Choosing stain can be tricky. It looks different on different wood species, and you won't know until you try it.
That's why I tested a bunch of popular stain colors FOR you. Read on to see!
THE WOOD
We're testing stain on...– Whitewood (“common pine”)– Pine (“select pine”)– Poplar– Red Oak
DARK WALNUT
Dark walnut is a go-to for me when I want a good, pure brown color that feels pretty consistent no matter what wood species I’m using!
1
SUMMER OAK
This darkened the boards up just a bit, and left plenty of the yellow tones in the two pine varieties.
2
EBONY
I think my blocks got mixed up on this picture – from left to right you have: select pine, poplar, red oak, and then the common pine.
3
BRIARSMOKE
You might note that both pine varieties feel a little splotchy with this dark, gray-ish brown. Using wood conditioner can make a big difference!
4
AGED WOOD ACCELERATOR
This brings out a really rich brown color, and you can see the natural undertones of each of the wood species.