Wood varnish

[Skithepowder]

If I have a wooden desk that has been painted white, can I use a product such as Ronseal or anything similar to just paint straight over the top of it and give it a wooden effect and colour again?

[pauln90]

You can't get the wood effect from one coat of paint alone.You would need to use this sort of technique.

http://www.paintquality.co.uk/deco/paint/wood_ graining.htm

Ideally use a paint stripper either the liquid or paste type to remove all the coats of paint and then use a coloured stain or varnish to enhance the grain of the wood.