The look of aged barn wood is so timeless—grey, rustic, and perfectly imperfect. When I first fell in love with the style, I noticed it popping up everywhere from Restoration Hardware to Pottery Barn. But their price tags? Not exactly budget-friendly. That’s when I decided to figure out how to DIY this beautiful grey wash wood finish, and now it’s one of my favorite techniques to use on all kinds of projects.
If you love DIY projects like this, you might also enjoy my tutorial for our DIY Brickmaker’s Coffee Table, where I used the same grey wash finish to create a rustic, lived-in look. It’s the perfect project for repurposing wood and adding charm to your home.
How to Get the Grey Distressed Look on Your Own Furniture
Materials
- 2″ x 6″ x 48″ long wood (qty: 15)
- Dark Walnut stain
- Grey latex paint
- Water
Tools
- Sandpaper
- Foam brush
- Lint-free cloth
Instructions
1. Sand the Wood
Start by sanding each piece of wood. Remove any rough patches, but keep those character details like knots and stamps—they’ll enhance the rustic look of the final finish.
2. Apply the Stain
In a well-ventilated area, use a foam brush to apply Dark Walnut stain along the grain of the wood. Let it sit for about 5 minutes, then wipe away any excess with a lint-free cloth. Repeat on all sides of each piece and allow them to dry completely.
3. Create the Grey Wash
Mix a light grey latex paint with water in a plastic cup. I use a 1:4 ratio (one part paint to four parts water) to create a translucent grey wash. A sample pot of paint works perfectly for this step.
4. Apply the Grey Wash
Using a foam brush, lightly coat the stained wood with the grey wash, going over the dry stain. This will lighten the wood and give it that beautifully aged appearance. Repeat on all sides and let it dry.
That’s it! You’re left with stunning grey-washed wood that looks just like aged barn board, perfect for your next DIY project.
FAQs
This technique works on almost any type of wood, including scrap wood, pallets, or even brand-new boards. The more character the wood has, the better it will look with this finish.
Absolutely! Dark Walnut is a classic choice, but feel free to experiment with other shades to match your project’s style.
Yes! Sanding smooths out rough areas and ensures the stain and grey wash adhere evenly.
Yes, you can seal the finished piece with a clear polyurethane or furniture wax to protect the surface while maintaining the rustic look.
More Paint Finish Tutorials
- How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets: Complete Step-by-Step Guide
- Grey Wash Wood Finish
- How to Get the Lime Wash/White Washed Wood Finish without Blue Undertones!
- How to Stain Wood – Step-by-Step Tutorial for Beginners
- How to Whitewash Stain (Plus FAQ & Staining with Minwax Pickling)
- How to Paint a Sideboard: Step-by-Step Guide for a Stunning Makeover
Grey Wash Wood Finish - How to Get the Grey Distressed Look on Your Own Furniture
Easy DIY grey wash finish. Get the look of old barn boards or refinish your furniture using this grey wash finish tutorial.
Materials
- 2″ x 6″ x 48″ long wood (qty: 15)
- Dark Walnut stain
- Grey latex paint
- Water
Tools
- Sandpaper
- Foam brush
- Lint-free cloth
Instructions
- Sand the Wood
Start by sanding each piece of wood. Remove any rough patches, but keep those character details like knots and stamps—they’ll enhance the rustic look of the final finish. - Apply the Stain
In a well-ventilated area, use a foam brush to apply Dark Walnut stain along the grain of the wood. Let it sit for about 5 minutes, then wipe away any excess with a lint-free cloth. Repeat on all sides of each piece and allow them to dry completely. - Create the Grey Wash
Mix a light grey latex paint with water in a plastic cup. I use a 1:4 ratio (one part paint to four parts water) to create a translucent grey wash. A sample pot of paint works perfectly for this step. - Apply the Grey Wash
Using a foam brush, lightly coat the stained wood with the grey wash, going over the dry stain. This will lighten the wood and give it that beautifully aged appearance. Repeat on all sides and let it dry.
There’s something so satisfying about creating your own beautiful finishes. This grey wash wood technique is easy to do, and it adds so much charm and character to any project—without breaking the bank. Whether you’re building a barn door, revamping a coffee table, or adding rustic flair to a piece of furniture, this method is sure to deliver gorgeous results.
Have you tried a grey wash finish on your own projects? I’d love to hear how it turned out! Share your experiences, tips, or questions in the comments below—I’m here to help!
