One of the fabulous things about milk paint is that you can mix up the powders to create custom colors. It isn’t an exact science but if you have some knowledge of color mixing, tints, and shades then you can play around with existing milk paint powders to create beautiful new colors.
Recently, I painted a highchair for my niece and I came up with a custom color I’m calling Eucalyptus.
This lovely shade of green was made from a mix of Boxwood and Ironstone Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint. The muted green blue is strikingly similar to the leaves of Eucalyptus.
I bought the highchair used and had always planned on painting it.
I never really loved the red toned wood and with the addition of quite a few more dings and scratches it needed some help before I felt comfortable passing it down to my sweet new niece.
So here’s what I came up with.
Eucalyptus
(a custom mix of Miss Mustard Seed’s Boxwood and Ironstone Milk Paint)
1/2 cup Boxwood Milk Paint powder
+ 1/6 cup Ironstone Milk Paint powder
I originally mixed 1/3 cup Boxwood with 1/6 cup Ironstone. I wanted it to be a bit greener so I added an additional 1/6 cup of Boxwood.
Needless to say, I liked what I saw!
Now the yucky scratched up arms look much better!
Since a highchair needs to be able to take some abuse AND needs to be safe for little hands and mouths, I sealed it with two coats of Toy Maker’s Finish which is completely non-toxic when cured.
The pretty oil rubbed finish was the icing on the cake.
That and the fact that I now have a new favorite milk paint mash up!
Disclosure: This post contains an Amazon Affiliate link. If you make a purchase through the Toy Maker’s finish link I will receive a small kickback.
so sweet! you are bringing green back in a big way!
Love the green hue you came up with and especially love the finish you have it!
Beautiful paint color you mixed, Jessica!
Love the Eucalyptus! Thanks for sharing your "recipe"!
Thank you so much! 2 coats of Toy Maker's Finish gave it a perfect oil-rubbed finish. I will definitely be using it over milk paint again.
No problem!! I loved it so much I just had to share.
This is a really pretty color and definitely one I will need to try soon. Pinned, Tweeted, and Shared.
Gorgeous! I love, love, love the color! I may steal your recipe ;). Thanks for sharing!
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I have a weird question! I bought this same highchair to paint and possibly sell. What does your niece use for the tray?
Thank you so much Jennifer! If you try it I would love to see your project!
She isn't old enough to use the chair yet. When my daughter used it we just pulled it up to our dining room table. If you're asking because you need a try for your chair I did a lot of searching when I first found this chair and found an online store that sells the trays and hardware: http://www.productsamerica.com/HT70/index.html
Thank you! p.s. It's not stealing if someone gives it to you! 🙂 Enjoy! I'd love to see what you paint if you decide to mix up a batch!
I love your new color and the result!!! I think you did an amazing job! Thank you for sharing with all of us!!!!
🙂 my pleasure
It turned out beautiful!!