How to Transform Dated Furniture with Stain & Contributor Post

I find that the majority of the furniture we take in here at Number Fifty-Three (either ones we have sourced on our own or as custom pieces for clients) is dated in one of two ways; they either have a very dark mahogany look or a 1970s orange vibe. Neither is popular today, but I truly hate discounting these pieces of furniture because they are so solidly built.

Now, I'm not going to lie, I started my little business four years ago solely painting furniture and that holds a special place in my heart because I researched and worked and figured it out all on my own. However, I have grown professionally over the years and have learned (with huge amounts of help from my love) the art of sanding down to bare wood (without trashing it) and staining.

And, I'm seeing things come full circle over the last year or so. More and more people are asking for stained pieces. Of course, the painted pieces are still hugely popular (with me too!), but I am having more requests for furniture that is either partially or completely stained.

I'm actually loving this because these old pieces have such a heavy layer of stain and finish on them that you can not even begin to appreciate the beautiful wood grains. But, once you sand down to the bare wood, it is amazing! A thinner coat of stain brings out the detail and can modernize a piece in an instant.

We choose a dark walnut (per our client's request) for this end table and it doesn't even look like the same piece anymore. The deep color translates well for both more modern look or a rustic feel. (We also updated the hardware with black spray paint.)

Also, I have an adorable project up on Jen Rizzo's blog today that I would love if you stopped over to check out...

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