How To White Wax Chalk Painted Furniture With Video Tutorial
I painted this side table blue and it looked great but then I highlighted the details with white wax over chalk paint and the table was stunning. I know, stunning is a strong word and I stand by it
The table looks good at any rate. The white wax settled into all the details and I highlighted the edges here and there using a small paint brush.
I have a video of the process where I talk you through the waxing. Yep, I’m actually in front of the camera talking…..to you. The video is at the end of the tutorial along with links to the furniture fixer upper tour. Today is the day.
I bought the table at my favorite junk shop for $10. It needed cleaning up before I could paint it. I also sanded a few rough areas on the table top.
I painted the table with FolkArt Home Decor Chalk, color Turkish Tile. My first time to use this color and it won’t be my last. I love it.
The type of wax I used on the table is FolkArt Barnwood Wax. The wax is liquid and you brush it on. I chose this wax because it’s not white white like a lot of the paste waxes or soft waxes. It’s really easy to work with too. I just brush the wax into the details and wipe it back. You don’t have to worry about getting the wax on surfaces next to the details, it’s easy to wipe off.
You can see an earlier project where I used the Barnwood Wax here…..How To Make Unfinished Wood Look Like Weathered Barnwood
A lint free white rag is best for wiping the wax back. The rag should be damp or slightly more than damp. I know, I know, but it’s hard to explain. A dry rag will not take off very much wax so the wetter the rag the more wax you remove. Please watch the video because it shows how I brush on the wax and wipe it back.
In some areas like the top edges of the table I gently ran the brush along the edge leaving a tiny thin strip of paint. If the strip of paint is too distinct I smudge it a bit with my fingers.
The top of the table was a bit uneven and rough and I lightly dry-brushed the wax all over the whole surface. The JTS took this photo.
The leg braces needed wax too. The whole table got white wax highlights.
The table will be for sell in my booth. I took a photo of it in the granddaughters bedroom at our house. The bedroom color scheme is orange and turquoise. One of my favorite color combos.
I also staged the table in the workshop using some of my favorite vintage items. This table can be used in just about any room or with any design style.
The white wax definitely took the table up several notches. I shared a bit of info about the table on Facebook yesterday and I got this question…Can you, or have you ever used this sort of wax on latex?. I have not but I will try it next week and let everyone know. Thanks for the question.
Pretty Blue Table With White Wax Accents
Watch the short video below as I walk you through applying the wax and wiping it off……
How To Use White Wax Like A Pro
So what did you think of the table, the color, the wax, the video? Leave a comment with your thoughts or questions before you take the furniture fixer upper tour please. Take the tour by clicking the text links below the “before makeovers” photo collage.
White Wash Wood Furniture – Just The Woods
How to Paint Arborite – The Interior Frugalista
Furniture Found Curbside – Prodigal Pieces
Estate Sale Desk Makeover – Confessions Of A Serial Diyer
Tufted Upholstered Bench Makeover – Girl In The Garage
White Waxed Chalk Painted Furniture – Petticoat Junktion (you are here)
As always, thanks for being here and have a great rest of the week and weekend, Kathy
Author:Â Kathy Owen
Kathy Owen is the founder of the home decor blog Petticoat Junktion where she shares tutorials on painting furniture and upcycling thrifty finds into unique home décor. Her DIY projects have been featured on the Home Depot Blog, Plaid Crafts, Behr Designer Series, and in numerous magazines. Kathy’s newest website is HappyHomeDIY.com
Hi Hanna, Glad you like the table and hope you send a photo of yours once it’s done. I have never noticed the smell of the FolkArt Chalk. It is thick but you can water it down.
Hi, I have this exact table only twice as long. I’ve been vacillating between a white distressed and a bolder color. After seeing what you did with this table, I plan on something similar. I’ve tried the folk art brand before but don’t care for the thickness of the paint or the smell. I do love that color though and cant wait to try the liquid white wax.
Love this, Kathy! The white wax really takes it up several notches. And your staging is beautiful both in your granddaughter’s room and in your workshop. xo
Since Walmart sells Folkart paint, I’m hoping to find this blue paint and the wax.
What do I use to seal the piece ?
Love the table and blue is my favorite color.
The paint color is beautiful and the wax adds the perfect finishing touch. I’m heading out to get some now!
this came out so pretty! love the blue with the subtle white!
Hi Naomi, The video is almost at the end of the post. I just went back and I made the text bold that is just above the video. You should see a photo of me on the video with a white button to click and play. If you are using an old version of internet explorer on your computer then you won’t be able to see the video. Glad you like the table!
The table is really pretty, Kathy! But I can’t figure out where to click to see the video. Can you help??
What a pretty table and very pretty paint color! I enjoyed your video showing the waxing process you used too! Great job Kathy!
Those are swing arm curtain rods. Great find!
I love this blue and it looked great in your Granddaughter’s room! Love the effect the white wax gives with that pretty blue! XOXO
Love the paint color, Kathy, reminds me of denim. I’m VERY intrigued by the liquid wax – thanks for the video. It’s been added to my Must Try list.
What a pretty table!
Loving the white wax!!!! thinking this may show up on my next project!!!!
Thanks for sharing!
can this process be reversed, I mean can you paint the table white and us a colored wax in the same way?
I love this color blue! In fact, love it so much I used a similar color chalk paint on my kitchen cabinets. (Yes, took a big leap of faith and was pleased with the results.)
I have a question for you. Is the white wax a better solution to highlight details than sanding to reveal paint underneath?
As always, thanks for the tutorial, and love the video 🙂
Love this, so so pretty. Also very helpful, and thank you Kathy. for posting this. I bought some white wax but then didn’t know quite how to apply it or use it for my particular project, which didn’t turn out well as a result. Now I know how ti use it properly I can have another go.
Ooh…so pretty! Love the blue with the white. It pops!