How to Faux Whitewash Furniture

Whitewash refers to a mixture of lime, water, sizing and/or whiting that decorators or designers use to cover a structure or a piece of furniture in a thick textured coat of what appears to be heavy white paint. The effect allows the original color of the object you're covering to still bleed through, creating a pleasant textured and dynamic effect. However, you can create a faux whitewash effect without going to the trouble of purchasing or mixing all the different ingredients.

1/4 cup all-purpose cleaner
Bucket
Sponge
Painter's tape
White paint
Nylon paintbrush
Clean rag

Instructions

- 1
  Combine 1/4 cup all-purpose cleaner in a bucket filled with 1 gallon of water. Dip a sponge in the mixture and wring it out. Wipe down the area you plan on whitewashing, preparing the item for the faux coat.
- 2
  Tape off any areas you don't want to get paint on and cover any pieces of furniture with a drop cloth that are near your work area.
- 3
  Dip a nylon paintbrush into the shade of white oil-based paint of your choice. Run the tip of the paintbrush over the surface of the item, until you've mostly coated it from top to bottom.
- 4
  Bunch up a clean rag and run the rag over the wet paint, wiping off some of the white, causing the original hues of the item to show through. Continue in this manner until you've covered the entire item or space.

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