How to Restain a Futon Frame

Remove the futon mattress from the frame. Dismantle into its individual pieces. This involves removing the screws and bolts fastening the arm rests and spring support to the main body of the frame. Store all removed screws, bolts and hardware in a safe place.

Relocate the dismantled futon frame to a large work area, preferably a garage or large outdoor area if the weather is dry. Lay out a large cloth, tarp or dropcloth you do not mind getting dirty. Place all the individual pieces of the futon on the dropcloths separate from one another.

Sand the previous finish from each piece of the frame with a light-grit sandpaper. If you want to use an electric sander, be sure to keep it on the lowest possible setting to avoid scuffing or scratching the surface of each frame piece. Wipe away the excess sand particles from each piece with a dry cloth.

Purchase wood stain from your local hardware store. Review the wood stain's instructions on the label, which will cover to mix the stain, how many coats to apply to various types of wood and how long to let each coat dry before applying the next coat.

Apply the first coat to each piece of the frame with a foam stain brush. Allow the coat to dry, and apply any additional coats as the stain label directs. Reassemble the futon frame after the stain has completely dried.