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Now is that a oil based stain with a oil based paint + water wash?
It is oil-based stain, left to dry. And then latex paint + water wash. 🙂
Does the water mix will absorb on the Oil based stain?
I am making an outdoor sign for a wedding…first attempt! I have barn board. Should I aim to get exterior stain and exterior paint to be safe in case it rains. Probably not a good question.
Probably a good idea!!!
Absolutley live the way this turned out! Great job, Shannon!
What is CIL Stratosphere? I love this idea, but am still confused about the paint part. Light grey paint… How light is light?
CIL stratosphere is the light grey I used!
CIL is a brand of paint …Canadian Industries Limited I think ..
Do you recommend Sherwin paints, or are Ben moore paints latex as well? I only ask bc i have a little light grey BM paint left over that i can put to use. 🙂 -kelli
I adore Sherwin Williams. But I think you’d be just fine to use the grey you have on hand for a wash. 🙂
Thanks Shannon! The table is looking great so far, waiting for my stain to dry. Did you wax the wood after with a protective finish? I have clear AS wax, but wanted to make sure you dont have a better recommendation (like a poly) as it is a coffee table top. Thanks!
I waxed my coffee table. We use coasters. I did poly our dining room table though. Your choice!
I love the way your door turned out. So far I followed your steps by staining with the Minwax dark walnut, but it turned the wood greenish!! What should I do? I want to steer back into the grey/brown direction like you have. Any recommendations?
Hi Sam. My guess is the wood was either a little damp or had green undertones to it already. Maybe try some Minwax gray stain. It has slightly blue undertones that may counter the green enough. Or maybe even a little white wash pickling which has even more blue undertones. Either may work – but I can’t promise. Each piece of wood is going to pull a little different undertones.
Shannon question. I’ve followed all steps. Am just applying cil stratosphere final coat with a foam brush. I diluted 4 parts to 1 but am finding the planks look almost white? Will I be lightly sanding at the end to bring back out the dark? Or should I be diluting more?
Dustin, did you ever find an answer to this? I’m having the same issue!
I’m so sorry Aimee and Dustin! I missed Dustin’s original comment somehow. 🙁
Basically yes, it looks rather white initially but dries much less white. You could always add more water and if you don’t like it when it dries, just redo it. It’s only paint!
When did you use the sandpaper?
Never Mind!
Glad you sorted it!
My table is already a whitewash finish and I want to make it a grey wash finish. Hoping that some of the grain would show thru for different tones in the wood. If I just sand it all down can I follow your steps to give me the look of the barn door? Also what grade of sandpaper should I use? Also would I wax the table after any of the steps or should I put a poly coat on instead? Thank you so much this will be my very first project!
The First Project! How fun! I can’t really predict how it will look, but with paint the worst that can happen is you have to sand it and try again. You can wax a table, sure. But I prefer poly for dining room tables because of messy kids! (I’m kinda clutsy too!) Enjoy your project!
Thanks Shannon for your advice. I should have explained that I am using a water base stain. Dark walnut first then
I applied a weathered grey. My family did not like the white wash inbetween the two so I had to redo three of the table legs.
I just feel that with those two stains it needs something else. What you see is the dark walnut background and the weathered grey stain has taken over the grain. I was trying to get more of a real weathered look. Do I need to sandpaper it lightly and apply something else? Any suggestions? Thanks!
It’s really tough for me to say not seeing it. There are only a couple of ways to get a really weathered look. You have to beat the heck out of the wood. And you have to layer, layer, layer. Our coffee table for example has nine layers of stain and wash to get it looking old. Or you need to go the route of steel wool in vinegar, which I personally haven’t tried. And then there’s my blog friends company http://www.weatherwoodstains.com/. I hope something helps you get the look you really want!
How do you achieve grey wash on pallet fencing.
As in you want to grey wash a fence that you’re making from pallets? Well water-based wouldn’t likely work because of the weather. I’m soon to test a new product my blog friend created – http://www.weatherwoodstains.com. I’ll definitely be blogging about it!
Hi Shannon,
I want to thank you for the great tutorial. I just finished the first of two bi-fold closet doors for my bedroom. I attached tongue and groove pine slats to the frame of my old bi-fold doors. Instead of the oil based Minwax Dark Walnut, I used Minwax Express color Walnut which is water-based. It comes in a tube. The color turned out darker than what it looks like on the tube, probably because I used a heavy hand. I used a light grey paint by Pittsburgh called “Secret Passage”, sort of ironic since these are doors. LOL.
