To whitewash old paneling you'll first need to remove any existing paint, stain, or varnish ... plank of wood a different color. Alternatively, use some leftover paint and a thin paintbrush ...

To revive an old, battered desk ... will let you match almost any wood color by layering. Work carefully, though: Dye stains are permanent. A thin coat of Howard Feed-N-Wax wood conditioner ...