3 Methods to Paint Wood with Distressed or Antique White Color

Wood painted white looks very simple, stylish, and cozy at the same time. This type of painting while preserving the wood texture has become one of the most popular interior and exterior styles!

In this article, we'll look at 3 simple methods for painting wood with distressed or aged effects , as well as beautiful and inspiring examples of floors, walls, doors and furniture painted with them.

What paint do we use?

Traditionally, whitewashing was used as a cheap and easy way to protect wood (lime has antibacterial properties) and give it a neat appearance. Nowadays, when we recreate a whitewash, it is usually done with any water- or acrylic-based white paint for interior or exterior work (which is what we will do in the methods described here).

Water-based or acrylic paints without odor!! and can be used indoors

Do-it-yourself stain application: subtleties and nuances of the process

To make it easier to apply the product to the surface, you need to choose the right tool for the job. His choice is based on the area to be processed. You can use brushes. tampons or sprays.

You can choose any of these tools, but if you choose nitro stain, then it is better not to use brushes and foam swabs. This type of stain is distinguished by its quick-drying property, for this reason it is difficult to apply the composition efficiently using these devices; it is better to resort to spraying the substance onto the base.

Pine or another type of wood must be coated with at least two layers to change the shade of the surface and get the desired color option. It is important that each layer dries thoroughly, only then the distribution will be uniform and stains will not appear.

Applying varnish is also allowed only on a dry base.

Pine or another type of wood must be coated with at least two layers to change the shade of the surface.

Wood and necessary materials:

Different painting methods will show how much of a difference the appearance of wood can make, whether it's a smooth pine board or an unsanded pallet . All three methods are very easy, fast and with wonderful results!

• White water-based paint for interior and exterior use
• Paint mixing container
• Rag
• Brush
• Scraper or piece of hard plastic for method #2
• Candle for method No. 3

Properties of acacia wood

White acacia wood has an interesting texture. The beautiful shade and bright rings of annual layers, clearly visible medullary rays make acacia an excellent raw material for many interior items. Pleasant shades of green or pink make the wood unique in its kind.

Robinia has high strength. This is achieved due to the high hardness of wood. It is much harder than oak, ash or maple wood. It is also worth noting the wear resistance of wood. Robinia does not wear out, products made from this wood will last for many years without losing their appearance. Another feature of Robinia is its ability to dry out greatly.

Robinia wood has the following parameters:

Hardness of white acacia:

• end - 94 N/mm2;
• radial - 66 N/mm2;
• tangential - 75 N/mm2;
• impact hardness—1.2 N/mm2.

Density:

• natural drying (humidity 10-14%) - 780 kg/m3;
• dry wood - 760 kg/m3;
• at natural humidity - 650 kg/m3.

Humidity. The coefficients of swelling (shrinkage) of its wood are (percentage change in the size of the sample, related to the change in humidity):

• in the radial direction - 0.25;
• in the tangential direction – 0.34;
• volumetric – 0.61.

Water absorption – 80%.

Moisture absorption – 22.8.

#1: Painting with a rag

Many types of wood sold in hardware stores are already sanded and have a smooth surface (such as boards or sheets of plywood), but there are also unfinished boards.

This whitewashing method is suitable for both smooth and unsanded wood. It creates a neat and refreshing look, great for modern, farmhouse or Scandinavian style.

White paint makes the wood more refined, while leaving the opportunity to see the structure of the boards and their natural pattern.

How to do:

1. First, dilute the white paint with a special solvent.
2. After this, dip a rag into the resulting paint mixture and wipe it over the wooden surface, making an even layer.

Apply 1-2 more coats of paint if you want the color to look deeper white. Let the paint dry after each new coat.

Of course, you can use a brush, but it leaves strokes, while a rag makes the surface perfectly smooth.

Features of using white wood stain

Stain is a paint and varnish product, but it does not cover the natural grain of the wood, but only creates a tinting effect and highlights the pattern. There is no film-like coating left on the surface. The fibrous texture of the wooden surface is impregnated with the composition to different depths, this gives the coating a relief and highlights the wood pattern.

This point depends on the following factors:

• The level of humidity of the base, better impregnation occurs when the structure is more humid;
• The degree of resin content of the base; to obtain better processing, coniferous wood is pre-prepared by removing excess resin;
• The degree of density of the material, the denser the wood, the more difficult it will be for the solution to penetrate inside. So on a dense area the shade will not be as saturated as on a less dense base;
• The shade of stain will vary depending on the type of wood;
• Age of the material, the younger the wood, the less dense it is.

