This watered-down paint is what gives it that “wash” characteristic, meaning that the paint cover is opaque and see-through. So even after the paint is applied over the stain, you’ll be able to see that wood grain. Thus, it can be used in areas subject to tear and wear. It can also be applied to exterior wood, such as patio furniture, decks, fences, and house trim. While many manufacturers make oil-based stains water-based stains come in a far greater variety of colors.
Other dark wood stains, like Coffee, Jacobean, or Ebony, would also work well. I sampled 10 or more stain colors, even custom mixing my own, and could not find the right stain color I envisioned for our kitchen cabinets during our kitchen remodel. I spent countless hours researching the best stains, staining tips, and any advice I could find to help.
We didn’t include any exterior or water-based wood stains in this test, but I wanted to give a quick shoutout to Cabot Pewter Grey stain. We used it on our crib mattress porch swing and love the color. The solid opacity also gave amazing coverage in just one coat.
At Making Manzanita, you’ll find step-by-step home improvement tutorials and design inspiration. Every time I go to write a blog post with gray, I never know whether to spell it gray or grey. So, I officially Googled it and figure out that gray is the American English spelling and grey is light wood floors with dark trim the British English spelling. Walnut Creek will no longer be accepting new orders for custom furniture or sewing cabinets. This page allows you to manage and add wishlist items directly to the cart. Live Love DIYAs you can see Sunbleached is a nice light gray that has a real beachy feel.
If you do choose an oil-based stain be sure to only use the stain in a well-ventilated area so the odors can be very strong. Of course, one of the biggest problems you will face is deciding which of the many gray stain colors to choose for your project. @ideaspaceadThe dark gray wood stain on these cabinets enhances the subtle grain of the wood. This gives the cabinets a luminescent quality that works well with the contemporary style of the kitchen.
As always, you should sample the stain color yourself so you can see the color on your wood in your lighting. Another medium toned gray that’s not too light but not too dark. The color tends to vary depending on the amount of grain in the wood. This stain is a deep, rich color with the slightest blue undertones. I noticed a few of the stains had blue undertones thanks to the grey in it.
Varathane is carried at Home Depot and Minwax is at Lowes. So, if you have those two stores, these are basically all of your gray wood stain options. The use of gray stains in DIY projects and home design is a popular trend that is not going anywhere soon. Nathaniel EbertA beach cottage is the perfect place to use lighter gray stains for your walls. After all, beach style should be relaxed with a casual unfussy elegance. Try Charcoal Gray from Minwax if you want to create this look.
Just check the instructions on the back of your can for a guide on how long it takes for the stain to dry. Gray paint is totally opaque and covers the wood underneath completely. These are unedited photos taken in indirect natural light. You can see strips of the raw wood (from where I applied painter’s tape) between each swatch. Once your stain has completely dried, don’t forget to seal it! Building a woodworking project is satisfying, but the build isn’t the end of it.
Minwax Classic Gray is always a fan favorite in the grey stain category. It’s a brownish-gray, making it neutral enough to go with a lot of different styles and decor. To fix this, I lightly sanded areas with a sanding block. This removed some of the paint, revealing the darker wood-stained surface. It also helped get rid of some of the areas of imperfection. Areas of imperfection on the backside of the cookbook stand are where there were 2 coats of paint and they are much lighter.
This type of stain allows the natural wood texture to show through and changes the color to a rich gray tone. For each stain, we opened the can and stirred the stain until we could no longer feel any pigments at the bottom of the can. Grey wood stains tend to have a lot of color pigments that settle at the bottom of the can, which is why it’s super important to thoroughly stir before starting. If the existing stain on the wood is already pretty dark, you can skip adding more dark wood stain. Before you start your woodworking project, make sure the wood is clean and dry. Once you’ve finished staining your project, put some sort of sealant over it; I prefer using polyurethane.