The popularity of whitewash furniture is something that has changed over time. At the moment it is enjoying a period of rapid growth in popularity and many pieces are selling for a great deal of money. There are places that you can buy high quality white furniture such as beds and bedside tables for good a good price, but if you want to make your own here is how.
1.First you need to take the piece of furniture you want to whitewash and sand it down. A sanding block or electrical sander should be suitable to do this but you might need to strip it chemically if there is a thick build up of paint on the piece.You then need to clean the wood thoroughly to remove all dirt, dust and sawdust. wait patiently for the item to dry
2.You then need to mix in a container, one parts water to two parts white latex paint. you need to get hold of a 3″ high quality paint brush and make sure you have a moist clean cloth to wipe away any mistakes you make. Paint along the direction of the grain and make sure your strokes are smooth and long. The watery paint has a habit of soaking into the wood quickly so you’ll need to go over area well.
3.when the whole item is covered in paint and just before its managed to dry, take a clean cloth to it and wipe until you see the grain again. This will make the wood appear like it has a light stain and if you want a thicker more weathered look, simply repeat the previous steps to build up the layer.
4.When you get the look you are after, sand the wood again (gently this time) to expose the grain and then using a clear satin polyurethane, seal the piece. Let the product dry again, rub over it gently but thoroughly with a nylon abrasive pad and then repeat this last step as many times as needed to get the right look. Use this method to create a great white wardrobes, bedside table or even dresser.
Tags: decorating, design, DIY, White furniture