There’s a lot we love about wood. Sure, we love our teak shower benches, and the fact that they provide a touch of class to bathrooms and pools alike. But we also love the versatility of wood, and the idea that it can act as a kind of artistic canvas, particularly when it comes to staining restyled furniture.

Staining a wooden piece isn’t tough, and anyone can do it. Keep reading for 5 tips to keep in mind when you begin your staining adventure.

1. Wood stains can be either oil based or water based. So which should you use? While both are okay, many folks who paint wood like water based stains. It’s easy to clean up, there are no pungent smells, the drying time is a bit faster, and there are lots of choices for colors.
2. If you’re getting artistic, should you paint first or stain first? Most people tend to stain first, then paint. That’s because if you make a mistake staining, it’s easy to paint over the area. But if it’s the other way around, staining over paint can be tricky, and it’s frequently necessary to sand and strip the area.
3. When you’re preparing to stain, try not to shake the can too much. If you do, you can accidentally cause bubbles in the stain, which will prevent the stain application from being even.
4. With staining, should you use a rag or a brush? Either one is fine, honestly. If you like the traditional look of a watery stain, you’ll want to use a brush. A rag is good for a gel stain look. There’s no wrong way, and you’re better off trying both to see which one you prefer.
5. Bear in mind that the final color of the stain will look a little different from the picture on the can, because of the kind of wood you’re working with. If you’re going for a very particular shade, test the stain on an inconspicuous spot or try it on a spare piece of wood. You don’t want to dive into the project, then discover you’re unhappy with the look.