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By Brittany Goldwyn | Live Creatively

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How to Stain and Finish Wood

August 11, 2016 by Brittany Goldwyn

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I love staining wood. It is such an easy way to give a piece more depth or to add a classic touch to a piece and make it look more expensive. For example, the piece I’m working with for this post will be the new top to an Ikea dresser. Major upgrade!

And the process isn’t as difficult as you probably think it is, either. I was intimidated when I first started learning how to stain wood, but I actually think staining is an easier process than painting. Applying stain is so forgiving–you don’t have to worry about brush strokes because unfinished wood is going to soak in your stain however it wants to soak it in. Applying polyurethane after staining is a little trickier, but the ability to sand out issues and apply multiple coats makes it pretty forgiving as well. So if you want to learn how to stain and finish wood, sit down and start taking some notes!

How to stain and finish wood // Staining wood is such an easy way to give character to a piece of unfinished wood, and it's easier than you think! Click here for all the info you need or Pin and save for later.

Here’s what I’m using for this tutorial:

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  • A piece of unfinished wood
  • Minwax wood stain in Ebony. You can see other colors here. I like to Google the color to find finished pieces photographed in different lights. Remember that different woods will each take on stains a little differently, so just be flexible!
  • Minwax polyurethane semi-gloss finish
  • A piece of #220 grit sandpaper
  • Tack cloth, a rag, and a disposable brush. You want a cheap brush for oil-based paints so you can throw them out when you’re done. You don’t want that stuff going down the drain.
  • Miscellaneous: Drop cloth for work area, screw driver to open cans and stir, disposable gloves

(Remember to wear a mask and eye protection while sanding and working with wood, and wear an appropriate mask while working with paints, stains, and finishes. Follow the directions and warnings from your particular brand. Do not use any tools without proper training, precautions, and supervision.)

A note on sanding…

The piece of wood I’m working with for this tutorial is unfinished. That means that it has no primer, paint, or finish of any kind on it. It’s okay if you want to stain a finished piece of wood…you just have to sand everything off first! Wood must be unfinished to be stained. If it isn’t unfinished, the stain won’t be able to soak into the wood. You can use an electric sander, a handle hand sander, or even just a piece of sand paper. Sandpaper comes in grades (or grits). The higher the number, the finer the grade. Medium grits are typically best for removing finishes (#120 and #150), and very fine grits (like#220) are used to buff a piece of wood before sanding or between finish coats.

As you’re sanding the finish off, use a dry paint brush to brush the dust off every few minutes to monitor your progress. When you’ve removed the finish completely, brush off the bulk of the dust and wipe down the entire piece using tack cloth.

Below are before and after photos of a bench I used an electric sander to sand the finish off of. In  the second photo, I had completely finished sanding down the top, but I only gave a light sand to the body since I wasn’t staining that part–just painting it.

How to Stain and Finish WoodHow to Stain and Finish Wood

Now that you have an unfinished piece, you’re ready to stain.

Step 1: If you didn’t have to strip a finish off of your piece, go ahead and use a fine grit (like#220) sandpaper to polish your piece. Break down the edges for a more finished look. Then, using tack cloth, wipe down the piece to remove any small pieces of dust.

Open and stir your stain. Then, beginning on one side of the piece, start painting the stain on in the direction of the wood grain. You don’t need to use too much; a little bit goes a long way. If you put a little bit too much on, just gently brush it out over the unstained areas. Watch for side drips. (Note: I do not use pre-stain wood conditioner, but if you’d like to, here is one that has good reviews.)

How to stain and finish wood // Staining wood is such an easy way to give character to a piece of unfinished wood, and it's easier than you think! Click here for all the info you need or Pin and save for later.

How to stain and finish wood // Staining wood is such an easy way to give character to a piece of unfinished wood, and it's easier than you think! Click here for all the info you need or Pin and save for later.

Make sure you apply your stain (and polyurethane) in a well-ventilated area. You don’t want to be trapped in a room with this stuff!

Step 2: When you’ve finished painting the stain on, let it sit for 5–15 minutes to soak in, then grab your rag and gently wipe the piece down. This removes any excess stain. Add a second coat if you’d like the color to soak in a bit more. After this, let the stain dry for about 24 hours (up to 48 hours if you’re working in a super humid environment).

How to stain and finish wood // Staining wood is such an easy way to give character to a piece of unfinished wood, and it's easier than you think! Click here for all the info you need or Pin and save for later.

How to stain and finish wood // Staining wood is such an easy way to give character to a piece of unfinished wood, and it's easier than you think! Click here for all the info you need or Pin and save for later.

