Advice on whitewashing furniture please? (sorted - thank you)

[Laddy Muck]

Hello!

I want to "whitewash" an old table in an attempt to brighten it up/modernise it. I would welcome any advice, but having watched - goodness knows - how many youtube videos it seems that all I have to do is lightly sand down, paint and partially wipe off "excess". Question: can I use "ordinary" indoor emulsion to do this or do I need to buy (expensive) "special" paint as some of the videos seem to imply. Also, this may sound like a bit of a silly question: presumably I don't necessarily need to use "white" in order to achieve the desired "washed" effect?

Thank you.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Here's a cheap solution:

http://mortgagefreeinthree.com/2015/08/frugal-chalk-painting-for-furniture/

[Sue]

Depending on what you want to use the table for, ordinary emulsion may not give a strong enough finish or wipe down easily?

That chalk paint eg Annie Sloan is a pig to use, because it dries really quickly, as well as being extraordinarily expensive, and you have to wax it afterwards :(

I think there are cheaper version of it now.

ETA: Ooooops sorry PGC, hadn't looked at your link :))

[Pocket]

Farrow & Ball eggshell all the way. Last years, and is easily wiped.

Personally I'd avoid Annie Sloan; takes a lot of skill and patience to get it right.

[Azalea]

What do you mean by last years?

[Ladygooner]

Azalea Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> What do you mean by last years?

It lasts for years?

[Laddy Muck]

I really appreciate your responses. Thank you. (tu)

[intexasatthe moment]

What are you going with LM ? I'd be interested in the outcome ...

[Sue]

So would I! Have loads of stuff awaiting painting!

[Laddy Muck]

IATM/Sue, I LOVE PGC's link and the idea of making my own chalk paint though am a bit nervous about how quickly it apparently dries, and I now have in my head this picture of ending up with some sort of plaster-cast on my hand! Might try it for something small like my kitchen-towel-holder just to satisfy my curiosity. But for the larger stuff, I shall probably go for eggshell as suggested by Pocket. I'll let you know the outcome, seeing as you have expressed interest. And BTW I agree that AS paints ARE hard work to use and the idea of waxing puts me off. However, I did use it for a terracotta plant pot, Sue, without waxing and the effect was good.

Incidentally, I enjoyed the micro-dialogue between Azalea and Ladygooner. Made me smile.