The DIY Paint Recipe To Give Outdated Wood Furniture A Modern Refresh

Wooden furniture makes an appearance in most people's homes. Whether it's a thrift store find, a family gem that has been passed down, or a piece that you simply loved many years ago and decided to invest in. However, trends constantly change — one minute, dark wood is the in thing, then suddenly, lighter wood is more favorable. If you hate your dark-stained furniture, there is a simple way to give it a modern update without having to buy something new. 

All you need to do to make a dark, orange-toned wood piece of furniture lighter and more neutral, is to apply a paint wash to it. You can easily make your own paint wash by mixing together paint and water in a 50/50 ratio. The magic of paint washing is that it will neutralize your furniture to create something a little more contemporary and less antique-looking, but it still lets the grain of the wood shine through to preserve its authenticity. 

Choosing the type of paint is pretty simple, most types of white paint that you have lying around the house will work, including acrylic and chalk paint — the only thing that isn't recommended is using a high gloss formula, as it will be less malleable and harder to dilute.

To give your outdated wooden piece of furniture a modern DIY update, start by wiping it down thoroughly using a damp microfiber cloth; this will make sure any dust or dirt has been removed before you start painting. Grab your paint wash mixture and chosen paintbrush and begin by painting on small strokes — it's important to go with the grain of the wood to give it a more natural looking finish. You can adjust the 50/50 ratio to your taste by adding more water (for a more translucent look), or more paint (if you want it more opaque). Leave your piece of furniture to dry fully before you add a clear stain over the top to fully protect it. 

If a white paint wash isn't quite to your taste and you prefer a darker, more industrial look, then you can create a similar effect with a darker color paint, such as gray or black. Because darker paint is more opaque, you may want to try a different technique. Rather than painting on a 50/50 ratio of paint and water, dip a dry paintbrush into your paint and apply it to a small section of your furniture, then take a damp cloth and wipe the paint in the direction of the wood grain. What's great is that you can tailor this to however light or dark you want the finish to be.