by Janette Peel

Created on: January 22, 2009   Last Updated: April 30, 2012

A highly fashionable yet traditional method of decoration, liming both revitalizes the look of wood and gives it a comforting, time worn appearance.

Liming is a simple technique for bringing out the grain of the wood and giving it a whitened look, as if it has faded naturally over the years. It is ideal for both restoring old furniture and mellowing new. The soft, textured effect liming produces is especially pleasing in neutral color schemes.

Liming is most effective on prominently grained woods such as ash, pine and oak. Oak particularly benefits. It is a naturally pale wood that can look rather heavy and dull, all the more so when it is covered in dark varnish, as it often is.

Traditionally, limewash was used for liming wood. However, lime is very caustic so it is safer and just as effective to use liming wax or white eggshell paint, both of which are readily available, and easy to apply. Wax produces a particularly subtle effect, with a soft sheen.

For a colored variation on liming, you can tint the white paint to match a particular color scheme, or even use a colored paint for the liming technique. Liming wood that has already been stained a vivid color is another highly effective option.

Liming can only be applied to clean, bare wood, so you must remove any wax, paint or varnish before you start. You then need to open up the grain of the wood with a wire brush before applying the liming wax or paint, as this improves the final look.

Wax can be removed with wire wool and white spirit. Strip paint or varnish from the wood with a proprietary liquid, gel or paste stripper. Water soluble strippers are better than solvent based ones because they also raise the grain of the wood. Or you can have movable items of furniture stripped of paint and varnish by a commercial dipping service. While this will raise the grain, it may also loosen some of the joints.

Stripping can be a messy business, as can liming with paint, so tackle the whole job out of doors if possible. If you work indoors, spread plenty of old newspapers around to protect the floor, and make sure the room is well ventilated. Indoors or out, always wear rubber gloves and old clothes or a large apron.

To prepare the wood you will need:

Rubber gloves

Wire wool 00 grade

White spirit

Paint/varnish stripper

Old paint brush

Scrapers and shave-hooks

Fine sandpaper

Stiff wire brush

Lint free cotton cloth

To strip paint or varnish remove any fittings such as knobs and handles, then use a proprietary stripper, following the manufacturer's

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