Like cherry, maple will darken over time, though far less dramatically. Maple starts off very light and bright, with a few pink and grey tones. Over time, it will age to a warm golden honey color. Other light brown woods, like ash and white oak will slightly darken to a beige or amber color.
As hardwoods age, they experience a change in color due to exposure to oxygen and sunlight. This process causes light-colored woods like maple to darken over time, with the cream hue transitioning to a darker shade resembling honey or light gold.
Maple surfaces owe their light natural color to their clear oil finish, but this finish gradually breaks down as time passes and returns to its original oily yellow color.
Maple furniture can turn from light white or creamy hue to reddish-brown to deep golden honey colors. If you have seen these changes to your furniture, consider changing your routine for your maple wood furniture. For bare or untreated maple wood, it will only take 8 to 12 months to change its color.
The light color of maple surfaces comes from a clear oil finish, but this oil finish breaks down and regains its original oily orange color in a gradual and inevitable chemical process.
Tone down the orange. If your wooden cabinets are stained a shade that pulls orange, you can do this by changing your wall paint color and cabinet door hardware. Choose a paint color that works with the cabinets to tone down the orange. Lots of recommendations include greige or beige colors.
After your piece has been sanded and any finish has been removed, it's time to apply the Liming Wax. This white wash helps to neutralize the orange, and lighten it up. I used a small paint brush I already owned to paint in on, then a rag to wipe off the excess. It leaves a faint, white wash on the wood.
A young maple tree may not be ready to change colors yet. If your maple is planted in partial sun and not getting at least 6 hours of sunshine per day, it may not change colors. Poor soil and overfertilization may cause your maple tree to not change to red colors in the fall. Have your soil tested if you are unsure!
As stated above - use WATER based finish such as polyacrylic (made by general finishes). I used it on birch and it has kept it's unfinished color without darkening it to a deep yellow. ㊍ When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.
An acrylic is not only colorless, but it also has a natural screening effect for blocking UV light, which yellows maple. A water-based acrylic is easy to apply and remains clear over time, but it brings little depth to the grain A solvent-based acrylic pops the figure but needs to be sprayed.
There's a good reason why maple is still a highly preferred choice for kitchen cabinets. Maple is super durable for the cost and is compatible with multiple stains. Maple kitchen cabinets are versatile enough to be used in almost any style of kitchen design.
Arguably, the most timeless kitchen cabinet color is white. Bright white cabinets suit a variety of beautiful kitchens, including modern, contemporary, and farmhouse styles. Brilliant whites work to give kitchens a light and airy feel, and off-white options, like the White Dove shade, provides warmth.
When it comes to strength and durability, maple and oak are some of the best kitchen cabinet materials you can have. After all, they're both hardwoods. That being said, maple is a slightly stronger hardwood product than oak. Maple is one of the strongest and most durable natural wood options available.
We recommend using a wood dye instead of a pigment stain, which can help you achieve a darker finish since the smaller particles in a wood dye can better penetrate the wood. Wood dyes, such as TransTint or Transfast, are more likely to be successful on the tight grain of difficult woods.
Maple wood, in its original state, is light-colored and ranges from almost white to a creamy golden color. Sometimes there are hints of amber or honey color in maple wood. Whether you choose a natural color or select a stain perfect for you, maple kitchen cabinets will bring light and a unique style to your home.
Maple is one of the most difficult woods to achieve a dark, uniform stain color on because it is a dense, closed grain wood and often absorbs stain very unevenly.
Maple Finishing Tips
Want to retain maple's light look? Coat it with a clear, water-based finish. Be sure to damp-sponge the wood to lift the grain, then sand, both before and between coats. Give maple an aged look with dye and an oil/varnish mix.
Like cherry, maple will darken over time, though far less dramatically. Maple starts off very light and bright, with a few pink and grey tones. Over time, it will age to a warm golden honey color. Other light brown woods, like ash and white oak will slightly darken to a beige or amber color.
Another commonly used finishing technique on maple is to apply tung oil or linseed oil after the final sanding. These oils tend to bring out the curly or tiger looks of the maple. Follow the oil with a coat or two of shellac. For a more durable finish, top-coat over the shellac with a clear lacquer or polyurethane.
Yellowing maple leaves can be a common sight this time of year. If your maple tree has yellowing leaves with green veins, iron chlorosis may be the problem. This disorder is caused by the trees inability to absorb the available iron in our soils due to high clay and high alkalinity.
Hardwoods change color due to (a) oxygen in the air, (b) ultraviolet in sunlight. Maple reacts to both of these, so all Maple cabinets and furniture will eventually take in a warm honey brown color. You can slow the change by your choice of finish, but you can't stop it.
Maple has a smooth, even grain that can be stained for a consistent look. Whether you choose to highlight the color of the wood or darken (or lighten) the wood to look like something else, you'll have an attractive end result.