hundstorfer

White furniture is all the rage these days. As a result, prices are soaring to new levels previously unseen. If you have the money to spend that may not be an issue for you. But for others who want the look of white furniture but can't afford it, it's possible to create your own at home.

Creating white furniture consists of a process of whitewashing and buffing. If you have at least a limited budget for a few new pieces, you can avoid the prep time involved with existing furniture by purchasing new, unfinished items. Assuming you'll be creating your white furniture from existing pieces, surface preparation is key to achieving a good look.

First, you'll need to strip off the existing finish. If the piece is just lightly stained or painted, you may be able to get away with using a sanding block or electric sander to remove it. If the finish is a heavier coat, use a chemical stripper to remove it. Once the chemical process is complete, you'll want to sand the piece to remove any residual paint. Then wipe the piece down with a wet cloth and leave it overnight to dry completely.

Your whitewash mixture should consist of two parts white paint to one part water. Make sure you use flat latex paint, as water doesn't thoroughly mix with gloss or semi-gloss paints; it won't mix at all with oil-based paint. Use a clean bucket to prepare your mixture and clean water straight from the tap. Any pollutants ending up in the whitewash will affect the look of the finish.

Use a medium-sized paint brush to apply the whitewash, using broad strokes moving in the same direction as the grain. Avoid the temptation to use short strokes or to repeatedly go over the same area. Such poor painting habits produce an inconsistent and spotty-looking finish. You also want to get the piece covered as quickly as possible; be careful, but don't dawdle.

Once the piece is fully covered, wait until it reaches the point of just starting to feel tacky. Then take a clean cloth and buff it to bring out the grain underneath. Continue the painting and buffing process until you're satisfied with the depth of your whitewash look.

After the final buff, while allowing for enough time for complete drying, sand the piece very lightly, wipe with a damp cloth, and seal with a coat of polyurethane. You may want several coats of poly depending on the amount of lustre you desire. Just be sure to lightly sand and wipe between each coat.

Making your own white furniture is a rather simple task. It just requires a little knowledge, patience, and elbow grease.