How to Whitewash Cupboards

Whitewashing allows wood grain to show through.

Whitewashing is an inexpensive way to refinish cupboards using paint and water. The thin finish allows you to gently cover your wood cabinets or floors without having to cover the wood's grain entirely. Whitewash is typically applied to sealed wood and will not permanently stain the wood's surface like similar techniques, such as pickling. In just one weekend, your cupboards will be transformed; whitewashing fits right in with French country or antique decor.

Things You'll Need

• Sandpaper
• Tack cloth
• Sponge
• Bucket
• Water
• White paint
• Water-based satin varnish
• Tracing paper

Instructions

1. Sand the cupboards with a fine-grain sandpaper. Use paper with a grit between 180 and 220. Wipe up the sanding dust with a tack cloth.

2. Mix your whitewash finish in a large bucket at the rate of 1 part white latex paint to 4 parts water.

3. Apply whitewash to the cupboard surfaces with a sponge. Use between two and three coats of the finish, depending on how white you want the cupboards to be. Allow each coat to dry before applying the next.

4. Let the wood dry for at least a few hours. Seal the wood with a clear low-luster satin varnish. Use a water-based sealer, as opposed to an oil-based product, as oil-based finishes will tend to turn the whitewash yellow over time.

5. Buff the cupboards with tracing paper after 24 hours.

References

• All Things Thrifty: How to Whitewash
• Be Jane: Whitewashing Wood Boards