Unfinsihed Furniture? 6 Staining Techniques

Take advantage of unfinished furniture by customizing the piece for your home. There are many staining techniques you can use to get the exact stain you are looking for.

Tools and Materials Needed:

•    Furniture Stain
•    Rags
•    Paint Brush
•    Odorless Mineral Spirits or Turpentine (optional)

Step 1 – Choose the Color

It is very important to get the exact color you want when it comes to stains. There are four basic types of stains: walnut, oak, mahogany and maple. These colors can be mixed and matched together to create a color that fits your needs. If you want a thinner coat, use a solvent to thin out the stain.

Step 2 – Test The Stain

You want to make sure you test the stain on wood before you put it on your unfinished furniture. Once you have applied it to scrap wood, try staining a small area on your unfinished furniture that is a hidden away area. Make sure if there was a mishap with the color, it does not show.

Step 3 – Applying The Stain On The Unfinished Furniture

When you are applying the stain on the unfinished furniture, make sure you use a bristled brush. With the brush, go the same way as the grain on the wood. By doing this, you are allowing the stain to soak in better and settle in a more natural way. Put the stain on and allow it to set for 5 to 15 minutes, depending on how deep you want it to soak.

Note: When applying the stain, make sure you work on the project laying flat. This will ensure the stain will not drip and ruin the finish. If you are working on a larger project, always start from the bottom and work to the top.

Step 4 – Wipe Away Stain

After you have let the stain set in for the time period of your choice, wipe off the excess stain with a clean rag. Make sure to use a rag that does not leave remnants behind to get stuck in the stain. Your wiping motion should again be going in the same direction as the grain.

Step 5 – Tweaking The Color Of Your Stain

If for some reason the stain is too dark for your liking, you can always lighten it up by using mineral spirits or turpentine. To do this simply coat a rag with one of the two substances and firmly rub the wood with the motion going with the grain.

Step 6 –Wood Grain Is Raised

If your wood grain is raised slightly, you can sand it down with either steel wool for oil based stain of very fine sandpaper for the water based stain. This will generally not take off the stain; however, if it does you will need to apply another coat of stain.  

These are basic techniques to use when staining unfinished furniture. Remember that a stain can only be removed by bleach so it is in your best interest to always take the necessary precautions before you start.