How to Decide Which Wood Stain Will Look Best in Your Home
Choosing the perfect wood stain for your home decor can be a tough, but it’s something we all have to do when curating handmade pieces for our space.
When it comes to adding a new piece of decor, the right stain will make all the difference. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you decide which wood stain will look best in your home.
The Basics of Wood Stains
Wood stain is a type of finish applied to wood to enhance the look of the grain and also protect it from damage. Stains come in various colors and finishes, each offering a unique look and feel. The primary types of wood stain include oil-based, water-based, gel stains, and varnish stains.
Oil-based stains are good for penetrating deeply into the wood, which gives a long-lasting color. It's also good to use this kind of stain when you need an item to be very durable because the stain will go deep enough into the wood to be forgiving of nicks and scratches.
I use oil-based stains for all of my pieces because of the durability and quality.
Consider Your Existing Decor
Before you choose a wood stain, take a minute to look at the existing decor in your home. The stain you go with should complement the overall color scheme and style. A lot of people prefer a cohesive look, so they will opt to match the stain with other wooden pieces they already have, such as flooring, cabinets, or furniture.
Personally, I have a variety of wood finishes in my house and it works well for me. I think the variety brings some personality to my home and makes it unique. As long as you aren't mixing very warm stain tones with very cool ones, you can get away with lighter and darker options in the same room.
It's all about the undertones. Warm tones are going to have red, orange and yellow looks while cool toned woods will look more blue, grey, or green.
Image Source: Loui Burke Design
Here's a few examples of mixed woods that work:
Light and dark tones:
Warm tones in a variety of shades:
Image source: Virtually Here Studios
Neutral Tones in a variety of shades:
Image source: Design by Kelly Nutt Design | Photography by Ryan Garvin
A variety of tones and styles for an eclectic look:
Image Source: Design by Carrie Hatfield Interior Design | Photography by Stephen Karlisch
Matching Stains with Interior Design Styles
Different wood stains tend to enhance specific interior design styles. Here’s a few recommendations for matching stains with popular styles. Of course, there are no hard and fast rules for this.
Modern and Minimalist:
Opt for natural, light stains that emphasize clean lines and simplicity.
Farmhouse and Rustic:
Choose gray or weathered stains that evoke a sense of age and charm.
Traditional and Classic:
Image source: Rugs Direct
Rich, dark stains work well with the timeless elegance of traditional decor.
Bohemian and Eclectic: A mix of light and dark stains can add to the eclectic, collected-over-time feel of bohemian interiors.
Coastal and Beachy:
Torched or whitewashed stains complement the breezy, relaxed vibe of coastal decor.
Scandinavian:
Image source: Coaster
Natural, light stains are the main feature of Scandinavian design, focusing on simplicity and functionality.
Bringing it all together
Choosing the right wood stain for your home involves thinking through a few different factors, including your existing decor, wood type, color, finish, and interior style.
Staying on top of current trends and matching stains with your interior design style will help you create a space full of personality and charm.
To shop hand crafted wood pieces with a variety of stain options, be sure you check out my Shopify and Etsy stores.