The final look is beautiful, sort of a cross between aged barnwood and driftwood.
Thanks again! 🙂
What is the TSP for its listed in the materials but don’t see in the instructions
Oh gosh! Sorry about that. It’s not supposed to be there.
I LOVE THE LOOK, ONE QUESTION, THE WALNUT STAIN YOU USED LOOKS LIKE ITS OIL BASED, I DIDN’T THINK YOU COULD USE A LATEX PAINT WASH OVER OIL, IS IT O.K. IN THIS APPLICATION?
It is perfectly acceptable in this application! It’s a REALLY watered down latex paint.
Hello! What about using a grey
Stain on top of the walnut? Also, I put a coat of weathered oak on my pine or oak (I think) table. It looks too orange. I then did a coat of mini wax classic grey…still orange.?
This is my first time…I wanted a weathered restoration hardware look more in the grey and browns…not orange..any ideas? I do have a mini wax walnut hanging around…I’m scared.
5
Thanks!!!
SHannon
Super helpful! I’ve been looking for an easy way to do this, so thanks! Third comment today…can you tell I have a blissful second to binge read my favorite blogs?! 🙂
I’m so flattered that you’re spending your spare quiet moments reading our blog!
Just tried this it looks awesone I even put a bit of beige paint in there to, looks great! Thanks
Awesome! So happy it worked for you!
Hi Shannon love your blogs
Now I have a dining rm table which has almost like a plastic finished on top.. Very durable if u know what I mean..
Now it’s ugly and worn ..
Would love to achieve that weathered look.
Should I completely sand it?
Which I’m not looking to do or lightly sand and start with a base coat of paint and then to the stain and wash?
Or is there another way.
Thankyou
Oooh I’m glad I found this!! I need to stain something that awesome grey! Thanks!
I’m getting ready to gray wash a brand new restoration hardware oak table. I want the effect of the barn door. Do I have to sand the table down first or can I just add the gray wash over the top of it?
Without seeing it, I can’t say for sure. I would test it on the underside and decide from there.
The look is just what I love. Please tell me, we have a pine wood closet from Ikea that I hate, is there any way you know to make it look good? I would really appreciate some help.
You could grey wash it it or white wash it. Or stain it darker. What look do you like?
I love this and can’t wait to try it. I ‘m going to get the Dark Walnut Minwax oil based stain you suggested. I was wondering may I get the specific details of the gray paint you used to apply on top? Thank you!
It was just a light neutral grey. I don’t honestly remember what I used.
Hi Shannon! I love this look and excited to give my table top a makeover. Question though…I’m a little confused at the pint part. Cil stratosphere is the grey you used I think I read. So 4 parts that to 1 part water in a cup. You lost me at sherwin Williams lol. Can you please clarify for me?
Thank you so much! 🙂
Kelly
The color is a CIL paint color called Stratosphere. But I almost always use Sherwin Williams paint. So it’s a color match of CIL’s Stratosphere mixed into Sherwin Williams paint.
Ahhhh. Thank you!!! I was going crazy trying to figure it out!!!
I used Java colored gel stain. Do you know if the grey wash will work the same? Gosh I hope!
I’m sorry – I honestly have no idea. How’d it turn out?!
Hi Shannon,nice to get to your site!I have a walnut headboard,and a maghoney stained bureau and mirror!Would love to change the bureau and mirror color!Any help would be greatly appreciated!Thanks Barbara
Hmm. Walnut would go well with a white or grey wash, if you wanted to tackle that on your bureau and mirror?
I just LOVE your website! Please subscribe me for any of your supports. I paint furniture too.
Yours,
Susan
Hi there I just finished using your bar wood technique must say its the very best
I have tried others but yours worked the best
Pleased with the results
So thank you for the recipe
Awesome! I’m so glad!
Hi there i’m in need of help i dyed palette boards with tea and after with vinegar and bull dog mix but i left the mixture to long so the color came out to dark and rusty.
Do you think i could add the grey latex paint over it and it will change to grayish distressed color?
Thank you
Kathy
You could try. But without having done it myself, I honestly don’t know if it would work.
Was the stain oil based? I didn’t think you could use latex paint over oil Stain…..
That is true in a traditional sense. Painting walls, etc, definitely it’s a no. But for a custom finish you can sometimes get away with it.