The use of stain as a protective agent makes it possible to imitate expensive types of wood if the work is carried out according to technology. Modern products are distinguished by the addition of antiseptic and anti-corrosion agents to the composition, however, if a classic stain is used, then special compounds will need to be applied on top of it.

Technical characteristics of the compositions may differ, but treatment with stain always guarantees an extension of the life of the wooden product.

Stain is a paint and varnish product, but it does not cover the natural grain of the wood, but only creates a tinting effect and highlights the pattern.

No. 2 Paint filling method

This method works best on unsanded wood with a slightly rough surface (such as a wooden fence). With its help, wood can be given a rustic look and an antique effect.

Step by step:

1. Clean the wood with soapy water and a brush and leave to dry.
2. If your paint is too rich, thin it with thinner.
3. After this, pour some paint onto the wood surface, and then take a scraper and spread the paint over the wood.

On an unsanded, that is, not completely flat, wooden surface, the paint layer will not be the same everywhere. A little more paint will flow along the depressions and less on the bulges, that is, in some places the white color will be more saturated, and in others more transparent, which will create the effect of antiquity.

You can see the result of painting a wall using this method above.

How to age wood with paint - in this article!

Characteristics of stain for white wood

White stain is often used to paint wooden furniture to give it a fresh look. You can use the composition for internal treatment of surfaces in a building, then specialized types of bleaching agents can be used. They make the base light and highlight the design. It also provides a protective function.

When external surface treatment is carried out, it is recommended to use compounds with water-repellent properties. A similar product is a stain containing acrylic. If there is no moisture problem, then choose aqueous types of impregnating agents.

The bleaching method allows you to give an old product a beautiful look if it has already turned blue. White coating is also used to paint frames for paintings and photographs.

Designers like to use white on objects with relief, which are pre-treated with special brushes. This technique is called broaching. Brushes allow you to remove soft fibers from the substrate. Then they resort to applying white stain. This style requires additional treatment with a black, white or gray wax substance to ensure that the surface becomes protected from harmful external influences.

The bleaching method allows you to give an old product a beautiful look if it has already turned blue.

No. 3 Painting method using a candle

Worn white paint, through which in some places you can see the wood itself in its natural color, is wonderful when restoring antique furniture or creating new ones, but in the same style.

In the photo below you can see an example of such painting of wood with wonderful designer pens laid out on it.

Instructions:

1. Take a clean wooden board (no matter sanded or not) and a candle. Rub the candles onto the surface of the wood in several places. You need to press quite hard on the candle so that a clear trace of wax or paraffin remains on the wood.
2. After this, paint the wood with white paint and let it dry completely.
3. Wipe the dry painted surface with a rag, applying some pressure. In those places where there was a trace of a candle, the paint will come off the surface.

Below is an example of a white wood floor painted using this method. It is worth noting that when using this, it is better to apply a layer of protective varnish on top of the paint for more durable use.

Tinting wood with stain: step-by-step instructions

To obtain a neat coating and a decorative effect, it is necessary to properly treat the surface. If the operating technology is violated, the tinting will fade too quickly. Or there will be unsightly stains on the base, which will significantly spoil the overall effect of the treatment.

Rules for applying the composition yourself:

• The old coating is removed, you can apply sanding;
• It is necessary to get rid of greasy stains; the surface is completely treated with white spirit or gasoline. The resin is removed if necessary;
• The stain is preheated, the product must be applied in a thin layer, application begins from the top of the object, layers are applied step by step to obtain the desired tone of the base.

Next, varnish is applied to the dried surface, several layers are made, each is applied after sanding the base with sandpaper.

To obtain a neat coating and a decorative effect, it is necessary to properly treat the surface.

Wood in the kitchen interior

In spacious rooms with large windows, sets made of dark wood look good, and for a small space, light furniture, complemented by glass details or mirror inserts, is better suited.

Contrasting wooden countertops and a parquet floor expressively fit into the kitchen interior with plain light walls, ceiling and furniture.

A table made from solid processed logs, surrounded by stylish modern furniture, will add sophistication to the kitchen environment.

A wooden ceiling in combination with wood wall trim and accessories will make the kitchen feel cozy and warm in a rustic way.

Beam-shaped ceilings are a good solution for decorating a room in a rustic or country style.

