s that I wanted to give a whole new look to. The white wash finish blended well with my new style and was so easy to create.
Speaking of using paint, check out my Paint Wash for Furniture; Mute Outdated Furniture Tones blog tutorial. If you prefer to use paint to achieve that white wash look, then this is the post for you. The cool thing about this technique is that you can essentially use any color to “whitewash” wood. For this post I used a beige color paint to mute an outdated orange/red furniture tone. This has quickly become a popular technique to tone down certain raw wood species like any type of red wood.
If you don’t want to use paint to white wash wood, there are other product options on the market. Ever heard of liming wax? It’s essentially a white wax product that sits in the wood grain to transform the look of wood. See more about this product in my post How to use Lime wax with a Lime Washed Coffee Table Makeover.
Speaking of a different product (not wax, stain or paint), I applied joint compound in the direction of the wood grain to achieve a white wash finish. This technique created a Weathered Barn Wood look on New Wood. This was a fun project that had a surprising result that will give an antique look to any surface.
If you are looking for more white wash furniture inspiration, check out my post; White Washed Furniture Makeovers that will Wow you!
Once you’ve successfully created a white wash finish, do you need to Seal Whitewash furniture or wood? Most of the time, yes! This post will walk you through how to add a top coat and seal your existing finish.
How Do You Create a White Wash Stain?
Creating a white wash stain can be done in several ways depending on the desired effect. We’ve already covered a few methods like mixing paint with water and then brushing it onto the wood surface to get that white washed look and creating a similar finish with a liming wax product.
Another method involves mixing together equal parts of paint or dye with a clear finish (such as polyurethane). This mixture can then be brushed onto the surface of the wood for an even lighter effect than with just paint alone. You can see where I mixed a wood dye with Polyurethane to create a custom color here. Rather than mixing a dark wood dye (like I did in this post), if you mix a light color, you will have a beautiful white washed color mix to apply to wood.
Are There Pre-Made White Wash Stains Available?
Yes! There are several different white wood stains available on the market today that make it easy to achieve this popular look without having to mix your own whitewash concoction. Each stain color comes in various shades ranging from light gray to off-white and are designed specifically for use on a wood surfaces such as furniture, floors, and walls. They are easy to apply with just a brush or roller and provide excellent coverage while still allowing some of the natural grain of the wood to show through.
Below are a few of my favorite white washed wood stains. I’ve included a few oil-based stains and water-based formula too.
Best White Wash Wood Stain for Furniture
Check out the BEST white wash wood stains for furniture with this list of my six favorite products.
Minwax Wood Finish simply white is a deep penetrating, oil-based wood stain that provides beautiful color and enhances the natural wood grain in one coat.
This whitewash gel stain from General Finishes is easy-to-use. Simply wipe on with a cloth or apply with a foam brush (no spills or splashes). This is an oil based, Heavy-bodied product so it does not seep into the wood like most other stains. It creates a more solid whitewash look.
Varathane wood stain dries quickly and applies easily to create a beautiful whitewash finish. Ideal for use on all interior wood projects: furniture, cabinets, doors, trim and paneling. One-coat coverage, fast-drying oil based formula.
Looking to add a little whitewash color to your furniture or wood? All-In-One Paint's antiquing gel is equivalent to a thick glaze with a built in top coat.
This is a great whitewash application that adds a touch of character to bare or already stained wood. Minwax color wash is a water-based wood stain that adds a subtle shade of white color to wood while allowing the natural grain to show through.
Create beautiful whitewashed pieces of wood furniture with this water based wood stain. General Finishes products create high-quality pigments that can be hand-applied or sprayed.
So yes – there is indeed a white wash stain available for use on wooden surfaces! Whether you choose to mix your own concoction or purchase one pre-made, I hope you find the perfect wood finish to help you achieve an aged yet timeless look in your home décor projects.
Did this list help you decide on an existing white wash wood product? Or maybe you are going to try to make your own. Either way, I hope I’ve given you some inspiration!
Lindsey**
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