Ideas to make new wood look like old barn wood with grey hue!
i have a coffee table made from old pine wood. its heavy and solid piece. its a honey/yellow. would this tecnique work on this wood. if so, how should i go about it
It may work, but you’d have to sand off some of the honey/yellow first.
Hi I was just curious if you just did a light coat of the grey or did you put it on and wipe some off? Thank you!
It was a light coat. 🙂
Is it possible to do this to laminate floors??
I’m not sure. Laminate is a bit funny. I’d test it somewhere inconspicuous first or on an extra piece.
Hi! I have an Ikea cabinet that is their “brown/black” stain or color that I want to move in the direction of driftwood or weathered gray. In the materials description, Ikea describes the product as particle board and foil. In reading online, what Ikea calls “foil” is actually a wood product. But it is wood so thin that it is applied almost like a paint not like regular veneer. So my question is – do you think I could gently sand the cabinet and then apply minwax gray stain or would you apply the watered down gray latex paint to achieve your look. They have discontinued the cabinet -and I have a pair – that work perfectly in the space so I am trying to keep them and not screw this up:) Thank you for your advice!!
I am SO happy I found your blog!!!
I purchased a cheaper all natural pine shelving unit for my plants (Jysk brand), that I am planning on trying this stain technique with!
Is there a way to send or post photos of our finished projects using your method?
You could always share on our Facebook page?
I love the coffee table, too…can you tell me where you purchased the metal frame? I’m looking to try this for a sofa table. Thanks!
I’m glad you like the coffee table. We didn’t actually purchase the frame, nor is it metal! You can find the tutorial for how we created it here: https://homemadelovely.com/diy-brickmakers-coffee-table/.
Glad I found this recipe, of which I have all the ingredients ?However I’m planning on applying it to indoor steps, about 5 into our sunken great room….. any thoughts on using it on stairs as opposed to just decorative projects?! Thanks
I would think it would be okay…BUT you will likely want to give it a coat of poly or something for durability and so you can clean it.
Awesome thank you so much Shannon!!
Hello what is Cil stratosphere?
CIL is a paint brand (carried in Canada) and Stratosphere is the color of the paint. 🙂
Hi… Just discovered your site and it’s terrific. I purchased a Pier 1 dining room table for the cottage. I saw it on the floor in Toronto– it was a perfect grey whitewash and ordered the identical table and chair to be picked up at the Moncton store and delivered to our summer place on PEI. What arrived is the same style, but a brown wash, not the grey we’d expected. It is too expensive to return so I am looking at a DYI fix… wI purchased a Varathane one coat wood stain in grain and planned to just wipe it on and within minutes wipe it off again. Will that achieve what I want? Many thanks…
I’m not sure – there’s no way to tell without giving it a try. Perhaps test it on a non-visible area?
I blog frequently and I genuinely appreciate your content.
Your article has really peaked my interest. I’m going to book mark your website and keep checking for new
details about once a week. I subscribed to your RSS feed too.
Hi Shannon,
My name is also Shannon! I just came across your website as I’m looking to refinish my oak dinning room table and I absolutely love the rustic grey look. I just have a quick question, to get the look above that you did is it a light grey paint you bought or a dark grey paint?
Thanks for your time!
Shannon P
It’s a light grey paint. 🙂
Hi, just starting the barn door out of pallets. What grit of sandpaper did you start with and end with? Thanks!
Good question. I don’t remember exactly but a general rule of thumb is to start with a lower grit and work your way up to a higher grit for a smooth finish. Where you start and where you finish depends on the wood you’ve chosen. See this article for details: http://home.howstuffworks.com/difference-between-grits-sandpaper.htm
Do you think this would work on black wood furniture?
It could. It will likely turn out darker than ours if you don’t sand off the finish.
Hello Shannon! What finish was your paint? Flat? Satin? Thanks so much!!!
It was flat, I believe.
Yes I was wondering had did you apply the gray paint? Did you wipe of the gray paint with a rag after applying it
Hello Robert. Like the instructions say, I used a foam brush with watered down grey paint. And no I didn’t wipe it off again. 🙂 Hope that helps!
Can this finish be applied on a brick exterior?
I’m thinking probably not – unless you use an outdoor paint.
Thanks for the suggestion. It worked out perfectly.
Yay!
Thanks, great article. I have a garage full of 1930’s real shiplap which appears to bea yellow brown knotty pine, but it is glossy sealed as well. I would love to brighten up/modernize the look a bit but really do not want to use solid paint and hide the grain. This looks perfect but do you think it will still work over glossy sealed wood?
