White furniture can light up any room, but not every time you need a whitewashed look. Changing the color of your white furniture to make it look like wood is a great idea in this regard.
But painting white furniture to look like wood can be a little bit difficult, here we’ll discuss the step-by-step process to paint your white furniture to make it look like wood with a few materials. By following the steps you can get a stunning wood grain finish that adds beauty and warmth to your living space!
Things You Will Need to Paint Your White Furniture
Before starting the Furniture painting process you will need to gather these following materials:
- Furniture: Start by changing one item of white furniture at a time, choose any piece of furniture item, such as a dresser, table, or chair.
- Sandpaper: To make the surface smooth, you’ll need sandpaper in a variety of grits, including coarse (800–100) and fine (180–220).
- Primer: Pick a high-quality primer that is appropriate for your furniture material (wood, MDF, etc.).
- Paints: You’ll require acrylic paint in the colors of your chosen wood finish.
- Paintbrushes: Have high-quality paint brushes including both flat and fine-tipped ones.
- Stain: A wood stain in a shade that matches the wood finish that you want.
- Rags or Sponges: For applying the stain and making the wood-grain effect.
Steps to Paint white Furniture to Make it Look Like Wood
Here is the step by step process procedure to paint your white furniture to make it look like wood furniture:
1. Set Up Your Workspace
Create a workplace that is well-ventilated before you start. To keep the area free from spills and splashes, spread out a drop cloth. Make sure you have sufficient room to work efficiently.
2. Remove Hardware
Remove any knobs, handles, or hinges that may be present on your furniture by using a screwdriver or other suitable equipment. By following these instructions, you can paint the whole area equally.
3. Sand the surface
Start by sanding the whole surface of the furniture using coarse-grit sandpaper (around 80-100 grit). This process serves to roughen the surface so that the primer will adhere more effectively. After that, polish the surface with fine-grit sandpaper (around 180-220 grit).
4. Prime the Furniture
Apply a coat of premium primer that is appropriate for the type of your furniture (wood, MDF, etc.). For even covering, use a paintbrush or a roller. Allow the primer to completely dry; for proper coverage, it can take several applications. For information on the intervals between coats of drying, see the manufacturer instructions.
5. Base coat
Apply a foundation coat of light brown acrylic paint to the whole piece of furniture when the priming has dried. Your wood finish will be built on top of this base color. After equally applying the paint with a paintbrush, let it completely dry.
6. Apply Wood Grain
Dark brown acrylic paint should be applied using a fine-tipped paint brush. You can also use this brush to add grain lines to the furniture. These lines should be painted in a direction where the wood grain will be visible. Normally, you’d want to adhere to the natural patterns of the wood grain. The dark brown lines should only be allowed to dry slightly.
7. Mix the Grain
Use a wet sponge or a damp rag to softly blend and soften the lines you made in the previous step while the dark brown paint is still wet. This blending produces a wood grain appearance that is more natural. Avoid over blending; the grain should still have some contrast.
8. Staining
Applying wood stain to replicate the look of finished wood is possible once the paint has fully dried. The wood stain should be applied with a clean cloth or sponge. Apply the stain liberally and evenly while working on tiny pieces. To produce a realistic-looking wood appearance, immediately wipe off extra stain with a clean cloth after applying it to a piece. This procedure should be repeated until the appropriate wood tone is obtained. If you prefer a darker finish, let the stain completely dry in between layers.
9. Seal the Finish
It’s crucial to seal the wood-like surface with a transparent polyurethane sealer after the stain has cured. For information on drying timeframes and the number of coatings necessary, refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for the individual sealant you’re using. This procedure ensures the longevity of your wood-finished furniture.
10. Reattach Hardware
Reattach any hardware you removed in Step 2 once the sealant has fully cured. Make sure the furniture is firmly attached to everything.
Closing Thoughts!
With the help of these steps, you can successfully paint white furniture to make it seem like wood, giving your space a charming and unique look that adds warmth and individuality. Changing the color of your furniture turns the complete appearance and the atmosphere of your home. You can make your furniture more beautiful by using the right equipment and techniques. These DIY techniques will be extremely useful for your furniture items, no matter if it is a chair, dresser, coffee table, or any other item. Just remember to take your time, be patient, and enjoy the creative process, if you want to turn your furniture into a classy rustic item!
