How to Stain Popular Wood Like a Boss

Highstyle Restyle
by Highstyle Restyle
I love taking a challenge and turning it into a triumph. This is exactly what happened with one of my recent projects.
A client brought me a dining room table covered in glitter and the surface was a sticky, gooey mess. I got to work sanding with 80# and when I had finally sanded off all the goo, I discovered it was poplar wood (not stain-grade). {Insert HUGE sigh.}
Poplar is commonly used in furniture projects because it's inexpensive and works best with a painted finish. However, my client wanted the top stained and I was not going to let her down. On the inside, I was a little concerned that I wasn't going to be able to pull it off.


Triple Threat {Handsome, Handy, Hubby} told me "no way is that going to stain well, you should probably tell her it needs to be painted." Well, I considered that a challenge. I had to prove him wrong.
I applied wood conditioner, said a prayer and went to work.


My favorite part of this whole process was conquering something that seemed impossible. That and my client's reaction when she saw her ReStyled table.


You won't believe how this table looks now! To see the AFTER, please visit my website.


I hope this will inspire you to try staining the 'unstainable,' And if you do, please let me know how it works out for you.


In the meantime, Keep Calm and Gel Stain On!


To see more of my furniture restyles, follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/High-Style-Restyle/296597457120303?ref=hl
Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
Comments
Join the conversation
3 of 6 comments
Next