Although Tom Sawyer wasn’t a huge fan of whitewashing wood, it has never seemed to lose favor with the DIY and crafting set. In fact, it seems to be bigger than ever right now with the popularity of handmade wood signs. Luckily it it easy enough that you shouldn’t feel the need to trick your friends into doing the work for you.
Supplies Needed:
white latex paint
foam brush
disposable container
old towel or washcloth
To start, mix your paint with water in a disposable container (I used a sandwich meat package). You will need 2 parts water to 1 part paint ratio. So for instance, I used 1 cup of paint and 2 cups water. Mix well with your paint brush. Next, paint your boards, doing only small amounts at a time. Before the paint has dried, use your towel to lightly wipe off small amounts of the paint, wiping with the grain of the wood.
I ended up using two coats of paint to achieve the look that I was going for, but it was ridiculously fast and so simple. My whitewashed wood will be part of a homemade sign that I am making to show as an example for a fun giveaway I’ve got coming next Tuesday, so make sure to check back to see the finished product and to take part in the awesome giveaway!
Have you jumped on board the homemade sign craze?
Linked at The Newlywed Pilgrimage, Practically Functional, Serenity Now
Hi, can I do that on vernished wood panel? I bought a house with vernished wood panel and I was wondering if I can apply the mix of paint and water without sanding the walls before? Thank you, Sophie
Sophie, you would need to strip or sand down the wood. The problem with the varnish is that the new paint has nothing to “grip” to, so it would not stick on well.
Hi Sophie,
You can use chalkpaint to paint over varnished wood. You can make your own with plaster of Paris. recipe: 1 cup of latex paint, 2 1/2 tbs of plaster of Paris and 1 1/2 tbs of water. First mix the water and plaster then add to the paint. I have painted with chalkpaint over varnished furniture and you dont have to sand before, I love it!
Could you do this with floorboards that have previously been stained?
Elle, I would definitely try it out on a separate board or an inconspicuous area before tackling the whole floor, but I would think that if you sealed it well that it would be fine.
what is the difference between pickling and whitewashing?
Okay, so there is very little difference between pickling and whitewashing to be honest. Whitewashing is generally used for pine and other woods with small “pores” whereas pickling is for oak woods and other large pore woods. When you pickle you are wiping the paint against the grain to help it into the pores. Whitewashing is wiped with the grain. Most people use the terms interchangeably. Hope this helps a bit!
hi! I’ve been researching the different methods to do my bathroom paneling.We live in a log home and my husband just put a natural wood ceiling in the bathroom.Wouldn’t you think this method would also work for paneling?
p.s. it’s not varnished paneling…
Hi Lisa, if it is unfinished wood paneling, I think that this would work just fine. If there is any kind of finish on the wood though, that would need to be stripped or sanded off first. Hope that helps!
I am going to whitewash a piece of pine board. Can I put a gray toned stain under the white paint / water mixture to give it a deeper tone underneath? I read this method somewhere recently, but now I’m not sure the paint will adhere.
Hi Jules, as long as you don’t use a stain with a poly mixed in you should be good to go.
Love the look. Can you please tell me what type of wood you used?
Hi Rebekah, I just used some old boards that were hanging around my yard. I think they were from a pallet, actually. But the colors should remain relatively similar on most wood types.
I have a new mirror medicine cabinet and it has a white finish on it. I want it to match my white wash oak vanity do I need to strip my medicine cabinet or can I paint over it?
Roxi, most of the newer products aren’t made out of real wood. Make sure to verify that it is solid wood before doing anything!
I going to white wash my decking at our lake house. Do you suggest the latex paint or going with a decking stain?
Thank you for teaching us this ideas. Really appreciate it.