How to Choose Dark Furniture Stains

Walnut

• Choose almost any type of walnut stain for a darker color on furniture. Walnut-colored stains are almost all dark brown. You can find them in three types: light, dark and black. The lightest is about the color of light coffee. Medium is a bit stronger, and black walnut is almost completely black. Walnut stain can be used on any type of hardwood, but the darker it is, the more it will hide grain patterns. If you prize grain patterns on oak, ash or any other type of hardwood furniture, use a light walnut color to allow grain patterns to emerge while still providing a relatively dark color. For consistent, dark color with almost no grain variations, choose black walnut.

Tints

• Dark stain colors do not have to be void of color. Tints are added to stains to add variations of color to the stain. These stains, also typically based on walnut lumber, are sometimes referred to as spiced or tinted walnut colors. They are dark -- but not black -- with a medium-brown base. Pigments have been added to the stain to bring out colors, mostly red to accent the medium-walnut base. Tinted walnut colors range from light brown to a chocolate with overtones of subtle color. Use tinted or colored walnut stain to bring out subtle grain patterns on chairs without overwhelming them. Darker tinted walnut varieties look good on cherry, mahogany or maple furniture, providing enough color and grain pattern to reveal the hardwood.

Oil Vs. Water and Solvent

• Use oil stain to bring out grain patterns. Even if you choose black walnut oil-based stain, grain patterns will show better than water or solvent-based stains. Oil-based stains sink deep into the grain of the wood while failing to penetrate into the harder, denser parts of the wood, resulting in grain patterns that stand out. Water- and solvent-based stains are more like paint and hide grain because they fail to penetrate as deep as oil-based stains. Drying time should also be considered; oil-based stain takes up to 72 hours to dry, while most water- and solvent based stains dry in less than one hour. If you like dark furniture with characteristic, bold grain patterns, choose oil-based stain. If you like consistency with even colors, choose water- or solvent-based stains.

Tinted Lacquer

• Many people do not realize it, but lots of dark furniture is finished with tinted lacquer. Such lacquer is mixed with die or stain and applies in one step. Recognize stained or tinted lacquer finishes by an extremely high gloss. It's typically almost black, with little or no grain patterns. Apply this type of dark stain finish with a spray gun. It goes on like lacquer but forms a dark coating. Choose different shades of red, brown or black for maple, birch, cherry or mahogany. Tinted lacquers on furniture give it a high-end look without too much trouble. It's similar to paint but allows the color to shine through as if it has a deep coat of varnish on the surface.