How to Stain Poplar to Look Like Walnut

Sand the poplar wood with 120-grit sandpaper to remove any previous finishes and any imperfections in the wood. Sand again with 220-grit sandpaper to get a smooth finish.

Lightly dampen a clean cloth with denatured alcohol. Wipe down the wood with the cloth to remove any debris like dust.

Open a tin of wood conditioner and stir it thoroughly with a stirring stick. Dip a natural-bristle paintbrush into the tin and brush the conditioner liberally onto the poplar wood. Allow the conditioner to dry according to the manufacturer's directions.

Open a tin of walnut-colored, oil-based wood stain and stir it thoroughly with a stirring stick. Dip a natural-bristle paintbrush into the tin and brush the stain onto an approximate foot-square portion of the wood using light, even strokes.

Wipe the stain off with a clean cloth. Continue to apply stain to new areas of the wood in this manner and wipe it off until the entire piece of wood is evenly covered. Allow the stain to dry according to the manufacturer’s directions. If you require a darker color, apply another coat of stain and allow it to dry once more.

Open a tin of transparent, polyurethane wood varnish and stir it thoroughly with a stirring stick. Dip a natural-bristle paintbrush into the tin and brush the stain onto the wood using light, even strokes. Allow the varnish to dry according to the manufacturer's directions.