HERE IS HOW TO LIGHTEN YOUR DATED WOOD WITH AN EASY WHITEWASH STAIN FINISH | CURB-SHOPPED CHAIR MAKEOVER | YOUTUBE VIDEO
Hi SI family! I hope you’re enjoying this fabulous summer weather and treating yourself to some fun in the sun! Today I’m sharing How To Whitewash Wood to give it a lighter updated finish. If you have a piece of furniture or wood project that has red or orange undertones, this easy water-based whitewashing technique will give it a whole new look!
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. I’m not a whitewashing expert, but you don’t have to be. Believe me, if I can do it YOU can do it.
Here’s the wood chair I started with. It was found curbside and I love the shape and style of this chair.
There were some issues on the seat including a crack, but this chair is great for staging and styling because it’s so unique looking.
THIS POST IS SPONSORED/CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS TO PRODUCTS I USE. YOU CAN SEE MY FULL DISCLOSURE HERE.
HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL NEED
Wood Chair – SALVAGED
Dewalt Orbital Sander
CitriStrip
Tack Cloth + Shop Towels
Paint Brushes
Container + Water
White Magic Gel Stain
Satin Clear Coat
WHITEWASHING WOOD USING STAIN
CLEAN & PREP
I didn’t want the stain to sit on top of the existing finish so it was important to clean and sand. After a good cleaning, I pulled out my trusty Dewalt orbital sander and started sanding off the old finish.
For the shapely legs, I used CitriStrip which is really easy to use and can even be used indoors without a harsh odor. I’ve been having a harder time finding it so if any of you know where to buy it, I’d love to know as well.
MIXING THE WASH
Here comes the fun part! Once the chair was entirely stripped of the old finish and wiped down with a tack cloth, I used this White Magic Gel Stain to whitewash the wood. I wanted a really light (more natural) finish so I diluted this water-based stain down by 50%. I mixed about a half cup of stain with a half cup of water. This dilutes the stain and gives it a softer more subtle whitewash effect where more of the grain will show through. However, if you wanted a more opaque white, you can use the gel stain at its full strength.
USING PAINT FOR A WHITE WASH
If you’d prefer to use paint rather than a stain, creating a whitewash using paint is done in the EXACT same way as above. Take a half cup of white paint and mix in half a cup of water to create your wash. The best paints to use are water-based. This included latex, chalk paints, acrylic paint, or mineral or craft paints. Do not use oil-based paint. Oil-based paints will not mix with water and will amber the wood. Once your wash is mixed, you can apply it as described down below.
I have a full tutorial on How To Apply White Wash With Paint HERE!
APPLYING THE WASH
I used a paintbrush to apply the wash but a foam brush, rag, applicator pad or shop towel will also work. I like working in small sections. This way I can paint the stain on, and let it sink in for a bit. Before it dries, I wipe it off with a shop towel. Whether you use a shop towel or rag, be sure to have a few on hand as this can get messy. You’re always working with a WET wash. Don’t let it dry before wiping it back or else it ends up looking very uneven.
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 water-based Voodoo Gel stain and I have to say this stuff is good! I’m kind of addicted to their water-based Gel Stains. You can check out examples of Tobacco Road here and Up In Smoke on this table here, so trying this NEW white was a treat.
**UPDATE – This post has been updated on June 20/2023 and these Voodoo Gel Stains are still HIT sellers because they are so easy to work with. They are water-based. There is no odor. The stains are easily buildable to get the opacity you like. And clean-up is super easy.
10 TIPS TO WHITEWASH WOOD
These 10 tips will work if you’re using a stain or a paint wash!
- Sand off any old finish to expose the wood
- Wipe with a tack cloth to remove the dust
- Use water-based whitewash to avoid ambering (stain or paint wash)
- Thin down the wash (with water) to create the opacity you’re after
- Apply the wash in the direction of the grain with a brush or rag
- Use a lint-free cloth or shop towel to wipe off the excess wash
- Wipe off all the excess wash in the direction of the grain
- Repeat. You can apply additional coats of the wash to gain a whiter more opaque look
- Lightly sand AFTER the whitewash has dried if you’d like more grain to show through
- Use a water-based top coat to avoid ambering
TOPCOAT
To protect this chair I used a water-based Satin Clear Coat. I could have also used a clear or white wax instead so long as it was water-based as well.
FINISHED LOOK
And here’s this curb-shopped chair’s NEW look!
This finish really brightens up the wood and gives it a more modern finish.
I can’t wait to hear what you think!
YOUTUBE TUTORIAL
Here’s a step-by-step tutorial on Youtube. If you have any problems viewing it below, feel free to watch it on my Youtube Channel HERE. Our #siyoutubefamily is already a community of 39K so don’t forget to subscribe if you haven’t done so already! So exciting, thank YOU! 🙂
Here’s another look at this chairs’ before and after. I hope it’s inspired you and given you some ideas for your projects!
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
Beautiful job! This chair looks great in its beachy version. I think the details show up more too!
Thanks so much Liz! 🙂
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!