My Vintage Porch

Interior Design, DIY, and Refurbishing

Staining My Table

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Two days ago, I said, “I’m going to darken this table”…and with a bit of Kaden home from college help, it ended up outside and ready for me to take the plunge!

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I did love the table in it’s stripped fashion too, but I thought the darkened color would blend into this room a lot better.

And, oh my, am I glad I stained it! I had to take it outside to sand off the sealer that I had initially sealed the stripped top with. I hadn’t sealed the bottom half originally, thank God, or that would have been a nightmare to strip again! This sealer that I originally used on the stripped table is the closest thing that I’ve found that doesn’t change the color much after stripping, but I always recommend doing a test spot first.

I sanded the top down with 100 grit with my hand sander and then finished it off with 220 grit, to smooth it out before staining. I usually end up doing projects multiple times because I don’t like the first go around but not this time. This was a one and done! I love it!

I used an oil based prestain because I knew I was going to use an oil based stain. Prestain usually helps to keep the stain from turning out blotchy or uneven. It worked wonderfully!

I used Varathane special walnut stain and I love the slight amber glow that it gives! It’s exactly the color I was going for!

I wanted a bit of sheen so I used this polyurethane in satin. It’s perfect, just the right amount of sheen! It also helped to bring out that slight amber glow that I was going for.

I used one coat of prestain on the whole table and did it in sections so that the prestain wouldn’t be on longer than it should be before staining. I left it on for about 5 minutes, wiping off the excess and then started staining. The prestain was still damp when I started staining.

I used 2 coats of stain on the top and 1 coat on the bottom. It’s different types of wood, so the stain on the bottom sunk in more and was a little darker. Using two coats of stain on the top helped to even out the color.

The next day, I started sealing it. I used two coats of sealer on the bottom and three coats on the top. I used this brush, and made sure not to touch it at all after I put the sealer on, until it was fully cured. Sometimes it’s hard not to want to pick things off if it looks like something bubbled, or if there’s a little dust mark, but it will just mess up the poly coat. So I just waited until it was dry. It usually dries way better than anticipated and the things I feel like are marks that I need to mess with usually blend together and dry up great.

I waited four hours in between the first two coats. I also used a crumpled up paper bag to go over the table in between each coat. That just helped smooth it out a little. I made sure not to use anything that was going to scratch it.

The third coat went on the next day, and I only did a third coat on the top. I think I would’ve been OK only using two coats on the top, but there was a tiny dust thing that got stuck in the poly that I had to pick off, so I wanted to go over it one more time.

It’s a rainy day here today, and I thought it was perfect for the photos to get the true view/color of the table.

I love how it turned out! I think it blends amazingly with this room now, and I’m so glad that I did it!

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Comments

  1. Natalie it was meant to be darker! Gorgeous and rich and still so perfect for your home aesthetics.

  6. Natalie I’m obsessed! It turned out absolutely perfect! I looks amazing in your home, too!!! 😍

  7. I love that claw foot table so much, and it does look much better stained in that space. It’s such a beauty Natalie!!😍♥️

  10. It turned out beautiful! I love it! Your house is gorgeous. Thank you so much for your posts. They always brighten my day.

  12. It’s absolutely gorgeous!!! I love it!! It looks so much better stained!!! I absolutely love that table!!!!

  23. I really love it! I’m looking for the courage to redo my dining room table, and you’ve inspired me. Will the poly coat help it resist some heat and water?

  24. The deeper color brings out so many of the intricate details on that table. It looks beautiful in your room.

  28. So rich and lush! I love the color! Why did they ever stain a table with the orangy oak look? You did an absolutely beautiful job! How brave you are!

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