The good thing about these water-based wood stains is that they are very versatile. They can be lightened by adding water or intermixed to create alternate colours. Plus they are available in sample sizes so you can carry out some test areas. Any top coat of an interior wood oil or interior varnish will darken and enhance the colour of the stain so a test area with both the stain and protective top coat is highly recommended to assess the final finish and colour. It’s best to use a brush with natural rather than synthetic bristles for oil-based finishes, and synthetic brushes (often called ‘nylon’ brushes) for acrylic or water-based varnishes. But you can also use rollers or rags for both kinds of finish.

Varnish can be applied with a brush, which is more typical, or a roller. If you are planning to use a roller use one with a short pile. See here for help on choosing a roller. Apply with the grain to get a smooth and even finish. Wood oils are designed to be applied very thinly and worked into the surface grain of the wood. Ideally you want95% of the product to sink into the wood and only around 5% remaining on top.Think sun cream and you get the picture:apply a small amount thenwork it in until there’s none visible on the surface. Streaky,uneven finishes, brush strokes and unexpectedly longdrying periods are usually down to applying too much oil, so take care not to over-do it.Spray on varnishes are easy to use. They do not require brushes and they do not need to be thinned. They must be used in a well-ventilated area, however, as they have strong fumes, which might make you feel lightheaded or nauseous. Solvent strippers are more toxic, restricting how and where you can use them. They’re the most harmful to your eyes, nose and throat. Thinner (or Solvent): This is the ingredient that thins the oils and resins to allow the varnish to be applied easily. Having done its job it should evaporate and allow the resin and oils to cure and harden. The thinner can be a range of solvents, such as turps or white spirit. Water can be used in some varnishes Decorative crafts: White wood stain can be used in various DIY crafts and home decor projects, such as painting wooden signs, picture frames, or other decorative items to create a distressed or weathered look. When painting wooden trims and skirting boards, you’ll want something that’s going to last. If you go with a high quality gloss such as this one, you can’t go too far wrong.

Simply White is a much lighter white wood stain option. It just slightly lightens the wood’s natural tone and definitely lets all of the natural grain show through. We tested each of these wood stains on 7 different types of woods so you can see how it might look on your project:Some people actually prefer an off-white finish because it’s subtler, less new-looking and morein keeping withshabby chic style. If that’s you, your life is a whole lot simpler – justuse a clear Hard Wax Oil like