ARE YOU TIRED OF UGLY ORANGE AND RED TONES IN YOUR FURNITURE? I HAVE A SIMPLE SOLUTION TO UPDATE YOUR WOOD WITH THIS WHITEWASH FINISH INCLUDING A HOW-TO VIDEO!
Hi SI family! I hope you’re enjoying this fabulous summer weather and treating yourself to some fun in the sun!
Do you have a piece of furniture that’s just waaaaay to orange or red? Are you looking for a way to tone it down and give it an updated look? I have a simple solution!
Today I’m sharing How to Whitewash Wood and tone down any unwanted hues.
I’ve tested a brand new product and true to its name, it seems to work like magic and give amazing results!
Now, I’m not going to say I’m a ‘whitewashing’ expert, but I’ve tried and tested my fair share of whitewashing methods on various pieces of furniture so I’m also including 10 simple tips to achieve this look. Believe me, if I can do it YOU can do it!
Here’s the dramatic before and after… I can’t wait to hear what you think!
THIS POST IS SPONSORED/CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS TO PRODUCTS I USE. YOU CAN SEE MY FULL DISCLOSURE HERE.
SOURCE LIST::
-
- Wood Chair – SALVAGED
- Dewalt Orbital Sander
- CitriStrip
- Tack Cloth + Shop Towels
- Paint Brushes
- Container + Water
- White Magic Gel Stain
- Satin Clear Coat
HOW TO WHITEWASH WOOD::
This curb-shopped chair has been used in many styling pics which you can see here, here, and here — but the red stain was starting to drive me crazy. I was toning down the red by editing it in Photoshop every time and starting to resent the extra work.
The last straw – I really wanted to use this chair in last weeks dresser makeover because I loved the shape and style — but hated the color.
So I pulled out my trusty Dewalt orbital sander (which I can’t live without btw!) and started sanding off the old stain.
For the shapely legs, I used CitriStrip which is really easy to use and can even be used indoors without a harsh odor!
Now here comes the fun. Once the chair was entirely stripped of the old finish and wiped down with a tack cloth, I used this water-based gel stain and started whitewashing the wood.
When I find a new product to make things easy, I’m thrilled to share it with you. Dixie Belle sent me their new White Magic in their waterbased Voodoo Gel stain and I have to say this stuff is goooood!
I’m kind of addicted to their waterbased Gel Stains to begin with. You can check out examples of Tobacco Road here and the Up In Smoke on this table here, so trying this brand new white was a treat.
HERE’S THE YOUTUBE VIDEO ON WHITEWASHING WOOD
If you have any issues with the playback, feel free to watch it on my Youtube Channel here.
10 TIPS TO WHITEWASH WOOD::
- Sand off any old finish to expose the wood
- A tack cloth helps to remove the dust
- Use water-based whitewash to avoid ambering
- Thin down the wash (with water) to create the look you’re after
- Apply the wash in the direction of the grain
- Use a lint-free cloth or shop towel
- Wipe off all the excess wash in direction of the grain
- Repeat and Apply additional coats of the wash to gain a whiter more opaque look Remove old finish and topcoat
- Lightly sand AFTER whitewash has dried if you’d like more grain to show through
- Use a water-based top coat to avoid ambering
Whitewashing wood is a really easy way to cut down on red and orange in certain types on wood. Mahogany and pine are notorious for turning red/orange after staining.
This finish really brightens up the wood and gives it a more modern finish.
LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK OF THIS WHITEWASHED CHAIR MAKEOVER … OR FEEL FREE TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE… I ALWAYS LOVE HEARING FROM YOU.
Thanks for reading. 🙂
Wishing you a beautiful day filled with inspiration and Happy Painting friends!
Denise XO
RELATED POSTS::
How To Whitewash Wood Furniture
Annie Sloan White Waxed Desk
How To White Glaze Furniture
80’s Tallboy Whitewash Makeover
PIN AND SHARE!
Hello again... I'm so happy you dropped by! Let's keep in touch! Follow me on social media or sign up for a dose of furniture painting inspiration and diy tutorials. :) 
Great post! We have recently purchased a real fixer house. Many of the walls are covered in exterior paneling which was stained a cedar color …many years ago. Talk about red and orange tones. I know I can Zinser prime and paint but I love the white washed look and will try this new stain.
THanks for this post!! I’m looking to restore a piano. I’m looking to white wash it but have some grain show through. I also don’t want to sand/strip. I was considering going with a light whitewash with chalk paint. Do you think this gel stain is a better option though?? Thanks!
