For pieces where you have a dark finish and want to go lighter, you will need to remove the existing finish first. Then, determine what undertone your wood has and counteract it with an appropriate stain color. For pieces that are a light finish, and you want to go darker, you can simply apply a darker stain!
When you refinish your floors, you can change the color of your flooring. Most hardwood floors can be made darker, lighter, redder, or anywhere in between. If your flooring is solid hardwood, it can be sanded and refinished in a different stain for a different appearance.
How do you make wood stain lighter? Because stains penetrate the surface, it's impossible to apply a lighter stain over it. The original stain has to be removed. In order to remove a wood stain, the surface has to be sanded repeatedly until the original stain is completely removed.
Whatever your motivation, using a wood stain rich in pigments on bare or stripped-down wood changes the colour and also highlights the lovely grain. If you'd like our expert advice on this, contact us on 01303 213838 to speak to our dedicated woodcare team.
How does vinegar darken wood? Vinegar causes steel wool to oxidize, or basically rust. That rust “dyes” the vinegar. Then, that vinegar reacts with the color of the wood that you apply it to, giving it a new, deeper color.
Using most gel stains, you can darken wood furniture, or stay the same color, without sanding off the old stain. But, I usually use General Finishes Gel Stain because the finish always looks beautiful. Don't forget to Save or Share these steps for how to stain wood without sanding.
The only effective way to lighten the color of wood after it has been stripped of all surface coatings is to use a wood bleach. Sanding does help to lighten wood in many cases, but this only applies to surface soil or grime, and even then only if the discoloration has not penetrated very deeply.
Lay a brightly patterned runner across a wood dresser or table. Opt for bold bedding or wall art in a bedroom outfitted with wood furniture. Table lamps, vases, and planters in a rainbow of colors can also help cheer up dark wood furniture.
White washing is simply mixing white paint and water to lighten wood. The more paint you add to your mixture, the less opaque the finished look will be. So, if you're looking to just lighten your wood without covering the wood grain, then use mostly water with a few drops of paint.
If your idea calls for a lighter stain than you currently have, you will need to remove the darker stain first and then apply the lighter stain. Fortunately, depending on the size of your project, it can mean a quick standing of the entire surface to remove the old stain.
Stains lighten as they dry, then return to their damp color when a finish is applied. So the quick method of seeing the color you'll get with the finish applied is to look at the stain while it is still damp. If you're using a satin or flat finish, however, you need to factor in the impact of the flatting agent.
As long as you have healthy hardwood, you can sand and refinish it. You will need to fully sand the floor first. After sanding, you can stain the floor a different color. From there, you add the finish.
Light colors go very well with dark flooring. Pale, cool blue walls work especially well in a dining room, if you're looking for a lively pop of color. Calming blue and blue gray shades can bring contrast to the dark wood to brighten your space.
What are our options for lightening the wood paneling? A. You have two basic options -- paint or refinishing the wood. Application of an opaque paint would be the easiest, but refinishing will retain the natural wood grain which may be a better companion to the brickwork.
Regardless of the type of wood your flooring is, it can likely be changed to a lighter stain. Dark hardwood floors can pull a house design with striking finishes and alluring tones. However, there may come a time when you decide that your house needs some sprucing up.
Deglossing and cleaning your dark wood furniture before painting is really important. This step prepares the dark wood for painting. Done properly, the paint will have a good surface to adhere to and last a long time. Use Simple Green and clean cotton painter's rags to degloss all of the surfaces thoroughly.
If you properly clean the surface and use the correct primer, you can avoid sanding altogether.
Gel stains can be applied over an existing finish with just a light scuff sanding. This is because Gel Stains are topical and don't penetrate the wood as traditional stains do. They work more like paint with the 'look' of a stain by sitting on top of an existing finish.
Household Bleach
I have used this method on several pieces of furniture. Simply wipe the wood down with bleach and let it dry. Then, you can repeat as necessary. I've also found that sitting it out in the sunlight helps.