Learn how to create a gray wash effect on raw wood with a simple paint mixture. It's a quick 5-step process!
You may or may not remember the DIY planters I made a while ago, but they were only halfway finished. I'll let you in on a little secret: I only finished one to take the photo and left the other halfway done until last week, when I decided it was time to finally complete them. #reallifeconfessions
I wanted to showcase both of them in my fall home tour, so it was a good deadline to finish them. I'm a natural procrastinator, so a deadline helps me a lot!
I've always wanted some greenery on my front stoop, so getting them in place was on my to-do list. But it took me a while to decide how to finish them. Should I leave them natural and just add a protective coat? Or paint or stain them? What color?
In the end I combined paint and stain to get a gray wash look. I love how it turned out, so I thought I'd share this super easy technique.
What You'll Need for DIY Gray Wash Wood Technique
- Dark stain (like Minwax's Dark Walnut)
- White paint (I used some leftover Benjamin Moore Simply White latex paint from the girls' bathroom makeover)
- Paint brush for paint (these are my favorite paint brushes)
- Sponge brush or brush for stain
- Lint-free rags (to wipe off paint)
- Outdoor sealer (if your piece will be outdoors)
How to Apply DIY Gray Wash Wood
Honestly this "technique" is so simple that it feels silly to write steps for it. But I know sometimes the simplest tutorials are the most helpful!
Step 1. Stain your wooden piece.
Dark stains work best since we'll be covering them with a paint mixture, so I chose Minwax's Dark Walnut.
Step 2. Let the stain dry according to the instructions on the can.
Step 3. Make the paint wash mixture.
Mix 50% white paint and 50% water together in a bowl or my favorite paint pail. Stir until fully combined. You can add more water depending on how much coverage you want, but I found the 50% mix to be just right!
Step 4. Brush the paint mixture over the stain.
Work in small spots, a little at a time.
Step 5. Wipe off the paint mixture after about 30 seconds with a lint-free rag.
You don't want the paint sitting on the stain too long, or you won't get the grayed effect you're after.
Step 6. Keep painting and wiping over the whole piece until it's covered and looks gray washed!
You'll now have a beautifully gray washed piece to enjoy! If you're putting your furniture outside, like mine, seal it with an outdoor wood sealer, like this one.
I ended up painting the X's on my planters with the water and paint mixture, but I didn't wipe it off. I had filled the nail holes in the X's before I knew what finish I'd use, and I figured painting them wouldn't matter.
But when I wiped the white paint mixture off the X's, the filled nail holes showed up too much. Still, I kind of like how the X's now stand out more. Anyway, the rest of the planters have the "gray washed" effect... and I love how they turned out!
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