Making Whitewash For Furniture Using Latex Paint

It’s easy to make a whitewash paint mixture for furniture using latex paint and water. My favorite ratio is four parts water to one part latex paint. This whitewash can be used over almost any paint color, and I made a short video to show you exactly how I do the whitewashing process.

Furniture for Painting and Whitewashing

The piece for this project is the pedestal cedar chest I bought at auction a couple of weeks ago. I love this chest so much I decided to paint it and keep it for myself. I paid about $82 for the chest, including auction fees.

While working on the chest, I went back and forth about the final paint finish. Our master bedroom, where we’ll use the cedar chest, is painted dark brown and has off‑white furniture.

Supplies for this Project:

• Piece of painted or stained furniture
• Latex paint (off‑white or light neutral works best)
• Clean water
• Measuring cup (for paint/water ratio, optional)
• Mixing container (plastic cup or small bucket)
• Stir stick or paint stirrer
• Lint‑free rags (old white cotton sheets or T‑shirts)
• Small paintbrush (for detailed areas)

Paint the Furniture 

The first paint color I used on the chest was Coastline Tan by Behr. I had this little sample jar I bought when I was trying to decide on the master bedroom wall color. That little jar covered the entire chest, and I even had paint left over. But…I decided the color was too dark. It probably would have been fine if I had known what the final paint finish would be! I’m always changing plans mid‑stream or mid‑project.

Next I chose a paint color that is a mix of several leftover paints on my shelf. The color is a taupey shade.

When you look at the contrast between the light paint and the dark paint, it seems really dramatic.

But when the second coat of paint dried, it was light but not a lot lighter.

How to Make the Whitewash Paint Mixture

Now comes the fun part…the whitewash. In the past, I used bright white paint for the whitewash and realized after about the umpteenth time that it was too white. I know it’s called whitewash, but I’ve found that an off‑white paint color works best for the wash. The paint color I use is Polar Bear by Behr. I’ve used this color on several furniture makeovers, and I love it.

Best Paint and Ratio for Whitewash

I never measure the paint and water mixture. I just pour a bit of paint in a bowl, then put the bowl under the tap. I can tell you that the whitewash solution is very thin. If the solution is thick, it’s not really a wash; it’s more like you are spreading paint with your rag. Please watch the video because you can see how thin the whitewash mixture is.

Whitewash the Furniture

Step‑by‑Step: How to Whitewash Furniture

1. Apply the whitewash with a lint‑free rag (old white sheets work best).
2. Dip the rag into the whitewash to lightly coat it.
3. Rub the whitewash on, going back and forth over a small area. Always rub the whitewash on in the direction of the wood grain.
4. Work in small areas, perfecting each one before moving on.
5. Continue rubbing with the whitewash rag until you get the desired effect.
6. To remove excess whitewash, use another rag dampened with water and rub it back. 

For this project, I wanted a heavy whitewashed finish, so I just rubbed the whitewash‑dipped rag over the area until the look was perfect. It’s best to work in small areas because the wash will dry fast, and then it’s hard to remove the excess.

Small Details Need Special Attention

Did you notice how the cut‑in details on the flower design remain dark after the whitewashing? I tried not to get the wash in those areas. The whitewash against the darker paint makes the flower really stand out. The same goes for the other cut‑out details on the front.

I’m really happy with how the chest turned out. So much better than that dark mustard yellow paint.

Those pedestal feet have me smiling. You might remember I bought another pedestal cedar chest along with this one. I plan to try to refinish the top of that cedar chest because it’s a mess. I really don’t want to paint it because it has pretty inlaid details. You can see it here…Two Fantastic Pedestal Style Cedar Chests And A Waterfall Cedar Chest.

Tips for Using Whitewash Paint on Furniture

• Use a small paintbrush to get the whitewash into detailed areas
• If your white paint color is too light or too dark for a good contrast, adjust it.
• Start with 4 parts water to paint and adjust if the wash is too thin or too thick.
• Make sure your painted furniture is fully cured, or the wash mixture may remove the paint.

You might be able to see a bent nail and split wood in the photo above where the pedestal meets the chest. The cedar chest had all kinds of dings and dents but I don’t worry about those little imperfections.

Take a look at the video I made while whitewashing the cedar chest….

How to use a Whitewash Paint Mixture

What do you think? Better than before, or did you like the original scuffed-up paint? Leave a comment if you have time or email me kathy@petticoatjunktion.com. Thanks for being here, Kathy