How to Refinish Coffee Tables to a Darker Stain

Place the coffee table and your equipment on a plastic tarp to protect carpet or flooring from sawdust and drips, or work outdoors if weather permits.

Sand the surfaces of the coffee table with an orbital sander and fine grit sandpaper discs to remove the old finish. Work with the grain, and not across it. Pay particular attention to stained and scratched areas. Sand until a uniform layer of the wood surface is removed.

Wipe the surface with a damp cloth, removing wood dust, and revealing the grain beneath. Check it for uniformity. Resand if the surface is uneven in color. Wipe again, this time with mineral spirits that will deep-clean the grain, and lightly strip the remaining particles of stain from the surface.

Take a digital picture of the furniture you'd like the coffee table to match. Take the camera to a home improvement center to match the picture to a stain color.

Back home, shake the can of stain well, then open it. Put on a pair of rubber gloves to keep your hands from getting stained. Dip the corner of a piece of cheesecloth into the stain, then wipe the stain onto the table. Work quickly in long strokes with the grain. Turn the cloth over, and wipe away excess stain.

Allow two hours for drying, then sand lightly, wipe clean, and apply another coat of stain. Repeat Steps 5 and 6 until you are satisfied with the color.