In this post: Learn how to whitewash stain your projects and furniture. Plus all the faqs and tips you need to know to whitewash your own projects with Minwax White Wash Pickling stain!

Whitewash stain, or pickling, is a type of finish that you can use to brighten the look of your wood furniture and other home decor projects without hiding the wood grain. It’s one that I like – a lot – and use in our home. It’s a very popular finish because anyone can learn how to do it!

Table of Contents

What is Whitewash/Pickling?

Pickling (and similar techniques)… is actually a rip-off that comes from an old European practice of pasting wood with a caustic lime [limewash] to prevent decay and insect infiltration – the 16^th-century version of pressure treated lumber. The lime caused the wood to have the beautiful, ethereal effect that can easily be replicated using the technique of pickling. [source]

So, whitewash pickling is a type of finish that can be used on any type of wood like pine, birch, etc. The effect will be slightly different depending on the type of wood:

On woods with smaller, less noticeable grain like pine, whitewash stain will create a light driftwood effect.
On woods with more pronounced grain, like oak, whitewash pickling gives the same look with the added bonus of highlighting the grain.

Another bonus of whitewashing is that it can tone down the yellow look of pine!

White Stain vs White Paint?

Of course, you could always just paint your wood. But whitewash pickling is different than white paint because it allows the wood grain to show through, rather than hiding it like paint does.

How Do You Apply Whitewash Stain?

Applying white stain is similar to applying white paint. But whitewash is more watery, so don’t to load your brush up quite as much with stain as you would with paint. And you’ll need to wipe off the excess wash after a few minutes too, like you would when applying regular wood stain. If you leave the whitewash on too long, it will look more like dried paint than pickled wood.

Make Your Own Whitewash or Buy It? How to Make Whitewash Paint/Stain

Making your own whitewash stain is pretty easy: you simply mix any white paint with water! You could also “whitewash” with any color – gray, blue, green, etc. Feel free to get creative!

To make your own whitewash stain, the ratio of paint to water that you use really depends on the look you want. Some suggest that you mix 3 parts water to 1 part paint. But you can adjust that to your preferred look. I recommend testing your whitewash – store-bought or DIY – on a scrap of the same type of wood that your project is made of. That way you can adjust the DIY ratio and/or the length of time you let the stain sit before you wipe it off.

Also, test different brands and colors. Brands are always coming out with new stains and finishes. So, try them out, test them, see which one you like best.

Can You Whitewash Over Varnished Wood?

Unfortunately, no. You can’t whitewash over any finish that is already sealed, unless you sand off the finish. All stains work on the basis of soaking into the wood, and whitewash stain is no different. You can stain over another stain (water-based over water-based or oil-based over oil-based), but not over wax, polycrylic, varnish or polyurethane.

Do You Need to Seal Whitewash Stained Pieces?

The answer is yes, you do need to seal whitewashed furniture and other decor pieces. No matter which method you chose to use for your whitewash – make your own or store-bought, water-based or oil-based – none will protect the wood, so you need apply a top coat. Something like a wax or polycrylic will work. Don’t use a polyurethane though, as that will yellow the whitewash finish you’ve just worked to achieve! If you seal your whitewash finished pieces well, they can last a really long time!

Whitewash Stain is Sort of Like the Restoration Hardware/Pottery Barn Look

Everyone loves the Restoration Hardware/Pottery Barn/Ballard Designs aged wood look, right? The finish is also often called aged oak, grey acacia, pickled or whitewashed, depending on the shade and the wood used.

It looks a little grey, a little natural and all refined rustic.

It’s one of my favorite looks in decorating. I’d fill my house with it if I could! So when we were deciding on a finish for our new dining room table when we first gave the dining room a makeover in our backsplit, it was my first choice of finish to try to replicate.

Before we started this project I didn’t even know what to look for to get the finish I was after. But after some searching around I found Minwax’s water based White Wash Pickling stain.

How To Whitewash Stain Using Minwax White Wash Pickling

So, you can absolutely whitewash bare wood, but it will give you a very light finish. If you want some depth to your project, you will likely want to stain your wood before applying any whitewash stain or pickling.

Supplies:

Raw pine wood – in this case we were finishing a DIY table
Minwax Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner
Minwax Clear Tint Base – tinted in American Walnut
Minwax White Wash Pickling
Minwax Polycrylic in Satin Finish
Purdy Paint Brush
lint free cloth
fine grit sandpaper

My favorite whitewash stain and pickling products:

Instructions:

1. Thoroughly sand your pine project. Start with a coarse grit sandpaper and move to a finer grit until you have a smooth finish.

For more detail on which sandpaper to use, see our post on Sandpaper Grits and Their Uses.

2. Apply Minwax water-based Pre-Stain Conditioner over every surface. Let dry according to directions on package. The Pre-Stain Conditioner simply allows for even coverage on all parts of the wood, including knots, etc.

2. Apply tinted stain to one area at a time using a brush – for example one board at a time. Let sit for a few minutes then wipe off with a lint free cloth or rag. Let dry according to directions on the package.

For a detailed step-by-step tutorial on how to stain wood, see this post.

3. Lightly sand the stained pine surface with fine grit sandpaper. Wipe off all sanding debris with a clean cloth or vacuum clean.

4. Using a brush apply whitewash liberally to one area at a time. Working quickly, wipe off with a clean lint free cloth or rag. Of the whole project, this is the trickiest step to get just right. If your brush is too dry, your finish will be too white. I suggest practicing on a spare board. Once you’re finished white washing the entire table, let dry according to directions on the package.

5. For a rustic looking imperfect table top, gently sand with low grit sandpaper and a palm sander. This also helps to tone down the slightly blue tinge of the white wash pickling.

6. Using a clean quality brush, apply a thin coat of Polycrylic in Satin finish for protection from food stains and spills. Let dry. Repeat once.

Whitewash Stain Printable Tutorial

Just in case you want to take the tutorial out to the garage, here’s a printable version for you!