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Adding Whitewash to Farmhouse Furniture

Adding whitewash to farmhouse furniture is an easy way to highlight the wood grain and character of your favorite pieces without the process of fully painting, sanding and distressing.

So, today, I’m sharing how I used a whitewash technique on our coffee bar cabinet and how you can use this same technique too!

One of the first pieces of furniture my bestie S and I ever learned how to put doors on was a farmhouse style cabinet we made to look like weathered wood. 

The cabinet has been a fixture in the house for several years and has been moved and used in multiple rooms.

Truthfully, the cabinet didn’t look bad at all and was still in great shape.  But I was ready for a change once we decided it would house the coffee station in the breakfast nook.

I was SO close to painting it black. But in the end, I decided adding whitewash to the farmhouse furniture piece would be a lot easier.

Especially, if I ever got the itch to change it again ?

Here’s a simple look at adding whitewash to farmhouse furniture…

Whitewash Farmhouse Furniture Supplies:

  • Tarp or plastic to cover your work surface
  • White Chalk Paint (We used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Pure White)
  • Water
  • Small Disposable Bowl & Disposable Plastic Spoon (to mix whitewash in)
  • Paintbrush
  • 2-Lint Free Cloth or Wax Brush
  • Gray Chalk Paint (We created our own mix)
  • Clear Furniture Paste Wax
  • Disposable Plate or Bowl and Disposable Plastic Spoon (to mix wax)
  • Gloves (optional, this project can be messy)

Whitewash Farmhouse Furniture Steps:

Gather your supplies and cover your work area with a tarp or plastic.

In a small disposable bowl, create a whitewash by using a 1:1 ratio with paint and water.

If the wash seems to watery, add a bit more paint until you have the color and consistency you want.

Paint the whitewash onto the woodgrain with a paintbrush. Allow the mixture to sit and soak into the woodgrain for just a bit.

Then wipe off the excess paint with a lint-free cloth.

I find it helpful to work in small sections. That way, the wash doesn’t get uneven and dry faster in some places than others.

Repeat this process over and over, until your furniture piece is completely covered.

Keep in mind the point of adding whitewash to farmhouse furniture is to easily highlight the wood grain and to give it even more character and charm.

Here’s a look at how I used the same technique on the inside shelves of the farmhouse cabinet too.

Before…

and after…

Sealing and Waxing:

Once the body and the shelves of the cabinet were finished, I created a gray wax.

To do this you’ll need a bit of gray chalk paint and a glob of clear furniture paste wax.

We created our own custom gray paint mix with black and white paint. It would have been so much easier to just use gray paint though.

Then mix it all together

and apply with a soft cloth or wax brush.

It’s a really subtle finish that provides another layer of vintage charm and character by adding whitewash to farmhouse furniture pieces like this cabinet.

Remember to check the label of your furniture paste wax so you’ll know how long it takes for that specific wax to cure.

Also, (and I’m sure this goes without saying) be sure to throw away the plate, bowl and/or spoon that has come in contact with the paint and wax.

Once the cabinet had dried and the wax had cured, we created an indoor coffee station in the breakfast nook.

This area is one of the most used spaces in our home.

I love how adding whitewash to farmhouse furniture like this cabinet was a simple way to add character and charm to the kitchen!

As we’ve shared many times, sometimes we overthink things in the process of trying to make our spaces “feel fresh.”

Most of the time though, the basics of what we need is already there.  We just need to think outside the box!

Let us know if you’ve been adding whitewash to farmhouse furniture to your house too! Until next time, I’ll see you on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.

Other Kitchen and Breakfast Nook Posts You Might Enjoy:

Many blessings,

CoCo

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11 Comments

  1. I love how your cabinet turned out CoCo! I will need to try this technique out! Thank you for sharing with Charming Homes and Gardens. Pinned!

    1. Thanks so much, Kim! It was super simple and I know you could rock this project and make it totally amazing too! I hope your week has been a fun one so far, CoCo

  2. I love whitewash. We did walls in our previous house and it made such a difference! Thank you for sharing at Party In Your PJ’s.

    1. Whitewashed walls sound so pretty, Ann! Hope you’re having a great week. Hugs, CoCo

    1. Thanks so much for the invite, Jennifer, I’m all linked up! Can’t wait to follow along on all the creativity at your party. Hugs, CoCo

      1. Hey there! I am featuring your pretty fall home tour this week on Embracing Home and Family!

        1. Oh my gosh, Jennifer, what a sweet surprise! Thank you so much. You made my week 🙂 Hugs, CoCo

  3. High five on the whitewash! I love a good whitewash on furniture to really brighten things up. It looks great!!

    Thanks for sharing this post with us on the Embracing Home and Family Link-up party!

    -Cherelle

    1. I really appreciate it, Cherelle, thank you so much! Hope you’re having a great week, CoCo

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