You have just inherited your great aunt’s dining room and you are instantly fixated on finding ways of how to whitewash a kitchen table. You want this room to be as stunning as the rest of your home and you can’t imagine having a shabby chic table in it. Well, don’t despair. There are actually quite a few things you can do to make a shabby chic table look as stunning as it did on its first appearance.
The first thing you need to do is remove as much clutter as possible from the room. Everything should be put back in its proper place – after all, this is one of the rooms that your new husband will spend most of his time in. Put a large family photo behind the table or in a place that makes it easy for everyone to see it (such as a picture of the family in its wedding days, perhaps?). Remember to choose pictures that look best on a bright white background.
If you have children, make sure they also know about the importance of picking the right shabby chic table. Chances are that your kids will already know how to pick out their very own tables (and what not to choose). It will also be a perfect opportunity to teach them basic table manners.
You can also choose shabby chic furniture. There are plenty of pieces out there that look just like they came out of a shabby chic boutique. Of course, the price tag may put a few people off. But, if you take good care of your furniture (by polishing it regularly with a soft cloth and protecting it from the sun), then you’ll find that it costs much less than you’d expect. This is such an economical way to give your kitchen a nouveau French touch.
The final step you’ll need to take is to remove the stand or table top. If you don’t want to cover it with anything, at least try to conceal the base. If it’s covered, then it can’t be used for food preparation. If you’re polishing your wood worktops then this isn’t necessary – you should leave it clean so you can simply wipe away the last drops of wine or cheese dripping from your dinner plate. However, if you want to cover the table then leave it bare to allow the shine to come through.
The last step to answering the question ‘How do you whitewash a kitchen table?’ is to start working on the rest of the room. Clear the clutter; put away the dishes; arrange the chairs; get your glasses and silverware back in order. Then you’re ready for your masterpiece: your beautiful white kitchen.
Here’s a hint from the experts. Rather than covering everything with white furniture, you should go the other way and use black and white appliances. Black and white plates and serving pieces are much easier to keep clean than those coloured plates which will discolor quickly due to food spillages and heat. It’s always a good idea to keep white pots and pans as well, to reduce discolouration. Once everything has been arranged according to your colour scheme, then you’re ready for the fun part – the task of actually using it!
So that answers the original question of ‘How do you whitewash a kitchen table?’ Now, all you have to do is get going and make the room sparkle. Your guests will be talking about it for weeks!
Start with the table itself. It doesn’t have to be spectacularly white, but keep it simple and clean. If you’ve got a lovely white island that can be decorated in shades of maroon, then you can have fun with the different effects. If there’s any left over from last year’s Christmas decor, you could use this to make a stunning accent piece against a brown and cream wall or countertop. Again, it will be something that your guests will talk about for months afterwards.
If you’re at a loss over how to whitewash a kitchen table, there are loads of options available to you. As long as you remember one important rule: less is more. Less is seldom more, so choose just a few key items, such as a couple of serving dishes and perhaps a baking sheet, and go away. You don’t have to spend a fortune either – a plain vinegar and water solution will work just as well.
If you think that your kitchen deserves a little special attention, then how do you whitewash a kitchen table? Whatever you decide, make sure that you start on it early. There will be plenty of time to sort out any other details later. You should also try to keep your paint bright and vibrant for as long as possible. While these tasks can’t be completely undone, you should at least attempt them to give you a head start.