How to stain a wood bookcase

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/stain-bookcase-52058.html

Try gel stain. It goes on easy with an old cotton sock or cloth and there’s no prinning needed. Minwax is just one brand that I’ve used. Quick, easy and impactfu.

I agree on the gel stain, it’s so easy to do. My favorite are the General Finish gel stains, they carry a variety of dark stains, even black.

No need to sand down to the grain! General Finish also has gel poly topcoat, just as simple to use as the stain. Use a soft cloth, or my favorite way to do it is cover your hands with disposable gloves and use a white cotton tube sock. Dip the tip or palm in stain and just wipe over surface. Reapply as many coat as you need to achieve your desired tint, just thoroughly dry between coats. SIMPLE

This only works on real wood, NOT LAMINATE. Be sure of what you have. They have been making laminate since the 50s. The only thing to do for it is paint. You might have the sides and shelves in wood but back is laminate. Paint the back with a dark brown that sort of matches the stain you want on the wood.

With Minwax Polyshades you can stain over stain. You can darken a light stain but not the reverse.

http://www.minwax.com/how-to-finish-wood/change-stain-color-with-polyshades/