My coffee table is stained too dark- help!

Nancy
by Nancy
I refinished and restrained my coffee table. The new stain is way to dark and looks awful. Help

  7 answers
  • Mogie Mogie on Jun 08, 2018

    Paint it.

  • Sheryl Gregory Sheryl Gregory on Jun 08, 2018

    Or you could decide to strip, sand, and refinish properly. Your method will depend on what type of stain you used that's too dark, and the word of the table. Take GOOD, clear, close - up pictures of the table, top and bottom, & of the stain can label. Ask a finishing expert at your home improvement center how to proceed.

    Or, if you love the table, & are willing to spend the money on it, consult a refinisher & hire their help if needed.

    Practice and experience are the only way you can learn the subtleties of using different products and different techniques on various types of wood. It always seems simple, until it's not.

    Good luck!

  • Sheryl Gregory Sheryl Gregory on Jun 08, 2018

    sorry -- the WOOD of the table. Different woods take and hold various stains differently, deeper or shallower, and can be easier or harder to strip without damage to the wood. 🙃

  • Jewellmartin Jewellmartin on Jun 08, 2018

    Nancy, this question is double-posted. You may want to delete this one. ☺️

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Jun 08, 2018

    Could try Wood shades for exterior and put that on top, and wipe off if too light..... It might give you a lighter grain in the wood. Practice underneath.

  • Peter Peter on Jun 08, 2018

    The lesson here is stains can be built up... so start light and apply again if desired.

    - Check the manufacturer's website... visit Minwax if you can't find your manufacturer... thay may have a ready solution.

    - Visit a paint store... ask about wood bleach....

    - water-based stains go deep quickly... oil based, less so... know what you have and look for solutions


  • Lauren of Mom Home Guide Lauren of Mom Home Guide on Jun 08, 2018

    If you don’t want to strip or sand the table, you could paint it with Americana Decor Chalky Finish paint in white, black or gray. I painted an old oak jewelry chest with the paint a while ago, and it looks great: http://momhomeguide.com/chalk-painted-jewelry-chest/