“Graywashed” (a term I coined, similar to whitewashing, but with gray paint!) furniture has become very popular over the last couple of years, along with the salvaged furniture/wood look, and it’s something that a lot of people pay a pretty penny for. There are a lot of beautiful washed furniture finishes out on the market, and I love them! One of my clients bought this nice solid wood table, and wanted me to give it a more worn, washed look.
Here it is before I painted it, just solid wood:
I mixed up a little MyColor™ inspired by PANTONE®’s “Gardenia” with a little “Griffin”, then used a little glaze, and brushed it on. This is what it looks like when I apply my glaze:
As you see, I roughly brush it on in the direction of the woodgrain, then I take a painter’s rag and brush it lightly back in the direction of the woodgrain again. You don’t want to wipe it completely off, but you are trying to get rid of those brushmarks. I definitely wanted it to stay in the bevels and corners.
The base of the table was actually a little bit more “in line” with what my client wanted, but the top of it wasn’t. I ended up doing about 2.5 opaque layers on the top, and just 1 on the bottom.
Here is what it looked like when I was all done:
I love how you can still see all the grains of the wood, but it’s got that wash over it to give it character.
I used a few layers of a wax sealer to top it off.
very nice tutorial and great job. love your work!!!
Beautiful! Exactly what I’ve been wanting to do. So you didn’t water the paint down at all, you just mixed a glaze into the paint? Was it to give it a little shine or to thin it out? I have a light wood dresser, would this work or do you need a darker wood base? Thanks so much!!!
i did use a little water, yes, to thin it out! a combo of water, paint, and glaze, just until it feels right, and is sticking like you want it to. you just sort of have to play around with it, to get the consistency that seems right for you and the piece you are painting!
you can do it on any shade of dresser, but it’s going to have a bit of a different result, depending on what you are working with. i still suggest doing it, though, and just experimenting!
Did you do anything to prep the table first?
good question! yes, i sanded it, and used a deglosser. can’t prime, because the finish is supposed to still show the wood, but i usually prime when i am painting furniture!
I am so glad you posted more detail on this project! I love this table! I want to do this to my bedroom furniture so badly but I am nervous about the results. If only you were closer to my area, I would just have you do it! Thanks for sharing!!
I want to paint a table just like this, so your tutorial is so helpful! Thanks and beautiful job!
glad you guys are liking it! please send me pics of your projects, we’d love to feature them!
Love it! This is the exact finish that I want for a table that I am going to refinish. Thanks for the tutorial!
I am sooo doing this to my round dining room table that looks almost just like this. It is a soft wood. Bought it at Ballard Designs. Its a black table. Any tips on sanding soft wood? Also, how much paint should I buy to do the table and 4 wooden chairs like this?
I would use a deglosser a few times (found at the hardware store), then sand with a low grit sandpaper. Start with a 220, so that it won’t scratch your shiny table.
What kind of wax sealer was used to finish it off?
I love the end result! I’m planning on gray or white washing my current farmhouse table to match cabinets I have in a new home. Love the table, but the color doesn’t work anymore. Thanks!!
Looks gorgeous.. Did you sand the table before you used the paint?
Yes, I did! And, I used a deglosser.
Love love love this. What kind of glaze did you use? I’m guessing the more water you use the less cover you will get?
You can use whichever type of glaze you want – I find they all pretty much work the same way. And yes, more water, more thinned out.
Is there any way this look could be achieved with a veneer finished table?
You could try it! Not sure the durability over long term. You may want to try it by first priming in oil based primer, then use a dark color of paint first, then do the gray wash technique, rather than directly on the veneer.
what kind of wzx sealer did you use?
I like Minwax brand – natural.
oops wax?
Where do you get that brand of paint?
Ha, just realized this is the website for the paint:)
I’m thinking of whitewashing my kitchen cabinets (they’re oak). I saw grayish/whitewashing all over the Atlanta AmericasMart a year ago and loved it. Have you ever “washed” kitchen cabinets? A big job, I’m thinking. Mine are good quality, all wood, no fiberboard. -Liz
Hi Liz,
I saw this and it’s exactly what I wanted to do with my cabinets as well. Did you try it and if so, how did it come out?