Hey Denise, I love your stuff so much! Where do you get citristrip in Canada????? 🇨🇦
Hi Angela! You can get it here on Amazon.ca Hope this helps. 🙂
I’m looking to try this on a basic pair of doors to give them a more vintage/antique look but the doors are white. Would using this paint give me the same look? How could I go about to get this exact color on the doors?
Hello. I love what you did to that chair! Gorgeous!
Quick question… Should I use a stronger sealer if it’s going on a kitchen table surface? Any other tips you can share with me for a larger surface piece?
Thank you!
ReNae
Hi ReNae! The technique shared here would be the exact same on a larger surface. A waterbased poly would be a great choice for a high traffic kitchen table surface.
Denise,
You did it again Denise, with this White Wash Stain renovation! Simply love the finished product!
The whole look of this chair has changed. You are my top website for furniture renovations!
That’s super sweet of you to say Carli, thank YOU! LOVE having here and so glad you like the chair makeover. I like it way better too. 😉
How good a wood is pine for making furniture?
Hi Denise. I’m loving this chair transformation. It was pretty and vintage looking before, now it’s exquisitely gorgeous! Love the update from dark to light and airy. Do you have any idea what this type of chair is called? Is it possibly handmade? I’ve never seen a chair quite like this:). Beautiful makeover.
Thanks Monique, and you might be right! I’ve never seen a chair like this either. If this chair was someone’s project, they must have been super talented with wood because it’s cut to perfection. What is odd though is it has 2 large visible screws holding the back on.. .which is different!
This chair looks amazing, Denise! I ordered some of the new colors for my shop and ordered an extra white for myself so I could try it. Now I’m really excited to give it a go! XO
You’re going to love it Christy! It fits perfectly with your light airy style. Can’t wait to see what you do with it! x
Hey Denise with Salvaged Inspirations! Live the transformation. I have blue and tobacco roa Voodoo Gel Stain
. I cant wait to try and create a denim look with blue. You are an Inspiration to me and live the video bloopers. You are so funny. Thank you for all your views and your blog. Live your blog.
I have fat fingers. Anytime you see “live” it’s supposed to be “love”
🤣… you are too funny…you could have just blamed it on ‘autocorrect’ like I do… LOL
Cheryl, you just made my day.💕And thanks for giving some feedback on the bloopers! MMM loooves when they show bloopers at the end of a movie. It was his suggestion to add them in (because believe me – he knows I screw up enough…lol). I also have the Voodoo Gel Stain in Denim and I can’t wait to give it a try. If you beat me to it, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Have a super day my friend. x
How did you know I needed this? It’s exactly what I want for my current giveaway project! You have magic!
Hi Kellee!!!🤗 So glad you found it helpful. I’m giving all the magical credit to the White Magic though hehe. Have fun with your Giveaway!!
What a gorgeous find Denise! I much prefer the wash over the dark stain. but then again, are you surprised? I love everything you makeover. ~ Nicki
Aw, thanks Nicki! I think the wash looks way better too! 🙂
Your post couldn’t be more timely, Denise. I’m heading to my local DB supplier today to pick up some gator hide and I couldn’t be more excited to see they have a white voodoo stain now. That’ll be coming home with me too. What a gorgeous chair find and looks stunning with a whitewash finish.
Thanks! And I’m with you… I’m SO happy they’ve added white to their gel stains. 🙂
That looks awesome. So pretty.
Thanks so much Joy!🤗
That is such a gorgeous, very unusual (to me) style of chair. I have seen the leg type before (Jacobean?) but not the top shape. Interesting finish, looks like the “pickled” finish that was popular awhile back. Interesting color, hope it works better for you. I think I might have to investigate your sander!
Thanks for sharing the post, I really enjoy your projects.
Yes, it is a really unique looking chair! And you’re exactly right Mary… It is like a whitewash or pickled finish… they are kind of the same-same. And YES, give this sander a try. You’ll thank me. 😉 hehe
Love it, Love it, Love it!!!! The new and improved version is just beautiful!!! Great job!!!!
Aw, thanks Teresa! I really hope I can use it for more staging/styling now. In fact I’m liking it so much, maybe I can find a space for it in home somewhere. 🙂
Love this finish! Can’t wait to try it!
Thanks Susan! If you give it a try I’d love to hear how it works out for you!