Wood accents

Instead of cluttering the room with wood trim, you can simply add wood accents that will make the room more cozy and interesting.

Wooden windows and doors

High-quality window frames and slopes made of environmentally friendly material are a more preferable option than metal-plastic ones.

In combination with wooden doors that match the color, they will give the room solidity, expressiveness and originality.

The most suitable types of wood for door production are merbau, beech, birch, oak and cherry.

Wooden furniture

The choice of options for upholstered and cabinet furniture made of wood depends on the taste and preferences of the owners.

For example:

1. High-quality tables, sofas, chairs, armchairs, cabinets, chests of drawers and beds are made from valuable species, combining wood with velor, leather and other materials.
2. Objects typical of peasant huts are given a dilapidated appearance by bleaching.
3. Furniture made from wood with natural cracks and knots is especially popular.
4. To create designer furniture with a medieval feel, antique door locks and hinges, as well as old boards, are used.
5. The furnishings in the Scandinavian style are made up of simple-shaped furniture, most often rectangular, complemented by elements made of hides, cotton, linen, ropes, wicker rope, and wood for the fireplace.
6. A trend among the world's leading designers is furniture cut from solid trunks, on which knots and cracks stand out noticeably.

Wooden columns and partitions

To delimit the space in the room, decorative partitions are installed, solid or shelved, using wooden beams, edged boards and clapboard, which is used to cover the frame.

A lattice partition decorated with indoor plants is a good way to liven things up.

Wooden ceiling and walls

Wood-covered walls, floors and ceilings are appropriate in high rooms with large windows, and the amount of furniture should be minimal, for example: a soft corner, a small table and a light-colored carpet.

In rooms with high ceilings, design elements such as ceiling beams and columns are often used to create a special atmosphere.

The ceiling, decorated with wooden details imitating ceiling beams, goes well with both loft-style design and Japanese, English, Provence or country.

Design project: Indre Dorofeendu

Wood in the living room interior

To make the living room look cozy and at the same time respectable, you can add windows, doors, parquet, solid or deck boards and fireplace surrounds to wooden furniture.

For furniture upholstery, it is preferable to choose high-quality natural materials.

Particular originality will be given to the interior of the living room by covering the wall with wooden slabs of different shapes and sizes, located in three planes, parallel to the wall, and partially overlapping each other.

The noticeably expressed texture of the wood is emphasized by the lamps built into the lower ends of the slabs. This environment looks expensive and luxurious.

The space behind the sofa will not look empty if you fill it with an openwork partition made of slats and bars. A small table made from untreated boards can be a nice decoration for the living room.

Light and airy Scandinavian style involves decoration and furniture made of light wood.

For rooms decorated in Provence or minimalist style, light wood species (beech, birch, pine, alder) are also suitable.

For classics, it is preferable to use dark wood (red, walnut, wenge).

Design project: Bellas Artes

Wood in the bathroom interior

Thanks to antiseptic impregnations, wooden furniture, wall and floor decoration can be used to stylishly decorate a bathroom.

To furnish rooms with high humidity, moisture-resistant tree species that are resistant to the formation of mold and other fungi are used.

From such materials you can make any piece of furniture, right down to the bathtub or sink.

To furnish bathrooms, they usually use materials treated with special means: edged boards made from valuable trees, block houses and imitation timber.

Wood in the bedroom interior

Wood in the interior is also used for finishing walls, floors and ceilings, which is perfect for a bedroom.

And elegant carved wooden furniture means not only a beautiful design, but also a healthy sleep surrounded by safe and environmentally friendly material.

Light wood, shaded with bright accents, will create an atmosphere of peace and comfort.

For painting, choose milky, pistachio, beige or mustard shades. The matte finish looks more natural, but varnishing visually expands the space.

When using wood in the bedroom interior, you should not give preference to massive furniture, so as not to overload the room.

Design project: Sergeeva Anna

Curtains and textiles made from natural materials (wool, cloth, linen) will be an excellent addition to the interior.

The wall behind the head of the bed covered with wood panels or clapboard will provide excellent sound and heat insulation.

Overview of natural wood colors

So, all shades of natural wood can be divided into three large groups: dark, light and neutral. This makes it easier to select and understand the topic as a whole.

Dark wood is good when creating an interior in a classic style. This group includes such shades.

• Nut. Color from gray-green to brown with a reddish undertone. It is the latter that is very popular. The color is rich and deep.

