Whitewash Wood Table – An Heirloom Makeover

Stripping The Wood Table Top

This table was in impeccable condition and was only used for family dinners, and I knew the factory finish was going to be tough to remove. So I chose to use a chemical stripper to remove the heavy varnish finish.

* Be sure to work in a well-ventilated area ( or outdoors) when using these types of chemical strippers with protective equipment.

Supply List:

Here are the supplies you will need to re-create this DIY whitewash wood table finish.

• 2-minute Varnish Stripper
• Mineral Spirits
• Steel Wool (superfine)
• Paper Towels
• Paint Scrapper Tool (you’re gonna love this one)
• Gloves (for stripping wood)
• Plastic Bowel (disposable for the stripper)
• 2 inch Chip Brush (disposable for stripper application)
• A GOOD SANDER Surfprep Sanding System Use coupon code DOIT10 to save 10%
• Denatured alcohol and water (50/50 mixture in a spray bottle for cleaning the wood before staining)
• No Pain Gel Stain (pickling white)
• Staining Pad
• Gator Hide (topcoat sealer)
• Fluff Chalk Mineral Paint
• BOSS (clear stain blocker)
• Mini Angle Paintbrush (for topcoat)

First, pour the chemical stripper into a disposable plastic container and apply it liberally to the varnish you want to remove… and wait. Pretty quickly, you will notice it working. Use a paint scraper tool to scrape it off. You’re gonna use a lot of paper towels! Once the varnish is removed, you will notice some leftover remover on the wood. Use fine steel wool and mineral spirits to clean it up because you will want a clean surface before applying the whitewash wood stain on the table. The freshly stripped wood will need to dry overnight before the next step.

Sanding The Wood Table Before Applying The Pickling Stain

Next, sand the wood table to remove any leftover varnish. I used my sander with padded sandpaper that’s great for getting into the detailed wood trim and carvings. Clean the wood after sanding it with a 50/50 mixture of denatured alcohol and water. Mix the denatured alcohol and water in a spray bottle and mist over the wood, and wipe it off with paper towels or a cotton cloth. This will remove all the leftover dust from sanding and if there is anything else left on the wood. No worries about the alcohol, it evaporates quickly, and you’ll be ready for the next step of the whitewash wood table makeover.

Whitewash Wood Pickling Stain

Now the easy part! Apply the whitewash pickling stain over the raw, clean wood table with a staining pad, and wipe back any remaining stain with a soft cloth on the tabletop.

You will immediately notice a background of softness on the wood. All wood grains will be more pronounced while revealing a beautiful whitewash wood that is stunning. If you love a farmhouse-style dining room table with a whitewash wood finish, you’re in the right place.

Buffing With Steel Wool

Next, use a ball of super-fine steel wool to buff the whitewashed wood table. I use it like super-fine sandpaper, and it gives it one last buffing before the protective topcoat. Lastly, apply 2 coats of Gator Hide to protect your beautiful masterpiece.

Chalk Mineral Paint For The Table Legs

If you’re painting the legs of your table to compliment the whitewash wood finish, be sure to use a stain blocker first before painting. Apply 2 coats of  BOSS (stain blocker) in clear and allow to dry. Next chose your favorite color (for this project, I used Fluff Chalk Mineral Paint) and applied 2-3 coats depending on the coverage needed. Darker woods will require 3 coats when using a lighter paint color. Seal with Gator Hide topcoat.

Look At All That Wood!

I did it! And I’m happy to report that no one died, AND hubby is happy with the results. He doesn’t say much about my furniture makeovers, but this table was special, and now it’s not only functional for our family dinners, but it also adds beauty to our farmhouse dining room. Now, every time I walk by our whitewashed wood table, I smile. It was worth all the nail-biting, hair-pulling, worrying, self-doubting, and back pain (this sucker is heavy) it took to accomplish this look. *In loving memory of our Granny Kewpie.

I’d love to hear any feedback or share your experiences with your family heirloom makeovers. Please drop me a comment below or say hello. It’s always good to hear from you. But before you go… there was a BEFORE this table. CLICK HERE to see what was in this same space in my dining room.

Until the next project… xo, Do