| Many of us may have an old wooden chair-perhaps in | | | | Projects like this are best done outside, so the dust |
| the kitchen or in our workspace-that we would like to | | | | and fumes from the chemicals you will be working with |
| give a new look. Any wooden article can be changed | | | | don't make you, or your family members ill. |
| in appearance by staining it. | | | | Remove any old varnish or layer of protection on the |
| A stain is a mix of a solvent, pigment and a binding | | | | chair's surface. If you don't, the new stain will not |
| agent. A stain gives protection to wood and also | | | | adhere properly to the surface. You can do this with |
| enhances the grain of the wood. Stains are easy to | | | | sandpaper. Make sure you wipe the surfaces of the |
| use. | | | | chair clean of the dust left over from sanding. |
| Stains come in many different traditional and | | | | Test the color at a spot on the chair that is |
| contemporary colors. Imagine your chair with a | | | | inconspicuous, so that if it is not exactly what you |
| protective covering the shade of green tea, honey | | | | imagined, you can make corrections or adjustments. |
| dew or English oak! | | | | Mix the stain well to make sure the pigment is evenly |
| The color you use will affect the look of the room | | | | distributed throughout. |
| your chair is placed in. If you use a dark color, it will | | | | Apply the stain using a synthetic bristle brush or a soft |
| make your room feel more clustered, whereas a | | | | rag. If you have gloves use them. Your hands will be |
| lighter color will give more of an appearance of space | | | | protected from the stain. |
| to the room. | | | | |