{"id":23630,"date":"2020-07-28T13:32:27","date_gmt":"2020-07-28T13:32:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.homedepot.com\/?p=121699"},"modified":"2020-08-04T13:50:24","modified_gmt":"2020-08-04T13:50:24","slug":"how-to-stain-soft-woods-with-varathane-premium","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/homeimprovementblogs.com\/hg-blog\/how-to-stain-soft-woods-with-varathane-premium\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Stain Soft Woods with Varathane Premium"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"callout\">\n<div class=\"inner\">Whenever you want to revamp any old pieces throughout the home, a quick stain can immediately improve the look and feel of your vintage items. Alexi Parry of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.seekingalexi.com\/\"  rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"s1\">Seeking Alexi<\/span><\/a> shows you how interior staining can be simple and effective for any DIY indoor project.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-121693\" src=\"https:\/\/homeimprovementblogs.com\/hg-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/8941a5a0cac819551640880351f789f6.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"500\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">When I first started staining projects, unbeknownst to me, I was doing it all wrong. I made fundamental beginner\u2019s mistakes and I wish I would have done some research, first! Now, I\u2019ve learned the hard way the proper ways to stain using lots of trial and error and lots of research. And now, I bring all of this knowledge to YOU! If you\u2019re reading this article, you\u2019re probably about to stain\u2014yay! I hope this tutorial is helpful for you to learn how to stain!<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">If you\u2019re one to prefer video tutorials, I share these beginner steps AND a few intermediate\/advanced steps over on my YouTube channel. Make sure you go check it out if you\u2019re ready to learn a few extra staining tips (plus, I created the perfect recipe for the prettiest stain color ever, if I do say so myself)!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-121700 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/homeimprovementblogs.com\/hg-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/c7538a549c8db766a31f4f25d1dbae93.jpg\" alt=\"How to Stain Soft Woods with Varathane Premium\" width=\"750\" height=\"500\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-121858\" src=\"https:\/\/homeimprovementblogs.com\/hg-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/c28af7e1b2388d2742e86a53e4ad3d50.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"500\" \/><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p1\">Step 1: Lightly Sand Your Wood<\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\">First and foremost, you need to sand your projects. This is a crucial step to making sure that everything else goes smoothly when you sand. I recommend you sand your wood with at least <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homedepot.com\/p\/3M-Pro-Grade-P?cm_sp=socialmedia%7Capronblog%7CD24%7C000000%7CAlexiParry%7C121699\"  rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"s1\">120-150 grit sandpaper<\/span><\/a>, but you can certainly go higher (if you have the patience!).<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p1\">Step 2: Stain your Wood<\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li>Before you begin this step, I highly recommend you test your desired stain on a leftover scrap piece of wood from your project\u2014make sure it\u2019s the same type of wood! Do this because it\u2019s a large pain to remove stain if you don\u2019t like the color. Be absolutely certain you\u2019re staining with the right color! I picked a beautiful <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homedepot.com\/p\/Varathane-8-oz-Dark-Walnut-Premium-Fast-Dry-Interior-Wood-Stain-266198\/203310380?cm_sp=socialmedia%7Capronblog%7CD24%7C000000%7CAlexiParry%7C121699\"  rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"s1\">dark walnut<\/span><\/a> color to blend.<\/li>\n<li>When you stain, use a rag or brush and paint the stain in the same direction as the grain.<\/li>\n<li>For these Varathane Premium stains, let the stain sit on your wood for 2-3 minutes to achieve a one-coat color. It may look slightly \u201cdarker\u201d if you leave it on longer, but Varathane Premium stains are specifically created for one-coat staining, so one coat should be all you need!<\/li>\n<li>Vigorously wipe off all of the stain using your disposable rag. Don\u2019t leave any extra stain on your project or it will be sticky to the touch.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-121857\" src=\"https:\/\/homeimprovementblogs.com\/hg-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/e672bb5ddb8d925e673b4b5de2de949d.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"500\" \/><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p1\">Step 3: Let Stain Dry for 1 Hour<\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\">Before you seal your project, make sure it has enough time to fully dry. If you live somewhere that\u2019s humid, this waiting time might take longer.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p1\">Step 4: Seal Your Wood<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-121701 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/homeimprovementblogs.com\/hg-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/504039f08b0a7ba2ab7127ada06088bd.jpg\" alt=\"How to Stain Soft Woods with Varathane Premium\" width=\"750\" height=\"500\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Especially for projects that will see any \u201cwear and tear,\u201d it\u2019s recommended that you seal your wood. For the plant stands I\u2019m staining, I\u2019m opting for this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homedepot.com\/p\/Varathane-1-qt-Clear-Satin-Oil-Based-Exterior-Spar-Urethane-9341H\/100141869?cm_sp=socialmedia%7Capronblog%7CD24%7C000000%7CAlexiParry%7C121699\"  rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"s1\">Varathane Spar Urethane<\/span><\/a>, which is a water-resistant sealant in case I spill any water as I water my plants.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>To seal your wood, use a paintbrush and use as few brush strokes as you can\u2014this will help you avoid bubbles from forming.<\/li>\n<li>This urethane goes on milky in color and dries clear. Let each coat dry for 2 hours, lightly sand with high-grit sandpaper between coats, and add 3 coats.<\/li>\n<li>Let the urethane cure for at least 24 hours before you put into use!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3 class=\"p1\">Conclusion<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-121702 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/homeimprovementblogs.com\/hg-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/2d09284b49c9c683806937023abc1a51.jpg\" alt=\"How to Stain Soft Woods with Varathane Premium\" width=\"750\" height=\"1125\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">I hope this helped you understand the basics of staining your wood projects! Don\u2019t forget I share a LOT more tips for staining projects over on my YouTube video. Check it out, let me know what you think with a comment, and good luck staining!<\/p>\n<p>The post <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.homedepot.com\/how-to-stain-soft-woods-with-varathane-premium\/\">How to Stain Soft Woods with Varathane Premium<\/a> appeared first on <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.homedepot.com\/\">The Home Depot Blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n<a class=\"synved-social-button synved-social-button-share synved-social-size-48 synved-social-resolution-single synved-social-provider-facebook nolightbox\" data-provider=\"facebook\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" title=\"Share on Facebook\" 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Alexi Parry of Seeking Alexi shows you how interior staining can be simple and effective for any DIY indoor project. When I first started staining projects, unbeknownst to me, I&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>The post <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.homedepot.com\/how-to-stain-soft-woods-with-varathane-premium\/\">How to Stain Soft Woods with Varathane Premium<\/a> appeared first on <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.homedepot.com\/\">The Home Depot Blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":114,"featured_media":23714,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,1,1855],"tags":[2825,3012,2402,2282],"class_list":["post-23630","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-diy","category-home-improvement-blogs","category-thd-owned-content","tag-planter","tag-plants","tag-stain","tag-uncategorized","has_thumb"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/homeimprovementblogs.com\/hg-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23630","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/homeimprovementblogs.com\/hg-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/homeimprovementblogs.com\/hg-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/homeimprovementblogs.com\/hg-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/114"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/homeimprovementblogs.com\/hg-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23630"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/homeimprovementblogs.com\/hg-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23630\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/homeimprovementblogs.com\/hg-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23714"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/homeimprovementblogs.com\/hg-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23630"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/homeimprovementblogs.com\/hg-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23630"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/homeimprovementblogs.com\/hg-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23630"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}