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Weathered Wood Look with Paint & Wax

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$100 Room Challenge· DIY Projects· Room Makeovers

13 Sep

 

If you love the look of rustic, weathered wood this tutorial is for you. Did you know you can create a weathered wood look using chalk paint and wax? Let me show you how…

Chalk paint, dark wax, and brush to be used to create a weathered wood look on furniture

Before I even start this post, I have to take a moment to scream… ’cause the $100 Room Challenge was on the Rachael Ray Show this week! It was the craziest whirlwind of an experience, and I will truly never forget it. Short story: Tuesday I was called by the producer. Wednesday I was on a plane to New York. And Thursday I was filming a segment with Rachael Ray. There are actually two separate segments you can watch here and here.

Okay… now that my 15 minutes of fame has come to an end, let’s talk about the entry. This week I gave the entry table a little makeover. This table started out white… Actually, it started out as a very dark wood, then I painted it white a year ago…

Entry prior to $100 Makeover displaying white table

The problem is, it always looked dingy and dirty due to the fact that my kids put their shoes on the table when coming in from outside (as our pup loves to use our shoes as chew toys). Not only were dirty shoes an issue, but that typewriter (which I love) is super heavy and was creating divots in the table. Because we were going with a lighter paint color on the walls, I decided to completely redo the table to make it look like weathered wood.

What You Need to Create A Weathered Wood Look

Supplies needed to create a weathered wood look with chalk paint and wax: chalk paint, wax, lint-free cloth, and paint brush

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  • Sandpaper– (Semi-Optional 🙂 )
  • Annie Sloan Coco Chalk Paint- Since the Annie Sloan brand is typically sold in specialty stores, I tried this method years later on some vanities in our bathroom and used Behr Pale Sepia and it worked beautifully.
  • Annie Sloan Dark Wax- Again, if you cannot find dark wax in the Annie Sloan brand, you can typically find something similar at your local hardware store or on Amazon.
  • Paintbrush
  • Lint Free Cloth

How to Create A Weathered Wood Look With Paint & Wax

When using chalk paint, you don’t really need to sand anything first, however, because of the divots and general unevenness of the table top, I decided to sand it down a bit. Whether you choose to sand or not, you’ll want to clean the surface of your piece. Once clean and dry, apply your first coat of the Coco chalk paint (or similar) using a paintbrush.

Annie Sloan chalk paint being used to create a weathered wood look on an entry table. First coat.

As you can see, there was still a lot of the white showing through after the first coat, so I applied another for an even tone under the wax. Chalk paint tends to dry quickly, but make sure it is entirely dry before applying a second coat.

Annie Sloan chalk paint being used to create a weathered wood look on an entry table. Second coat.

The image above shows the table with its two coats of paint. Much better coverage.

I have seen wax brushes used in wax applications and thought that was what I should be using to apply the dark wax. However, I found the wax went on rather thick and it dried so quickly that it turned out blotchy. After doing a bit of research, I found that you can use a lint-free cloth to apply wax instead, which gives you more control over how much you are applying. (You really don’t need much at all.) Take a quarter-size amount, and simply rub on the wax with the grain of the wood until no more wax will spread; then quickly wipe off any excess.

Dark wax on a lint-free cloth being applied over chalk paint

The real key is quickly wiping off any excess wax. Wax dries fast, so you can’t wait too long or you’ll end up with uneven color. It’s best to work on small sections, rather than trying to apply the wax to a larger area all at once. Here’s a close-up of the table once the wax has been applied.

Annie Sloan dark wax on table top in which it has been applied

Allow the wax to completely dry before moving the furniture. When the wax is “wet”, it has a tacky feel. Once you can wipe a cloth on the surface, without that sticky feeling, the wax has dried.

Here’s the end result.

Table in an entry after given a weathered wood makeover using chalk paint and dark wax

Love, love, love this look! The total time spent to paint and wax this table was just a couple hours (including dry time), and the results are impressive.

As you may be able to see, I now have a thin piece of wood under the typewriter to help distribute the weight and avoid the divot problem. I plan to paint and wax that piece as well, so it’ll blend better.

Budget So Far…

  • Paint for the Walls- Free (Leftover paint from the office)
  • Weathered Table- Free (Used leftover chalk paint and wax from the piece I tried in the living room)

So far, I have spent $0. Good start 🙂

 

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A dark cherry table gets a makeover with chalk paint and wax, which created the look of weathered wood.

34 Comments

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Comments

  1. Carrie says

    September 20, 2017 at 8:56 AM

    The table looks awesome! Thanks ks for the tips – I always struggle with furniture wax.

    Reply
    • Erin says

      September 21, 2017 at 6:44 AM

      Yea. That first piece was definitely a struggle. I’m really glad I figured out what I did wrong though, because I love how the table turned out.

      Reply
  2. Rebecca says

    September 18, 2017 at 5:58 PM

    This looks so good!! I love the rag tip!! I am totally new to chalk paint and wax (I’ve been scared to use it but i’m trying to face ALL my decor fears) so I appreciate this tutorial!! Excited to see reveals in a couple of weeks!!

    Reply
    • Erin says

      September 19, 2017 at 7:00 AM

      I am new to chalk paint and wax as well. I wish I’d know the rag trick prior to doing the piece in our living room, but you live and learn. Now, I love the technique so much I want to redo our nightstands 🙂

      Reply
  3. Sheena says

    September 18, 2017 at 4:49 PM

    I just love the table!! I can’t wait to see your finished entry way!! Congrats again about the Rachael Ray show!!

    Reply
    • Erin says

      September 19, 2017 at 6:58 AM

      Thanks Sheena! I’m super happy with how that table turned out… as for Rachael Ray, that was one exciting experience!