Hi, do you know where your client got the table from? I love it!
I think she got it at World Market.
Could I do this to an antique white painted table?
Yes! You’ll just need to paint your table a dark gray or brown first.
You are very brave. I LOVE this look and i have a houseful of dark wood pieces. I love the pieces but i’m tired of everything being so dark – i want to lighten up! I have armoires, office desk , coffee tables, dining room table, etc. i don’t know if i have the courage to try this? but it looks great!
you should go for it!
I would like to do this to my dining table. I had considered painting with chalk paint but am hesitant to have it look “heavy” with paint. My table is a French country style and is solid wood but has a veneer top. Do you think your tutorial will still work on the veneer and will this treatment look okay on this style of table?
Honestly, you could try it, but it could be hard to get it to stick to veneer. Over time, veneer can peel, because it is so shiny. Try the process above, but use a HEAVY DUTY oil based primer on top of the veneer (follow instructions on application and drying times exactly), then paint a dark paint on top of the primer, then do the process I described.
Just wondering, What type of wash would you recommend for a salvaged drop side table that is an oak finish in a home with mostly darker wood tones or should I paint it for a better use of the piece? it is within site of dining room and living room with darker tones. Thank you. Wanda
You can do the same finish as above, or you can paint it dark, then do the finish above. The darker paint will obviously darken it a bit and give more depth, or you can have a different look by trying it on top of the oak. Just try out different finishes and see what you like!
So, I took (rescued) an old dresser from the *cough* trash *cough*…and it’s a little more beat up than your original table and a little lighter. IF I sanded it down first, primed, then painted a layer of dark grey or brown, do you think i could use this technique on top to give it that “weathered” look and cover some of it’s imperfections? Or do you think I could just paint like you did? I’m looking for something that’s not white or black but somewhat neutral so it can be versatile for years to come. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated! Love the look!
Yes, you can. I would sand it down, and JUST do a layer of DARK primer (obviously not light). The light on top of the dark paint is what gives it that weathered, textured look.
Thank you!
One more clarification, your glaze is a separate layer than the color mix you put on first correct? If so, is there a specific glaze you recommend?
I like all glazes really. I’ve used a brand from Lowe’s, and I have also used a brand from Home Depot and various others. They’re all relatively the same to me!
I have a black sort of glossy dresser. It’s older, grabbed it at a garage sale. I’d love to do this but I’m seeing different instructions throughout here….do I degloss, sand to the point of original wood and then do the gray paint, glaze, water mix? Or…not bother taking off the glossy black paint and sand a little off of it but put the paint/glaze/water mix directly over that? Thanks!
I would sand the piece VERY WELL. Don’t have to get to the point where you have removed all black paint, but you do want it to be very rough. Then, do my process as listed in the blog post!
Love this! Thx for sharing!
Did you sand this at all first?
Yes!
I have a table I might want to do this with, but it is a shiny smooth finish. (For example, I know if I were going to paint it I would have to sandpaper it down so the paint would stick.) Would this work on that surface?
yes you want to sand it lightly!
I have a coffee table I’ve been wanting to refinish, but it has a very large stain on the top. do you think that discoloration would show through if I used this technique?
Abby – unfortunately, probably so! How bad is the stain? If it’s not too bad, it might not show… kind of just depends on the amount of damage done to the table previously.
Is my color a type of paint? Are those the colors of that brand of Paint? And, what color glaze did you use? Thank you, Bentley
Yes, this is the paint website that you are on now! Click on “Colors” to see our selection!
Thanks again for posting. Do you think this would work on unfinished wood (regualr 2x4s) straight away? I want to build a farm table and use your technique but didn’t know if I can start immedietely or if I should prime it with a dark color and sand first. Thanks
I suggest using a dark stain first, because the raw wood won’t absorb the paint properly!
