How to Stain Furniture

Learn how to stain furniture, and turn an inexpensive, unfinished piece of wood furniture into a beautiful focal point in your room. With just a few supplies, and about a day of full labor, you can create a one-of-a-kind piece of furniture that you can be proud of. If you have never stained furniture before, follow these simple instructions and learn how to stain furniture in a few steps. Learning how to stain furniture was at one time a two step job. In the past, you would have had to apply the wood stain and then wait for it to dry before applying a separate coat of polyurethane. Thankfully, there are now products that combines both of these items in one convenient stain. Thus, when selecting a wood stain for your furniture, it is recommended to choose one of these products, which will help to reduce your application time and will provide a smooth, even coat. These polyurethane-infused wood stains come in a variety of color tones and are a suitable choice for virtually any wood-staining project.

To stain furniture, you will need:

• Sandpaper
• Wood stain in the color of your choice
• A drop cloth
• A paint brush
• Rags

1. Learning how to stain furniture can be a messy lesson, so before you begin, make sure you are wearing old clothing. Rubber gloves are also recommended, as the wood stain can stain skin and fingernails.
2. Sand the surface. Even if you are working with a new piece of furniture, you will want to lightly sand the wood to ensure you are working with a smooth surface. Pay close attention to the corners and edges, as these areas are prone to loose wood and splinters.
3. Wipe clean. Using a clean, dry rag, wipe the entire surface down to remove any loose dust or wood. This is an important step in learning how to stain furniture; if your surface is not completely smooth and dust free, the stain will not evenly coat.
4. Begin staining. Dip the paintbrush in the stain, and wipe off most of the excess on the inside of the can. Begin staining the furniture in light, even strokes, going in the same direction of the natural grain of the wood. Be careful not to apply the stain too thick. Do not apply more than one coat of gloss at a time. Reapply more stain to the paint brush when it becomes dry. Do not stop staining the furniture until your are completely done with the job.
5. Remove excess stain, if necessary. When learning how to stain furniture, you may make a few mistakes in the beginning. That's okay. Those mistakes can be fixed, or at the very least minimized. If, after a few brushstrokes, you can see that you have applied the stain too thick, simply wipe the area with a clean, dry rag. Again, follow the direction of the natural grain of the wood.
6. Once you have finished applying the stain, wait for it to dry completely before touching it. You may think that the stain looks too light in color, but it will darken at least one shade when it is dry. Depending on the brand of stain you have purchased, it can take anywhere from several hours to overnight for the stain to dry completely. You can speed up the drying process by pointing a fan at the furniture. Once dry, a second coat of stain can be applied, if desired, which will help to protect the furniture. But remember that a second coat will darken the color of the furniture.

As you can see, learning how to stain furniture is much easier than you may have thought. This is a fairly inexpensive project that you can do yourself, and it is a creative way to add original furnishings to your home. If you practice the techniques used here, and feel that you have a good understanding of how to stain furniture, you could quite possibly turn your newly acquired talent into a way to earn a little extra money.