How To Whitewash Knotty Pine Walls

How to Whitewash Knotty Pine Walls

Whitewashing knotty pine walls is a great way to give your room a fresh, updated look without having to paint the entire wall. Whitewashing is a technique that uses a mixture of paint and water to create a semi-transparent finish that allows the natural wood grain to show through. This can be a great way to add character and charm to a room, and it's also a relatively easy and inexpensive project to do yourself.

Materials You'll Need

White latex paint
Water
Paintbrush or roller
Drop cloth
Painter's tape (optional)

Instructions

1. Prepare the walls. Start by cleaning the walls with a damp cloth to remove any dirt or dust. If there are any holes or cracks in the walls, fill them with wood filler and let it dry completely.

2. Protect the surrounding area. Use painter's tape to protect any areas of the room that you don't want to get paint on, such as baseboards, trim, or windows.

3. Mix the whitewash. In a bucket or large bowl, mix together 1 part white latex paint with 2 parts water. You can adjust the ratio of paint to water to create a thicker or thinner whitewash, depending on your desired effect.

4. Apply the whitewash. Use a paintbrush or roller to apply the whitewash to the walls. Start at the top of the wall and work your way down, using even strokes. Don't worry about getting the whitewash perfectly even, as the beauty of whitewashing is in its imperfections.

5. Let the whitewash dry. Allow the whitewash to dry completely before removing the painter's tape. Depending on the thickness of the whitewash and the temperature and humidity of the room, this could take several hours or even overnight.

Tips

If you want a more distressed look, you can sand the whitewash after it has dried.
To add some color to the whitewash, you can mix in a small amount of acrylic paint.
Whitewashing is a great way to update knotty pine walls without having to paint the entire wall. It's a relatively easy and inexpensive project that can be completed in a few hours.