How to Stain Furniture to a Dark Antique Look

The dark wood of antique furniture can give a room an instant sense of elegance and refinement. Mahogany desks and deep cherry tables have a timeless, regal appearance that elevates the rest of the furniture in a room. However, such furniture often has a steep price tag. You can recreate the look of costly antiques fairly easily by staining and glossing the wood strategically. This not only saves you money but also allows you to reinvent an ordinary piece of furniture. You can complete the project over a weekend.

All-purpose wood cleaner
Lint-free cloth
Electric sander
80-grit sandpaper
150-grit sandpaper
300-grit sandpaper
Tack cloth
2 3-inch paintbrushes
Lint-free cloths
Stain
Clear polyurethane

Instructions

- 1
  Spray your furniture with an all-purpose wood cleaner. Wipe it off and give it 20 minutes to air dry completely.
- 2
  Fasten a sheet of 80-grit sandpaper to the bottom of an electric sander. Run the sander across each piece of furniture, covering the entire surface area. Repeat with 150-grit sandpaper and 300-grit sandpaper. Wipe down the piece with a tack cloth to remove the particles from sanding.
- 3
  Dip a 3-inch brush in the deep mahogany, ebony or cherry stain of your choice. Apply it to the wood, following the direction of the grain and covering it with a thick coat. Allow it to penetrate for 20 minutes and then wipe off the excess. Repeat this process two more times or until you get the dark shade you desire.
- 4
  Allow the furniture to air dry overnight. Then dip a 3-inch paintbrush into clear polyurethane. Coat the furniture with a light coat of polyurethane; give it a full day to dry.

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