The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

Woodfurniturepieces that have seen better days can berevivedafter you sand and stain them.

Staining a wood furniture piece can bring back its original look.

Ready to give your wood furniture a second life?

Wooden chair being covered with black wood stain while wearing blue gloves

The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

Before You Begin

Successful furniture staining is all about careful prep work.

The piece must completely besanded downto bare wood to accept the stain.

Any remaining paint, stain, or coating will affect the appearance of the furniture when you stain it.

Large drop cloth under black wooden chair before sanding

The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

Test the stain on an inconspicuous section of the wood before staining the entire piece.

Safety Considerations

Work in well-ventilated areas when using stains or coatings.

Be sure to wear breathing protection.

Wooden chair sanded by hand to remove old finish with sandpaper

The Spruce / MegMacDonald

Stain is difficult to remove from skin, so wear latex or latex-substitute gloves when working with stain.

Always wear eye protection.

Ingestion can cause burning or pain in the eyes, nose and throat.

Lint-free cloth wiping down excess sanding dust from wooden chair

The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

Avoid windy areas, since wind can deposit dust and other debris on your work.

Place plastic sheeting under the wood furniture before sanding it down.

Remove everything from the furniture that will not be sanded, including hinges,knobs, and decorative pieces.

Large paper and plastic sheets under wooden chair

The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

Place these items in plastic bags and set them aside.

Sand Furniture

Carefullysand downthe wood furniture.

Begin sanding by hand with a sanding block or foam sanding sponge to level down lumpy paint or lacquer.

Wood stain stirred with thin paint stick while wearing blue gloves

The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

Move to thepower sanderwith fine-grit sandpaper such as #220 for the flat surfaces.

Test for cleanliness by wiping it down with a clean, white microfiber cloth.

Warning

Do not press firmly on the tack cloth.

Wooden chair flipped over to add black stain first

The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

Doing so can embed wax into the wood, necessitating further sanding.

Prepare Area for Staining

Remove the furniture from the area.

Remove the sheet plastic carefully to avoid spreading dust.

Lint-free rag removing excess black stain on wooden chair while wearing blue gloves

The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

Replace the plastic sheet with a fabric dropcloth or with contractor masking paper.

Elevate the piece on scrap pieces of two-by-four for better access to the bottom of the piece.

With a paint stirring stick or a popsicle-style wood stick, slowly stir the stain to mix it up.

Wooden chair with fresh black stain sitting out to dry

The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

Do not shake the can.

Pour the stain into the empty 1-quart paint pail.

Begin Staining

Use the microfiber staining pad or brush to stain the wood furniture.

Final finish spray in white spray can sprayed over black-stained wooden chair

The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

To do so, dip part of the pad in the stain and squeeze out the excess.

Then, wipe the stain across the wood furniture.

Start with the most visible areas, ending with less visible areas.

Wiping off the excess stain creates a more consistent color and prevents blotchy areas.

Working in the direction of the wood grain will provide the best visual results.

Let the piece dry in a warm, dust-free area.

Apply Protective Coating

After the wood furniture is fully dry, apply a clear protective coating.

Spray only in an area free of drafts.

Generally, no, you cannot stain wood furniture without first sanding it.

All excess stain should be wiped away or you’ll get an uneven, dirty look.

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.