How to Paint Wash Wood for a Soft, Muted Finish

If you've ever stripped back an old piece of furniture and loved the natural wood, but not the orange or yellow tones hiding underneath, paint washing is one of my favourite techniques to use.

It's a simple way to soften the colour of the timber while still allowing the beautiful grain to show through.

I recently used this technique on a vintage walnut wardrobe. I wanted to keep part of the original veneer on display, but the freshly stripped walnut had a much warmer, more orange tone than I wanted. A simple paint wash completely changed the look, giving the wood a softer, more muted finish that worked perfectly alongside the painted sections.

You want to choose a paint that has greenish undertones to help neutralise the orange. For this piece I chose Fusion Mineral Paint in Algonquin. This is a really popular choice for paint washing. I've also previously used Bedford which works very well too. 

What is a paint wash?

A paint wash is simply watered down paint that soaks into the wood rather than sitting on the surface.

Unlike painting, you're not trying to hide the grain. Instead, you're gently colouring the wood while allowing all of its natural character to show through.

The strength of the wash can be adjusted depending on the look you want, making it an incredibly versatile technique. You can also layer it, add more layers or different coloured layers for a more intense effect.

What you'll need

• Fusion Mineral Paint in Algonquin (or your chosen colour)
  
• Bare Wood (Strip using Homestrip)
• Clean Water
• Mixing Pot
• Paint Brush
• Damp Cloth
• Fusion Tough Coat or your chosen top coat
• Tough Coat Applicator or Brush

The mixture I used

For this wardrobe I mixed approximately:

25% Paint with 75% Water

This creates a subtle wash that gently tones the wood without hiding the grain.

Don't worry about making it exact. You can always do another layer if you need to. 

How to paint wash wood

Step 1. Prepare the wood

Strip or sand the surface back to bare wood. I used Home Strip to remove the existing finish from the walnut veneer before lightly cleaning and sanding the surface.

The cleaner and more even the wood is, the more consistent your final result will be.

Step 2. Apply the paint wash

Using a brush, paint the wash generously over the wood. You don't need to be too neat, just get it on!

Step 3. Let it soak in

Leave the wash for a few minutes so it has chance to soak into the timber.

A couple of minutes is usually enough.

Step 4. Wipe away the excess

Using a damp cloth, gently wipe away the excess paint.

As you wipe, you'll see the grain reappear while the overall colour becomes softer and more muted.

If you'd like a stronger effect, simply repeat the process once the first coat has dried.

Do you have to do the whole piece?

Not at all.

I used this technique on just one section of my wardrobe because I wanted to combine painted areas with exposed wood.

Paint washing also looks beautiful over an entire piece of furniture if you're after a soft, weathered or Scandinavian-inspired finish.

Sealing your finish

Once the paint wash is completely dry, I always recommend sealing it for protection.

For this project I used Fusion Tough Coat Matte applied with the Fusion Tough Coat Applicator Sponge.

I love this combination because it gives a beautiful flat finish without adding unwanted shine, and Tough Coat is incredibly durable while being very easy to apply.

My top tips

• Always test your mixture first.
• Different timbers absorb paint differently.
• Build the colour gradually rather than trying to achieve it in one coat.
• Wipe with a damp cloth rather than a dry one for a softer finish.
• Allow the wash to dry fully before applying your protective top coat.

Shop the products

To recreate this finish you'll need:

• Fusion Mineral Paint 
• Fusion Tough Coat (or your favourite top coat)

They're all available here at Thirteen Furniture, along with everything else you need for your next furniture makeover.

Happy painting!

Jen 🖤