• Wenge. Black with blue stripes or dark brown tint. It looks expensive and laconic, which is what won its fans.

• Red tree. The name speaks for itself. With high-quality polishing, it feels like lights are jumping across the surface.

• Ebony. African ebony is exactly this color, texture with veins. Characterized by the presence of a matte sheen.

Light wood colors are used very often for furniture. Typically used for hull structures. Shades allow you to visually enlarge the room. This is the technique that designers use.

Light colors of natural wood.

Birch. There is a slight yellow tint, and the structure itself resembles marble.

• Light ash. Creamy shade, somewhat reminiscent of coffee with a lot of milk.

• Pine. The color is rich, golden.

• Light beech. The shade is beige, diluted with pink splashes.

Neutral wood is used if the furniture is not the most important figure in the interior. A good solution to not overload the space. Also, such inserts on upholstered furniture allow you not to distract attention from textiles.

Popular neutral shades of natural wood.

• Cherry. It has a rich shade that combines red and brown.

• Alder. The color is reddish or red, the texture is extremely weak.

• Oak. May have a golden hue in its natural form. However, sometimes bleached oak is used.

Chipboard color palette

Canvases are used for various purposes and are decorated using decorative film. Therefore, there are no restrictions here; the color and pattern can be absolutely anything. Quite often, manufacturers resort to imitation of the surface of natural wood.

In this case, colors can be light and dark, warm and cold.

Such a variety of colors allows you to combine chipboard with natural wood. This is quite convenient if there is a need to save part of the budget. The slabs are much cheaper, but high-quality models are difficult to distinguish from natural wood.

Usually wenge, oak and light pine are purchased.

Nuances of choice

The lucky owners of spacious and bright rooms can use any colors from the palette of natural wood or slabs. If the room is less than 17 m², then you should consider the choice more carefully. Here you need to use more light shades to expand the space. In general, it is recommended to decorate small rooms with soft, pastel colors.

So, against the background of light walls, an ash cabinet will be almost invisible, regardless of size.

Light colors are easy to work with. The room can be “revived” with the help of bright decorative elements. If you use any other colors as a base, you will have to act with the utmost caution.

To create a strict interior, cold tones are used. However, warm ones are more relevant if little natural light enters the room.

The entire interior of the room can be divided into two parts. One will include the floor, ceiling and walls - this is like the basis. But furniture and decorations are secondary elements. The background and furniture should be combined in color and style.

Rules for balancing shades.

If the main elements are decorated neutrally, then the furniture should be as massive and catchy as possible. The same rule applies in the opposite direction.

In order not to overload the interior, you should choose simple textures. Complex patterns are only relevant in large rooms with high ceilings. If you really want to, then you can arrange only one thing in this way.

There should be no more than 40% dark wood in the room. The rest of the space should be left light. Otherwise, the interior of a small room will become gloomy and too gloomy.

Beech, milky oak and birch look equally good on light and dark backgrounds. A few coffee, blue or red shades in this composition will add coziness. Gray works well when arranging a cold room with a strict design.

Neutral wood tones pair well with both bright and pastel backgrounds.

Recommendations for color combinations:

• White. It goes with everything and is universal. Usually bleached oak is a rather noble wood with a pronounced texture.

• Black. In the classic version it is combined with contrasting white. To create a softer jump, you can use a gray, blue or beige background. In some cases, black walls and the same furniture are combined. However, you should definitely refresh the interior with light textiles.

You should not combine black wood with colorful patterns on the walls and flooring.

• Wenge. Noble shade. Combines with turquoise, peach, cream, vanilla and orange backgrounds. If the wood has a purple tint, then it can be successfully combined with pink. Also, such furniture looks great together with olive or green wallpaper.

• Nut. In the classic version, it is combined with a sand and white background. If the furniture has a warm undertone, then you can use brown, red, yellow and blue, dark green and burgundy. Cold wood looks better in combination with blue and light green.

• Red tree. Designers often use such furniture to create a warm and cozy interior. Usually combined with pastel and warm colors. The combination with purple and green looks original and bold. Mahogany on a brown background looks good, but add a little beige to freshen up the interior.

• Grey. The background should be yellow or green, and it is better to use light shades. This type of furniture looks good in combination with red, white, purple and blue.

When choosing a color, you should also take into account the features of the interior. Thus, dark wood is relevant for classic styles. In modern interiors, light-colored furniture is often used.

Neutral shades are relevant when decorating in Provence, country and similar styles. The main thing is that everything looks harmonious and the space is not overloaded.

