How to Lightly Stain Wood and Show Its Natural Grain and Color

Co-authored by Andres Matheu

Last Updated: August 25, 2021 References

Looking to stain your wood but don’t want to cover up its natural color and grain? No problem! There are plenty of things you can do to achieve the color that you want. To make the project even easier, we’ve answered a few of the most common questions about what you can do to lightly stain your wood.

Question 1 of 8:

Is it possible to stain wood lighter?

1
You can use bleach to lighten the wood. Use “Two-part” A/B peroxide-based bleach or oxalic acid bleach to lighten the color of the wood. Work in a well-ventilated space and clean the wood with water or mineral spirits and a clean rag. Wait a day or so for the wood to fully dry, then apply the bleach evenly with a clean rag or a paintbrush. Once the wood is lightened to the color you want, neutralize the bleach by wiping over it with a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water.^{[1]
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- You can also bleach wood that has already been stained a darker color to lighten the color of the wood.^{[2]
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- Regular laundry bleach or chlorine bleach will remove any stain or dyed color from the wood but it won’t actually change the wood’s natural color.
- Bleach puts off toxic fumes that can make you nauseated or lightheaded, so be sure to work in a well-ventilated space.
2
Allow the wood to dry then sand it for a smooth finish. The bleach will cause the grain of the wood to become coarse. Wait a full day to make sure the wood is completely dry, sand it with a 120-grit sandpaper, and then follow up with medium-fine-grade sandpaper such as 180 or 220-grit so the surface of the wood is nice and smooth.^{[3]
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Question 2 of 8:

What is the lightest wood stain?

Toner wood stain is the lightest option. Toner wood stain contains a small amount of paint pigment, which won’t fully obscure the wood’s natural color but will protect it from UV light. When you’re choosing a light wood stain, look for a toner stain for the lightest option.^{[4]
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- By contrast, opaque or solid wood stains are similar to paint and are designed to completely cover the grain of the wood.

Question 3 of 8:

How can I lighten my wood stain?

Combine a light-colored stain with your darker wood stain. Measure out equal parts of both colors, add them to a clean paint bucket or a mixing bowl, and stir them together with a stir stick to combine them. Apply a small amount of the stain to a piece of wood to see if the color is where you want it to be. Adjust the color by adding more of the lighter or darker colored wood stain until you’re satisfied with it.^{[5]
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Question 4 of 8:

How do you apply wood stain?

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Clean and lightly sand the wood first. Use a clean cloth to wipe away any dust or dirt from the surface.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Andres Matheu
Commercial Painter
Expert Interview. 28 July 2020.} Then, sand the wood with 120-grit sandpaper so the wood stain can stick to the surface more effectively. Wipe away the dust created from sanding with your cloth and then sand the wood again with 150 or 180-grit sandpaper so the surface is nice and smooth.^{[7]
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- Make sure you use a clean, lint-free cloth to wipe away the dust between sanding so you don’t push the dust around or leave any fibers behind.
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Apply pre-stain conditioner and let it soak in for 5-10 minutes. The conditioner helps prepare the wood for the stain you plan to add. Wipe the conditioner over the surface of the wood and then let it fully soak in so it doesn’t mix with the stain when you apply it.^{[8]
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Use a brush, sponge, or cloth to apply the stain and wipe away the excess. Open up the container of wood stain, apply it to your brush, sponge, or cloth, and wipe it evenly over the surface of the wood. Then, take a clean cloth, fold it over so the edges are even, and wipe over the wood, following the direction of the grain, to wipe off any excess stain and then allow the stain to fully dry.^{[9]
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- Specific drying times can vary, so check the packaging of the wood stain you’re using. Generally, waiting overnight or for at least 8 hours is a safe bet.

Question 5 of 8:

Does wood stain dry lighter?

Yes, but they return to their original color when you apply a finish. After you apply a coat of wood stain, it will start to dry and the color will appear lighter. However, as soon as you apply a topcoat, the stain will look just as it did when you first applied it.^{[10]
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- It’s always a good idea to apply a topcoat to protect the surface of the wood.

Question 6 of 8:

Should I seal wood after staining?

Yes, you should apply a topcoat to protect the surface. Mix the topcoat in a figure 8 motion so there aren’t any bubbles in the finish. Use a high-quality brush and apply the topcoat in long, even strokes to create a smooth finish. Then, allow the finish to fully dry and lightly sand it with 180-grit sandpaper. Wipe away the dust and then apply 1 more coat to create a long-lasting, professional finish.^{[11]
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Question 7 of 8:

Can I thin wood stain?

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Use mineral spirits to thin oil-based stains. Combine 3-4 parts wood stain to 1 part mineral spirit in a clean container. Stir the mixture well so it’s fully blended. Apply a small amount of the stain to a piece of wood to test it out. If it needs to be thinner, you can add a little more mineral spirit and then test it out again.^{[12]
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- Mineral spirits puts off noxious fumes so be sure to work in a well-ventilated area.
- If you don’t have mineral spirits, you can use varsol, naphtha, turpentine, or paint thinner (which likely contains mineral spirits anyway).
2
Add water to thin water-based wood stains. Water-based wood stains are often called latex stains. To dilute 1 US pint (470 mL) of stain, add 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of room temperature water. Add the water slowly and use a stir stick to stir and combine the solution. To test the viscosity, you can pour the stain through a funnel to see if it flows freely. If it’s still too thick, try adding a little more water and testing it again.^{[13]
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- If the stain becomes too thin, you can add more stain to the solution to thicken it back up a bit.
3
Use a lacquer thinner for lacquer-based stains. Lacquer-based wood stains are specially designed to create a shiny, protective coating, and they can only be thinned by a special lacquer thinner, also known as a cellulose thinner. Add 1 US pint (470 mL) of thinner to ¹⁄₂ gallon (1,900 mL) of lacquer and mix it together well. If the stain is still too thick, add some more of the thinner.^{[14]
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- If you’re applying the lacquer with a spray gun, shake the bottle really well to combine the wood stain and thinner before you apply it.

Question 8 of 8:

Can you stain wood without sanding?

You don’t need to fully sand wood to apply stain to it. While you do need to lightly sand wood so your stain has something to stick to, you don’t need to fully remove any existing finishes. Start by cleaning the wood with water and dish soap so there isn’t any dust or dirt on the surface. Then, use a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water and wipe down the surface of the wood. Wipe the wood again with clean water and allow it to fully dry. Then, use a 220 or 320-grit sanding block to lightly sand the wood before you apply your stain.^{[15]
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- Wipe the wood with a cloth to dust before you apply your stain.
- If you don’t sand the wood at all, your wood stain won’t properly adhere to the surface.

Expert Q&A
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Question

What's the biggest mistake people make when they're staining wood?

Andres Matheu
Commercial Painter
Andres Matheu is the Owner of Hömm Certified Painting Systems, an Interior and Exterior Residential painting business based in the Washington, DC Metro area. Andres specializes in interior and exterior residential painting, color consultations, cabinet refinishing, wallpaper removal, and epoxy flooring among other services. An EPA Lead-safe Certified Firm, Hömm Certified Painting Systems has been awarded the Best of Houzz 2019 Service, Angie's List Super Service Award 2019, and Northern Virginia Magazine's 2018 Best Home Experts (painters) award.

Andres Matheu

Commercial Painter

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

The biggest mistake is not properly cleaning the surface—it has to be free of any grease or any type of debris before you start working on them.

Warnings

Bleach and solvents like mineral spirits put off noxious fumes, so make sure you work in a well-ventilated area.

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