Easy Weathered Wood Finish using Paint and Wax

Come and see how I create a weathered wood finish in just three easy steps using paint and wax!

Hey everyone!

A while ago I gave a small side table a makeover using a weathered wood finish. I just love the way it turned out and I’m so excited to share the process with you today!

If you’ve read this post about my chalkboard frame makeover, the process I used on this table  is actually very similar. 

This time around I recorded each and every step so that you’d have a video tutorial for reference! 

Easy Weathered Wood Finish using Paint and Wax Materials Needed

Chip brush

Neutral chalk paint (you can find my chalk paint recipe here)

Dark antique wax

White chalk paint (optional)

Easy Weathered Wood Finish using Paint and Wax Step One

To create a weathered wood finish, the first thing I do is paint my entire piece using a neutral chalk paint. You could use gray or beige or something in between, I just made my own using my homemade chalk paint recipe. 

I love using chalk paint because there’s no prep work involved at all. No sanding or stripping, you can use the paint on any surface. For small projects like this, I just use an affordable chip brush. 

Here’s a before shot of my table – it was a $9 thrift store find that I painted blue at one time, but I was ready for a change!

Another tip – I love to turn my pieces upside down when I paint them. That way I can see the legs easily without having to bend over or crouch underneath!

Easy Weathered Wood Finish using Paint and Wax Step Two

To give the piece more dimension, I dry brushed some white paint over the entire table, making sure to paint in the same direction as the wood grain. 

To see my dry brushing technique, be sure to watch the video above! Basically I just barely dip my brush in the paint, then blot any extra paint off onto a paper plate. Again, just be sure to go in the same direction, just like a wood grain would. 

Easy Weathered Wood Finish using Paint and Wax Step Three

Finally, in order to create a finish that resembles weathered wood, I used this dark wax by Annie Sloan. You’ll have to check out her site to find a retailer near you, but I seriously love this stuff! It was given to me by a sweet friend, and I’ve used it so many times.

The wax goes on like butter, and a little goes a long way. I think my favorite thing about the wax is that it settles into all the grooves and notches in the wood.

Just like dry brushing, you want to sure you apply the wax in the direction of the wood grain. If you can’t see the wood grain, just be sure you are consistent and brush it on in the same direction.

After applying my wax I wait about 15 minutes, then buff the entire piece with a dry rag.

And that’s it! Super simple huh? I love the weathered wood finish that this process creates!

Have you used this technique before? Let me know in the comments below! 🙂

Thanks for reading, friends!

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