      Reply
  4. Wendy says

    September 15, 2017 at 11:09 AM

    I am so impressed! That table looks amazing!

    Reply
    • Erin says

      September 19, 2017 at 6:57 AM

      Thanks Wendy!

      Reply
  5. Maria - Dapper House Designs says

    September 14, 2017 at 7:41 PM

    OH MY GOSH! First, CONGRATS on being featured on the Rachel Ray show!!! That is SO amazing and I’m so happy for you! Second, that table looks so pretty! I will have to copy this painting technique because it’s just beautiful! Cannot wait to see the finished space!

    Reply
    • Erin says

      September 15, 2017 at 6:48 AM

      Thank you so much! Going to the show was quite an experience… so fun! The table turned out better than I had hoped (especially after my first try with this technique went so poorly). I am so happy with the results, and now I keep thinking of more pieces of furniture I could update like this 🙂

      Reply
  6. Emy says

    September 14, 2017 at 3:43 PM

    I LOVE how the table turned out! It’s gorgeous!

    Reply
    • Erin says

      September 15, 2017 at 6:46 AM

      Than you so much Emy!

      Reply
  7. Kristi says

    September 14, 2017 at 2:50 PM

    Amazing!! Love how this table looks – the colour/ stain is perfect! I’m using chalk paint for the first time EVER! Happy to hear all of the tips!

    Reply
    • Erin says

      September 15, 2017 at 6:46 AM

      This was my first time using chalk paint on a piece of furniture. I have only used it two other times: once on a mason jar, and another time on a wood sign. I have discovered, however, that I LOVE it! It goes on so well and creates such a smooth finish. Will definitely keep using it!

      Reply
  8. Meredith @ The Palette Muse says

    September 14, 2017 at 12:27 PM

    This table turned out great! And you were awesome on the Rachael Ray show! I would have been stumbling all over my words, but you looked like a total pro. I had to laugh when you said you didn’t consider yourself creative. What a fun interview!

    Reply
    • Erin says

      September 15, 2017 at 6:44 AM

      Truly, prior to blogging, I didn’t feel creative at all. But, blogging has a way of getting one to try new things and I now LOVE figuring out how to creatively make over a space 🙂

      Reply
  9. morgan says

    September 14, 2017 at 8:53 AM

    this looks fantastic! Can’t wait to see the rest of the space come together!

    Reply
    • Erin says

      September 15, 2017 at 6:42 AM

      Thanks Morgan!

      Reply
  10. Natalie @nelidesign says

    September 14, 2017 at 6:52 AM

    The table looks amazing Erin. It looks so easy you’re giving me confidence to try it!

    Reply
    • Erin says

      September 15, 2017 at 6:42 AM

      It was SO easy. I was actually surprised by how little time it took, and what a difference it made to the space.

      Reply
  11. Deneen says

    September 14, 2017 at 12:18 AM

    The table looks great Erin. And as for the Rachel Ray show… You keep talking about the for as long as you want. it’s a HUGE accomplishment. And you were so calm and composed. Amazing job!!

    Reply
    • Erin says

      September 14, 2017 at 6:51 AM

      You are so sweet Deneen! Thank you!

      Reply
  12. Melissa says

    September 13, 2017 at 9:50 PM

    This table is amazing! I’ve had horrible luck with wax in the past, but I think after your post, I’ve realized I’m doing too big of an area at one time and using too much! Great job and major score on the budget! And I think you need a TV show – you’re a natural!

    Reply
    • Erin says

      September 14, 2017 at 6:51 AM

      I didn’t know if I’d ever use wax after that first experience, but the table turned out so well that I now feel like I want to do this on all the furniture in my house 🙂

      Reply
  13. Gabby says

    September 13, 2017 at 7:02 PM

    Great minds 😉 I am getting ready to do this with my nightstands and dresser! I use stain over the paint for the same look.

    Reply
    • Erin says

      September 14, 2017 at 6:49 AM

      Ohh… I’ll have to try stain sometime… that’d be a whole lot cheaper. Can’t wait to see how the nightstands turn out!

      Reply
  14. Liz says

    September 13, 2017 at 5:20 PM

    The table is amazing! Great tips on using the wax. And a big congrats on Rachel Ray!!

    Reply
    • Erin says

      September 13, 2017 at 5:38 PM

      Thanks Liz! What a crazy fun week!

      Reply
  15. Rachael @ This is our Bliss says

    September 13, 2017 at 4:15 PM

    Looks beautiful!! Love that you didn’t throw the idea out the window when it didn’t go so well the first time! And congrats on the Rachael Ray show! I loved watching your FB live about it 😉

    Reply
    • Erin says

      September 13, 2017 at 5:40 PM

      Thanks Rachael! It was such an amazing experience. About the table… I knew I really wanted to make it weathered looking, and I wasn’t willing to give up. I knew I had to just be doing something wrong. Thankfully, others shared some great tips that I could try, and I love the way it turned out.

      Reply
  16. Tracy says

    September 13, 2017 at 2:55 PM

    The table turned out great! I love it!

    Reply
    • Erin says

      September 13, 2017 at 5:41 PM

      Thanks Tracy!

      Reply
  17. Cheryl says

    September 13, 2017 at 1:27 PM

    It’s because you were on Rachel Ray that I started following you! You’re amazingly awesome! I look forward to learning so much more from you.

    Reply
    • Erin says

      September 13, 2017 at 5:41 PM

      Awww… Thanks so much for your sweet words Cheryl! Happy to have you following along 🙂

      Reply

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Hi there! I'm Erin. Welcome to Lemons, Lavender & Laundry, where we believe that creating a clean home should be done as simply and naturally as possible. [Read More...]

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