How to Stain Furniture Dark

Dark wooden furniture is beautiful and rich looking, however it can lose its luster and coloring over time. Staining the furniture piece will bring back its rich color and add shine. You can purchase all the staining supplies you need at a local hardware store. Then, when you have a few hours to spare, you can begin the project.

150-grit sandpaper
Soft cloths
Latex gloves
Face mask
Liquid sander
Tinted varnish
Gel stain
Bucket
Wooden dowel
Paint tray
Foam paint roller
Paintbrushes
Clear varnish

Instructions

- 1
  Use 150-grit sandpaper to roughen the surface of the entire piece of furniture. This will help remove any old stain as well as create a surface that will allow the stain to adhere better to the wood.
- 2
  Pour a small amount of liquid sander onto a soft cloth, and swipe it over the entire wooden surface.
- 3
  Put your safety gear on. Pour the tinted varnish and gel stain into the bucket. Stir it with the dowel until well combined.
- 4
  Carefully pour a small amount of the mix into the paint tray. Cover the paint roller with a thin coating of stain, and roll the excess off on the rippled side of the paint pan.
- 5
  Cover the furniture piece with stain by rolling the paint roller over the smooth surfaces, and using the paintbrush for areas that are difficult to roll.
- 6
  Allow 24 hours for the stain to dry. Then apply a coating of clear varnish with a clean paintbrush. Allow 48 hours before using the furniture.

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