How to stain and finish wood // Staining wood is such an easy way to give character to a piece of unfinished wood, and it's easier than you think! Click here for all the info you need or Pin and save for later.

(Tip: If you’re working with a smaller piece, you don’t need to use a brush. Just dip the rag in the stain and wipe it on the piece!)

Step 3:  After the stain has dried, it’s time for the first finishing coat. Remember, you put the stain on unfinished wood, so you need to seal the stain to protect it. Open and stir your polyurethane then brush a coat on. It will bubble as you brush it on. That’s okay, just slowly brush over the bubbles to smooth them out. Many of the bubbles will also pop as the finish dries. Again, watch for side drips!

This picture shows the bubbling:

How to stain and finish wood // Staining wood is such an easy way to give character to a piece of unfinished wood, and it's easier than you think! Click here for all the info you need or Pin and save for later.

Step 4: When the first coat of polyurethane dries, grab the #220 grit or higher sandpaper and very lightly do a quick sand over the entire piece. This will smooth out the surface and get rid of the bubbles that didn’t pop when the first coat was drying. Use your fingers to feel the surface before and after sanding to see the difference.

How to stain and finish wood // Staining wood is such an easy way to give character to a piece of unfinished wood, and it's easier than you think! Click here for all the info you need or Pin and save for later.

Step 5: When you’re done sanding, wipe down the piece with your tack cloth and apply a second coat of polyurethane. Two coats is often enough, but you can repeat step #4 and do a third coat if you’d like. I did a third coat on my piece because I am popping this on top of a little Ikea dresser and expect it to get a decent amount of traffic.

How to stain and finish wood // Staining wood is such an easy way to give character to a piece of unfinished wood, and it's easier than you think! Click here for all the info you need or Pin and save for later.

Here is the piece drying on my workspace, aka my little balcony:

How to stain and finish wood // Staining wood is such an easy way to give character to a piece of unfinished wood, and it's easier than you think! Click here for all the info you need or Pin and save for later.

How to stain and finish wood // Staining wood is such an easy way to give character to a piece of unfinished wood, and it's easier than you think! Click here for all the info you need or Pin and save for later.

And that’s it! Isn’t it pretty? It’s such a nice way to upgrade a low-end piece of furniture. I’ll be sharing my upgraded dresser in a few weeks, so stay tuned for that! In the meantime, HAPPY STAINING!!

How to stain and finish wood // Staining wood is such an easy way to give character to a piece of unfinished wood, and it's easier than you think! Click here for all the info you need or Pin and save for later.

If you want to practice staining, check out some of these small unfinished wood pieces that you can turn in to something beautiful:

  • Tissue box holder
  • Box that opens and closes
  • Serving tray
  • Storage shelves
  • Large pallet crate

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How to stain and finish wood // Staining wood is such an easy way to give character to a piece of unfinished wood, and it's easier than you think! Click here for all the info you need or Pin and save for later.


On any given day, I am linking up at these great DIY and home decor link parties! Make sure to check them out for tons of great ideas.

Like this? Then check out these related posts!

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Filed Under: DIY, DIY Furniture Tagged With: home decor

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This blog's content is for entertainment purposes only and is not professional advice. By reading this blog and attempting to re-create any content shared on it, you assume all responsibility for any injuries or damages incurred. Read my full disclaimer here.

Comments

  1. Angie @ ambient wares says

    August 11, 2016 at

    Great stain color! Those bubbles drive me insane 😉 Hope to see it on your Ikea dresser

    • Brittany Merth says

      August 12, 2016 at

      Thank you, Angie!! Me too. But the result in the end is worth it!

  2. JT says

    January 5, 2017 at

    Couple of suggestions.
    Some hardwoods will “close up” and hardly except your stain if you sand all the way to 220 grit. With those you would be better off to stop at 120 or 150. The polyurethane with smooth it out further as you apply additional coats.
    Some soft woods, such as the less expensive pine you buy at the box stores can become blotchy after you stain them. To avoid or lessen this effect you can use a wood conditioner.
    And yes, staining is a fantastic way to add character and warmth to your project!

  3. Paula Anderson says

    January 28, 2017 at

    Can I use same process from going from a darker stain to a white stain. Have a piece I want to to change to a white washed look..your piece is beautiful!!

    • Brittany Goldwyn says

      January 29, 2017 at

      Yes! Just make sure the existing finish is totally sanded down to the bare wood!

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Hi! I'm Brittany. This is a hobby blog where I share what I'm up to around our townhouse and garden. I'm a creative who loves DIY, simple decor, plants, bargains, a good furniture flip, naps, and our kitties, Henry and Blanche.

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