Hi Shannon! Thanks you for the grey distressed finish recipe. I’m a bit confused with Step 3. I get that I will be using CIL Stratosphere paint and water, 1:4 ratio; however, you indicated using “CIL Stratosphere mixed into Sherwin Williams paint”. What colour of Sherwin Williams paint would I use, and what is the ratio of light grey-wash to Sherwin Williams paint? Many thanks in advance for your reply.
Hi Angela. I’m sorry it seems confusing. What I mean is that I like Sherwin Williams paints best. So I went to Sherwin Williams and had them color match CIL’s Stratosphere from a paint chip.
What kit did you buy for the door? Does it rub against the wall?
We didn’t buy a kit for this particular door. It was a DIY project.
I have a question. I have some wooden frames that are already painted a light gray. Can I rough them up with the sand paper, apply the walnut stain, and get a similar effect? Or, do you think that I’ll need gray paint to apply a wash. I’m just trying to figure out how much I need to sand the existing frame, since it’s already a gray color. Thanks for any tips!
Hmmm. I’m not so sure. The grey was goes on in multiple layers, with the grey on top. You could definitely give it a try.
Love it! This is exactly what I’m looking for!
Hi you reference rustoleum chalked country grey above in favorites. Can I use that instead of the CIL or latex paint?
Yes, you very likely could use the Chalked Country grey. 🙂
Hi again,
Can I use rags to apply the stain? Whats the diff between using rags and a foam brush?
Thanks soooo much for your help!
You could use a rag for sure. I’d recommend gloves though, as the stain tends to travel when you use a rag. 🙂
What color gray did you you use?? So many choices!
We used CIL Stratosphere.
I’m looking at redoing my bathroom vanity. It is a golden oak colour. Would this process work on it?
It may. I’d test it first in a small area like on the back of one of the doors?
Did you pretreat the wood like the Miniwax can says before you applied the Dark Walnut stain? Did you seal it at all at the end?
In this case I did not. If the wood is particularly spotty or uneven in color, I would. And no, I didn’t seal it. There were enough layers for us to be okay with it that way. But you could wax it.
Hi Shannon, can the gray wash be applied to prefinished furniture?
Probably. But you’d need to sand it first. And it may not look the same, depending on the existing finish. 🙂
Steps 2 and 3 are identical on the page I can view. What is step 3 with the paint?
currently researching how to do it yourself with grey washing on an all ready dark chestnut stained vertical wainscoting that is a bit above the normal height chair rail.. I would really like to take it down however the owner/friend of the house does not due to costs . Should I Bins the stained wood before I grey wash it ? I wish I could send some pictures of the small home to get your thoughts .
I would stain any wood before grey washing, yes! 🙂 We do design consults on an individual basis. You can find out more here: https://homemadelovely.com/services/. We are working on another option for a group, but that will take awhile to get ready yet.
I’m curious to what extra steps I need to do for furniture that is painted white to transform to a driftwood finish?
Hmm. I’m not sure. I would imagine sanding it to remove some of the white? I’ve not done this though. Sorry!
What kind of wood did you use here? I’m getting some unfinished pine pieces I want this look for.
The tabletop was pine from the hardware store and the barn door was pallet wood.
I’m refinishing my wood beam ceiling (50 year old house in Florida), and some of the beams have “steam damage”. I am thinking I need to sand first, but am confused with all the products available. The current/original stain has a sheen to it (varnish I’m assuming), and the “steam” rather melted it off in areas, not all. I am trying to save some steps in the process and want to use the appropriate product(s). I’ve asked 10 people and have 10 different suggestions. Has anyone ever tried the product “Renuz-it”? I know there are many ways to do this, but I’m looking for least expensive and time saving. I truly appreciate suggestions!!
Hi Carol Ann,
I have not tried that product, unfortunately, so I cannot speak to its effectiveness. You are likely getting different answers because there are several different solutions. It is very likely you will need to sand the beams, yes. I’m so sorry I don’t have a lot of experience with beams like yours!
Let us know how it goes.
xo, Shannon
In the grey wash section it just says stain and latex paint. Elsewhere in the instructions a bronze spray paint is listed. What is that for?
I’m not sure where you’re seeing the bronze spray paint in this post. But in another post, the bronze spray paint is used to make the coffee table legs look like metal (they’re actually wood).