Light furniture

Thanks to furniture in pastel shades, even a modest-sized room is filled with light and seems more spacious. Light colors furnish classic and minimalist interiors and are a common choice for the bedroom or kitchen. Light furniture is made from the following types of wood:

• Shimo ash. There are several types of material: milk, cream, coffee. A characteristic feature is distinct tree stripes.

Bedroom in a modern style Source bedroom.adstores.ru

• Karelian birch. It has a patterned texture with a beautiful pattern reminiscent of marble. The background is white, light yellow or brownish sand. The pattern is darker - brown to black or with a reddish tint. A unique feature of Karelian birch is its moire pattern, when dark fibers are visible through light ones. The color of their birch furniture is characterized by a glowing effect, giving it a luxurious look.

From solid Karelian birch Source euromebelshop.ru

• Light beech. The structure of the wood is uniform, so the color is distributed evenly. The shades are quite varied: whitish-gray or beige with a pinkish, yellowish or brownish-reddish tint.
• Pine. Material with a pronounced amber texture and brownish-brown stains. Sometimes products are deliberately given a more saturated, almost orange hue.

In addition to the main varieties, light varieties include acacia with a yellowish-gray surface, gray-pearl or matte beige milky oak, alder, apple, and pear.

Pine set

See also: Catalog of companies that specialize in the construction of turnkey country houses

Features of wood material

Wood is one of the most ancient building materials, the features of which include:

• ease;
• strength;
• density
• versatility of use;
• environmental cleanliness;
• high porosity;
• low thermal conductivity;
• decorativeness;
• good internal air exchange;
• high chemical resistance;
• ability to resist dynamic and static loads well.

Design project: Dmitry and Daria Grigoriev, Alina Ursova

Wooden materials are easy to glue, lend themselves well to machining and firmly hold various metal fasteners.

Wooden decor from branches, stumps and saw cuts

Original decorations will decorate and refresh the interior:

1. A large luxurious branch with lighting, placed in the form of a panel on a plain wall and contrasting with it in color.
2. Decorative hangers, vases and lamps made from branches of original and unusual shape.
3. Chairs and tables, for the manufacture of which old stumps of a suitable size with previously removed bark are used. Such items look especially impressive next to leather-covered furniture.
4. Stumps are used to make original coasters for glass tabletops.
5. Sanded and varnished longitudinal cuts are a natural material from which shelves, table tops, and headboards are made.
6. Round end cuts can also become a material for an original tabletop or an imitation of a woodpile if they are placed on a wall in the kitchen, office or fireplace area.
7. A trend in modern furniture production has become small dressing tables made from saw cuts, which will fit perfectly into any interior.

Decor made from branches and even whole trees is ideal for a room with large stained glass windows, furnished with light furniture with chrome details.

How to make it yourself

You can get the Provence style or another finishing option using stain not only with ready-made products purchased on the construction market. There are also recipes that allow you to make the composition yourself.

One of the options for preparing stain is:

• The red color is obtained if you use a decoction of larch bark, or onion peels are suitable;
• The brown shade is obtained with the addition of a decoction of walnut shells; it is possible to add oak or willow bark to it;
• Blue is created from ground coffee, which is mixed with soda or tea leaves. The strength of the decoction influences the tone you get;
• The gray is achieved by applying the acid of vinegar to the wood;
• Buckthorn berries will give a golden tone;
• Potassium permanganate will color the surface cherry color;
• Green is obtained from coppersmith and vinegar;
• You can bleach wood by applying a 25% hydrogen peroxide solution.

Potassium permanganate will color the surface cherry color.

Combination of wood with stone and brick

In rooms with walls made of natural stone or brick, or covered with stone-like materials, partitions made of wood look great.

This combination looks respectable and harmonious, especially for eco, Provence and country styles.

Stone and brick in the design of the room are ideal for the industrial style.

Country or loft is a good addition to wooden ceiling beams and columns.

It is appropriate to use this design in large country houses with high ceilings, for which reducing space is not a problem.

Plank flooring harmonizes perfectly with pebble mosaics, and wood trim and furniture in the bathroom combined with a stone floor will give the room the appearance of a sauna.

Masonry made of plain, different-sized, whitened or aged bricks is ideally combined with a wooden staircase.

When using wood and stone in design, you need to follow the principle of alternation:

• smooth with rough;
• cold with warm;
• dark with light.