Make Old Wood Look New Again

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December 7, 2010

To update your home without spending a fortune, stain your furniture. Follow our easy step-by-step instructions to restore a table or chair that’s been painted over or give mismatched furniture a sense of unity.

How to Stain Furniture
To restore beautiful accents in your home and to reveal the rich color of the wood grain, follow these steps:

Reveal the Wood
In a well-ventilated space, apply a thick layer of a chemical stripper. Wear protective gear over your eyes and hands, and use a heavy drop cloth to protect whatever is beneath your work area. Chemical strippers soften the paint enough to allow you to scrape it off. Make sure you wait five to ten minutes to allow the stripper to work.

Clean the Wood
Wipe the wood down with clean rags and mineral spirits, then allow to dry. (Mineral spirits are a type of cleaner/paint thinner available at most home centers.)

Sand the Wood, Part 1
To finish getting the paint off, as well as prepare the wood for the stain, sand the wood. Sand either by machine or by hand and start with 80 to 100 grit sandpaper. Remember to always sand in the direction of the wood grain to help minimize visible scratches.

Fix the Wood
If there are any defects in the wood, now is the time to fix them. Fill holes, nicks and dents using wood filler or wood paste, available at your local home improvement store. Apply with a spatula or other flat tool, then mold it to make sure it matches the shape of the wood.

Sand the Wood, Part 2
Once the wood filler or wood paste has set, sand the whole piece again. Use a progression of finer and finer sand paper to build in beauty. Start around 80 grit and use finer and finer sandpaper, up to 120 or 150 grit. Do this either by hand or with a sander.

Stain the Wood
Choose a desired color for the wood.Make sure the surface is dust free, then apply a coat of stain with a paintbrush. Let it dry, then apply another coat of stain. Depending on how it looks after this second coat, you can continue to apply coats until you’re pleased with the outcome.

Be sure to read the instructions that come with the stain and follow them if they differ from what’s presented here.

Tip: When it comes to brushes, remember a few general rules. Use a smaller brush to stain your wood and once you’ve achieved your desired color, go over your surface with a larger brush to help get rid of any brush marks. And for water-based stains, always use synthetic brushes.

Distress the Wood
Using a simple distressing technique on mismatched wood furniture will help you create a cohesive unit. Just choose the pieces you'd like to re-do and paint all of them in a matching shade. Allow the paint to dry then use a sturdy metal object such as a chain, to create bumps and knicks in certain areas. Use sand paper to remove paint around the edges.

Finish the Wood
Finish up your updated furniture by applying varnish, which you will quickly wipe off with a cloth.

Restoring the wood in your home to its former glory or creating an updated look is a great way to make an old home feel new, without losing its charm.

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