How To Whitewash Sealed Furniture

Can you guys believe it’s almost the New Year? If I’m honest, it doesn’t really feel like Christmas ever came. Here in British Columbia, we weren’t allowed to see anyone outside of our own households. It was truly a ‘blue Christmas.’ But I’m trying to make the best of this season of our life with many, many home projects, special treats and of course – spending quality time with our little crew. A few days ago, I dragged Glen out thrifting. Sometimes he likes going, but this was not one of those times. I ended up going into a new antique store that I had never been in and found THE PIECE I COULDN’T LEAVE BEHIND, and here’s how to whitewash sealed furniture.

Well, I did. Then I couldn’t sleep or stop thinking about it and send Glen back to the store the next day to pick it up.

This Wardrobe is like the wardrobe from Narnia or Beauty and the Beast. It truly is one-of-a-kind. I knew that it had to be in our family, and I knew that I wanted to take it to our forever home.

When I first saw the piece, it was pretty orange, but I knew it had potential. That’s the key, friends, seeing beyond the piece.

I often have people messaging me, telling me their thrift stores or second-hand stores have nothing ‘good.’ But they DO. You have to use your imagination!

As you can see from the above photo, it was quite orange in the store. Orange pine furniture doesn’t fit into my home at all, but I knew I had goals.

Short Term Goal: White wash it until the spring rolls around

Long Term Goal: Strip the entire piece and bleach it (but I need sun to do this)

As you can tell from the two photos, there is quite a difference in colour.

If you’re in the same boat and don’t have time/energy to strip a piece of furniture but really dislike how orange it is, try this route first.

How To Whitewash Sealed Furniture

You can use any water-based paint. For this project, I used the same white paint which is on my walls (Simple White from Benjamin Moore)

I took 1 cup of water to 1/4 cup of paint. I ended up doubling this recipe as it’s a massive piece, and I didn’t want to run out.

Your mixture’s consistency will be VERY watery, but that’s okay because you don’t want to paint your piece; you want to whitewash it.

I didn’t do any sanding for our piece, but if you have a really glossy piece, you may want to take a piece of sandpaper and give it a light sand.

I worked in sections and left the paint on for a few minutes, and then I wiped it off in one direction, but don’t fully wipe off everything. You want the paint to become tacky.

Don’t be nervous if a wipe mark or two dries. Once your piece is dry, you can take a piece of sandpaper and sand where there might be too much paint

As a comparison, the left side is whitewashed and the right isn’t. It takes the edge of the orange.

I’ve used this whitewash tutorial on many sealed pieces over the last few years. I pretty much have the same process for unsealed furniture, but take note: IT WILL SINK IN AND BE MUCH WHITER.

If I’m honest, this Christmas has been pretty blue. I’ve struggled a lot with feeling lonely with not seeing my family, so this wardrobe was the perfect treat to bring me out of a slump.

I couldn’t be more obsessed with this piece, and I’m so glad I didn’t leave it at the antique store!

So I hope this is a lesson for you: Don’t leave without the piece of furniture, even if it isn’t the right colour.

I hope you’re all had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year