Learn how to achieve a weathered wood stain on furniture using this driftwood finish. This product creates a beautiful driftwood color on most unfinished wood.
I’ve been wanting a farmhouse bench for our entryway for awhile now and was thrilled when I found one on Amazon (affiliate link) for under $100. The only problem was that I had been looking at several different benches online, and I mistakenly thought I had ordered a lovely driftwood-colored one. I was disappointed when I opened the box to find that the bench was completely unfinished wood. Well shoot! I received the bench the day before my Fall Home Tour and staining a bench wasn’t how I had planned on spending my day, but what’s a girl to do? I ran down to my workshop in the basement and rummaged through my stash of stains and paints. Amongst my stash I found a little packet labeled “Driftwood Weathered Wood Finish“. I think I received this little packet in my swag-bag from Haven 2013, but I honestly don’t remember. It looked promising, so I decided to give it a try!
I followed the simple directions on the packet which consisted of emptying the powder into a jar, adding water, and stirring. It’s a smart idea to always test a paint or stain in a hidden area before diving into your project–just to be sure it’s the look you are wanting. I tried a little bit of the stain on the underside of my table to see how I liked it, and I LOVED the results! It was exactly the look I was going for.
Working with this product was a little different than what I was used to. It is essentially colored water that interacts with the wood, and different types of wood will interact differently with the stain producing various shades of gray. To apply, I simply brushed on the Driftwood finish with a Purdy paintbrush (my favorite) and allowed it to dry. That’s it!
You can see in the picture below that when first applied the stain looks golden brown.
As it dries, the color changes to a lovely weathered gray color. You can see the difference below between the unstained and stained legs. It only took around 20 minutes for the gray color to emerge. The directions say that you should wait a full 24 hours for the full color to emerge and that you can add a second coat if you desire a darker shade of gray.
Once I saw the magic of the Driftwood finish, I started running around the house seeing what else I could stain! 🙂 This end table in our family room has always bothered me. The top was originally a dark walnut stain and the base was a deep oil-rubbed bronze. It just didn’t look quite right in the room and clashed with the coffee table. I spray painted the base gold, sanded the top, and applied the driftwood stain.
You can see how well it blends in with the coffee table now. The stain on the tabletop turned out a bit darker than my bench–giving you an idea of how it can look different on different types of wood. I even used it on the clothespins that are clipping the succulents in the frame above the mantel! The clothespins were looking a bit too shiny and new, so I aged them with the stain. They now blend perfectly with the real piece of driftwood on my mantel.
The Driftwood powder costs around $12 and will cover 50-70 sq feet. In hindsight, I should have just mixed half the packet and saved the powder for later. The mixture will last up to 3 months in a sealed container, so I’ll just have to see what else I can stain between now and then! I didn’t seal any of my pieces but there is a liquid Driftwood wax that is recommended for sealing your projects. I haven’t tried it out, so I’m not sure if it will darken the finish at all.
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Meghan says
Did you strip your bench first for the clear coat ? Or did you just stain over top of it ? I just bought the same bench on amazon and have a matching table. But they have a clear coat finish. Just wondering if you removed your clear coat first.? Thank you
Beth says
I don’t remember there being a clear coat on it at all. It was unfinished, and I didn’t strip the bench.
Cherry says
amazing coffee table!!!! i like’t veryveryvery march
Cherry says
amazing coffee table!!!! i like’t veryveryvery mach
Katie says
Love this! We got the sample in our 2014 bags. I remember talking with the offer who created the powder. I’ve yet to try it but now I’m thinking this is exactly what I’ll use for when we build our new furniture! I want a weathered grayish look!
Darla at HeartWork Organizing says
So pretty! I don’t remember seeing this in my stash, but I’m a *little* behind in all of my projects. I’d love to know if it holds up on outside furniture. Thanks for sharing!
Nancy @ Artsy Chicks Rule says
Beautiful Beth! That Driftwood is the bomb and I just love your home and decor!
xo
Nancy
Maria @ Pastels & Macarons says
Thanks for the tips and how great does it look! Love it. I also love your home. So beautiful, warm and inviting. 🙂
Emily says
Here I was expecting some complicated process, then it turns out all you have to do is use a stain! I love it when things are easy 🙂
Sarah says
I need to try this! I love the beautiful effect!