Adding stain over paint on furniture, or exterior wood surfaces such as siding or a deck can give furniture and any other project a new lease on life. Clear or semi-clear stains can provide a distressed appearance and add patina. They highlight those areas where the paint has worn away or where the paint color varies. Solid-color stains, on the other hand, generally coat well and provide a durable finish to a variety of projects. Consumers must sand, clean and dust surfaces before staining them. You want a good wood base from which to coat your stain, and you should set aside a few hours to get the job done.

Using Stain to Add Patina

Patina describes the look of something that appears aged, delivering a gloss or sheen. Interior decorators often use this term to describe distress, or the aged look of furniture, where paint has faded or colors have lost some of their brightness.  While a patina also can refer to metals such as bronze, it’s used in this case to refer to wood furniture. Staining is one option available to add patina to furniture that already has a coat of paint on top. A clear or lightly colored stain adds the best effect to most wood surfaces, and is a great option for those who don’t want a messy painting project.

Applying Clear Stain for Patina

Consumers who want to apply clear or lightly colored stain to add a distressed look or a patina must first prepare the surface of the project by using sandpaper to remove any debris and previous painting imperfections, then wiping the surface with a clean, dry cloth to remove any dust.

Decorators should coat the surface, applying the stain with a rag in small sections. It should dry completely; after a short amount of time, wipe it away with a clean rag. If the stain looks uneven, sand it down and apply another coat.

Read more about how you can work with stains at Ebay

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