Pine is a really nice wood to paint, and this project gives it a whole new look while keeping that beautiful timber grain. You may not even recognise it when you’re finished!

Materials Required

  • Kitchen table
  • Paint – for the white wash effect on top, I used Colourtend satinwood paint in “Milk Teeth”. For the undercoat on the legs, I used Colourtrend undercoat. To paint the legs, I used Colourtrend satinwood pain in “Schoolroom green”
  • Paintbrush
  • Tack cloth
  • Electric sander
  • Sand paper in medium and fine grit
  • Sanding block
  • Mask
  • Cloth or sponge
  • Clear varnish
  • Hoover
  • Method

  • 1 Before you paint your table legs the desired colour, you must first tackle the area that you want to white wash; in this example, the top section.
  • 2 To prepare your chosen area for white washing, you must first sand back the surface completely, leaving no varnish or coating on the table top. You will need an electric sander for this.
  • 3 Wearing a mask in a well-ventilated area, sand back the top section of the table using a medium grit sandpaper with your sander. Always go in the direction of the grain of the timber. Sand until the varnish is completely removed.
  • 4 Sand again with a finer sandpaper to smooth the area. It is really important to remove all varnish and finish on this step so that the timber is completely bare. If you leave any residue of varnish, the white wash will not soak into the timber as intended.
  • 5 Hoover and dust off any dust and clean the top of the table to make sure all the dust is removed. With a tack cloth, remove any remaining dust particles
  • 6 White washing is an easy way to lift the table, but also keep the most used area durable for the heavy wear and tear it will receive. Water down white Satinwood paint in “Milk Teeth” 3 parts paint to 1 part water. Mix the paint/water mixture really well. Paint on the watery paint and rub it in with a cloth or a sponge. Only do section by section to ensure an even coat of white wash on the surface. Work with the grain of the timber.
  • 7 Scuff the legs of the table with a sanding block. Hoover and dust away any dust from sanding. Undercoat and leave to fully dry.
  • 8 Apply two coats of Satinwood (I used Colourtrend’s Schoolroom green) to the legs. Leave to fully dry between each coat.
  • 9 When it is fully dry, finish with a clear varnish or lacquer.