If I were to order this paint (gardenia and Griffin ) for a kitchen table with six chairs, would one if each be enough? Thanks!
I would buy 3 qts for the chairs and one for the table.
Ok..that sounds good. How many of each color?
You should be good with a quart!
I love what you did with this and have been looking to do a similar table. My problem is that my table has a white/cream factory painted finish. How can I get this effect with a white/cream base? Should I sand and expose some of the wood and then glaze? If so, what color should I glaze? Thanks
If I were you, Id paint the table a dark brown, let it dry for several days, then do the technique on top of that! Or, strip the table of the paint all together, and start from there (assuming your table base wood is dark).
Love this technique! I love love the sofa table in this picture!! I’ve been looking for something like this with no luck! Would you mind sharing where you bought it? Thanks for sharing!
I don’t know where the sofa table is from, so sorry!!
I have seen several different glazes. What color did you use to mix into your paint? Can you tell me a couple of brands that you have used? Thank you! How much paint should I buy for a dresser/changing table?
I use all kinds of glazes, they all generally work the same. Use “Griffin” in the Mycolor Inspired by Pantone brand. For one dressing table, just a quart should do.
Just love what you did. I have a dining room table that I was going to get rid of but after seeing what you did I will give this a try. How much glaze do you mix with the paint? Thanks.
i would say maybe glaze 75%, paint 25%…ish!
I love this look and it’s exactly what I was hoping to get with my kitchen cabinets. They are solid wood with a very light finish on them now. I’d say they are 50+ years old and custom made. After reading other posts here, if I’m looking for this look with a hint of color (undecided what color yet), would I still need to put a darker prime color on first?
probably not! Hard to say without seeing it, though.
yes!
Do you know where your client purchased her table that you gray washed? We’ve been looking for one like it.
Thanks Tressa
it was from world market, but several years old.
I have a dark stained wood top and painted bottom table that I would love to do this technique on. The bottom is painted dark green… do you suggest that I lightly sand the stained top and paint the bottom a dark brown maybe then do the wash over it? Or completely sand down the entire thing? I’m not sure of the wood underneath the legs, but do you think I should maybe sand down the legs then run a coat of stain over it to give it the dark color (so the grain, if any, shows through) ??
i suggest that you do the first option. sand the top and then paint the legs brown!
What would you suggest doing to any chairs that would go with this table? Gray wash them or paint some other color??
Id paint them a dark color.
Did you mix the paint and glaze and then brush that combination? Or did you brush the paint on and then the glaze over it and then wipe it down?
Mix paint and glaze and then brush on.
Love the look you did on this table. I tried to see if you already answered this question, sorry if you did. Do you tint the glaze?
yes… in the instructions, I describe the whole process!
Thanks for posting this! Just bought a great table from a local thrift store but the honey-colored wood doesn’t go with any of our other wood. Tried to google how to refinish it but haven’t found anything helpful until now!! Can’t wait to do my table now!!!
Beautiful job! I have a light colored oak kitchen table that has a nice grain to it. Would you suggest staining it dark first to retain that nice grain or do you think the grain would still show if I just painted it a dark brown?
I painted my dining room suit black with a oil base paint about 4 years ago. I want it brown and white washed any suggestions?
This is beautiful! I have a table I would love to apply this look to. Do you mind clarifying how much sanding you did? My table has a high gloss poly finish. Do I need to sand off the poly before apply your technique? Thanks!!!
yes you do! you don’t have to sand the entire finish off, but sand it down so it’s not shiny anymore.
What do you mean by opaque layers on the top?
What do you mean by opaque layers on top?
see through layers.
[...] 7. Paint a table Shabby French Gray with this tutorial: http://mycolorpaints.com/how-to-graywash/ [...]
I have a kids closet from ikea that is painted solid white that I would like to do this to. Will this process work with sanding priming , or do you have to be able to see wood grain to get the end result you have?
you don’t have to be able to see the woodgrain, but it does help.