At Remodelista, we’re obsessed with whitewashed Scandinavian floors (it started when we discovered Dinensen wood floors from Denmark). After spotting the floors of my dreams in a kitchen remodel by Betsy Brown, I asked her advice on how to create a similar look; read on to discover her secret formula.
Brown says her formula works on all types of hardwoods, and I’m planning to try it on my own red oak floors?stay tuned to see how they turn out; I’ll be posting on the results in the next few months.

Above: Brown’s foyer; notice how her oak wood floors feature a whitewash finish.
Here are step-by-step instructions on how to create the whitewashed look.
After sanding the floors, bleach them twice with Klean Strip wood bleach (not Clorox, and make sure to follow the instructions on the bottle). Mix your own stain (see below) in a five-gallon bucket, according to what kind of look you prefer. You’ll need:

3 gallons of mineral spirits
1 gallon of Benjamin Moore China White low-luster oil paint
3 quarts of ebony stain
A tube of purple tint (or a tube of blue and a tube of red)
A tube of ochre tint

Start by mixing 2 gallons of mineral spirits and 3/4 gallon of China White low-luster oil paint with 1 quart of ebony stain. Mix that together thoroughly and test it on a sample board that has been bleached twice. Then add whatever you need to alter the formula to achieve the desired look.
In addition to the China White paint and ebony stain (which togethe...