Painting wood with white has long been done by people, but whitewashing with gray has become popular in recent years. Gray furniture and doors can add a neutral, classy, and comfortable impression to your home. If you want a coating that allows you to see the grain of the wood underneath, choose a water-based paint and coating. If you want an antique charm in your whitewashed item, paint it and wax it.
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Method 1 of 2: Blur with Paint and Water
Step 1. Spread out a tarp or washcloth
Choose a large ventilated area to work in and lay something out to protect the floor. You can use newspaper if the object is small enough, but a tarpaulin or a wide cloth is more suitable if the object you are painting is furniture.
Step 2. Sand the wood to remove any paint residue and blemishes
Use coarse sandpaper and sand the entire surface of the wood to be painted. Pre-existing paint must be cleaned completely. Sand up any blemishes or rough spots, but leave the knots to add interest to the look.
Step 3. Apply the polish with a foam brush
The polish will provide the base color for the wood finish later. So, choose a polish based on how light or dark you want the wood to look. Use a foam brush to apply the polish to the wood in the direction of the grain. Complete the entire polishing process and whitewash on one side before turning the furniture over and doing it on the other side.
Step 4. Let the polish sit for five minutes before wiping it off
After you finish applying the polish all over the wood you can reach, let it sit for 5 minutes to dry. Use a lint-free cloth (which is fine to throw away afterwards) to wipe off any remaining polish on the wood surface.
Step 5. Choose a gray latex paint for whitening
Make sure you use water-based latex paint, as other types don't mix with water. Choose the shades of gray that best match the desired tone. For example, gray with blue will make wood with a cool tone. Yellow-tone gray will produce a brownish-gray effect.
Step 6. Mix 4 parts water with 1 part paint
Make a dissolving solution in a single-use container. The mixture is 4 parts water to 1 part paint. If you're only pouring small furniture, start with 0.2 liters (1 cup) of water and only mix again if necessary.
Step 7. Use a foam brush to paint the wood with the pumpkin solution
Spread the gray powder all over the wood in the direction of the grain, as you would with a polish. If after drying the color looks less thick, apply another layer. Wait for the coating to dry before turning the furniture over to the other side to be polished and whitewashed.
Step 8. Repeat the same steps on all sides of the furniture
Once the gray squash feels dry to the touch, turn the furniture over. Dab the polish, then apply the gray to the other parts that are ready.
Method 2 of 2: Frosting with Paint and Wax
Step 1. Spread out a tarp or washcloth
Choose a large ventilated place to work and lay something out to protect the floor. A wide tarp or washcloth is a great choice for covering furniture.
Step 2. Sand the wood to prepare for painting
If the wood is darkly stained or polished, sand it with coarse-grit paper until the paint or polish is completely removed. If the wood does not have any coating, just sand the rough parts.
If the wood has been painted a very light color and you don't want to change it, just skip the sanding and painting steps
Step 3. Paint the wood with a light latex paint
To make the gray wax stand out, the wood should be painted a light color. White or cream will give the best results. Use a brush to apply the paint in the direction of the wood grain, then let it dry completely. Reapply a second coat if the first is still too thin.
Drying times are usually between 24-48 hours, but just check the paint package for exact instructions
Step 4. Apply a clear wax base coat
Purchase a small can of wax paste finish, then use an old, lint-free cloth to apply a layer of wax to the wood. Darken the entire area to be whitewashed to gray. This base coat is useful for controlling how much gray wax will coat the wood in the next step.
A clear wax paste finish can be purchased at a hardware or hardware store
Step 5. Mix the dark gray paint with the clear wax
Choose a dark gray paint because light gray will likely not look good on wood when mixed with wax. Start by mixing 1 tablespoon (14 g) of wax and 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of paint in a single-use container. Use a plastic spoon or ice cream stick to stir the wax with the paint until it is well combined.
- Adjust the ratio according to your taste. If you want a darker color, add more paint. For a lighter finish, add wax.
- Make a little at a time because the paint and wax mixture will start to harden after a while.
Step 6. Blot the wax with a lint-free cloth
Dab the wax that has been dyed in the direction of the wood grain. Apply as much or as little as you want to get the desired result. If one part seems too dark, apply a little clear wax to lighten it. If it's not dark enough, let it dry for 15-20 minutes, then apply the next layer.
Allow the finish to dry for 15-20 minutes before moving on to the next step
Step 7. Sand and rub the wood
Look for any uneven areas of wax and rub with a fine grit (approximately 220 grit) sandpaper to smooth it out. After that, scrub the wood one last time with a clean cloth to make it shiny to your liking.
