Staining wood surfaces is one of the most popular ways of adding color and flavor to a wooden furnishing. That being said, you need to make sure you’re doing it the right way. Wood stained the right way can add class and vibrancy to any interior. Wood stained the wrong way can be an embarrassing blemish on your home décor.

This guide can help ensure that your wood staining follows the former pattern rather than the latter. Here’s how you can stain your wood surfaces in style.

Get the Necessary Tools

First things first – for every task there is a proper tool, and you’ll need several here to get started. Among the tools you’ll want to have on hand are a sander, a clean paintbrush, and a rag to wipe away any excess staining.

Sand the Wood

You’ll next want to sand the wood surface in question. That said, you don’t want to overdo it. A little light sanding should be enough.

Why sand your wood?

You want to make sure that the sure that the wood is clean and smooth as possible. In addition, you need to make sure that your wood is receptive to staining, and that means ensuring that there is nothing blocking the stain from the wood. For example, you’ll need to make sure that any and all paint, finish, gloss, or other agents which cover the wood are completely sanded away. The stain needs to be able to make direct contact with the wood and seep into the pores in order to be effective.

Stain It and Let It Dry

Now that you have the tools you need and have prepared the wood, it’s time to move on to the staining itself. Take your time and make sure that you add the stain evenly with smooth, clean brush strokes up and down the wood surface. Let it sit and dry in a dry, ventilated area.

You’ll also want to be careful about mixing different stains. It can be done, but you need to keep in mind the different consistency and makeup of each stain. For example, water and oil do not mix, nor do oil and water-based stains.

Additional Tips

Those are just the basics. In order to get the most out of your staining efforts, you’ll want to heed the following extra tips:

Make sure to stir the paint in the can thoroughly before use.
Test the stain on another surface to make sure that it looks and spreads the way you want before applying it to the wood surface.
If you want the stain to be darker, add a second coat.
Be careful not to stain over hinges, knobs, or other metal materials; it is generally advisable to remove these ahead of time before major staining projects.
Apply a protective finish over the stain to preserve it.
If you are worried about fumes, opt for a water-based stain.

Following these tips can help ensure that you are able to stain your wood in a lasting and elegant way.

Sam Reuter

Sam knew there had to be more opportunity in the marketplace, albeit in an industry he already had experience with. So, while working for the lumber company during the week, Sam would start to take on some painting projects on the side during the weekends. This would go on for over a year until the Spring of 2017. It seemed the perfect time to go all in on the painting. He gave his two weeks’ notice and was told, “the door is always open for you here.” That was a nice sentiment, and as it turned out, that lumber company would become one of Painter Pro’s first and largest customers. Sam would continue working closely with the lumber company on their projects and facilities.