How can I achieve a lighter, more natural brownish grey stain on my table top that currently has yellow tinted, grey, and tan spots?
Asked by Rachel Craig 
5 months ago
Last Updated: April 24, 2024
I’ve attempted to stain this table top three times already, and I’m just not happy with how it’s turning out. After sanding it down, it has a yellow tint with some grey and tan spots. I’m not even sure what type of wood it is. I’m feeling a bit lost on what to do next! I’m aiming for a lighter, more natural brownish grey shade… anything but yellow!
Is this made of Maple wood? If so, you won’t be able to restrain it.
I have no idea! 😩
I think it looks great as it is. The contrast of darks, lights, and reds is really stunning. Try sanding with 120 grit and applying a few coats of clear semi gloss polyurethane. It will turn out beautiful.
I painted the base black and was thinking of adding something to it to avoid such a strange contrast. And I really don’t like the yellow, haha! My apartment floor is that icky orange-brown color, so I’m not sure how it will look next to that.
I see what you mean, Anna. You could try using a white stain to almost give it a white wash effect. Just make sure to sand the hardwood first and don’t wait too long to apply the stain so it can absorb properly. Some people even wet sand to open the grain more, but I haven’t tried it myself.
At this stage, I’d go for a paint wash or a semi-transparent stain instead.
Krystle Chong I’ve been thinking about giving paint wash a try next. But I’m not sure which tones or shades to choose. I’m tired of sanding it down, so I really don’t want to mess up again lol
Maybe try testing the underside with a paint wash that has a drop of purple in it since I know that purple cancels out yellow and makes it look brighter.
If you opt for an oil finish, be prepared for some yellowing unless you apply a white stain; alternatively, you could use a water-based finish for less yellowing
I remember reading about this when I was doing some research! Thanks for the tip. All the products I have are water-based
Have you considered Rubio mono coat for your furniture? Bona Mega One is a clear water-based finish, although some water-based finishes can still give a yellow tone depending on what you have
I have a table that looks a lot like Malaysian Oak, even though it’s very light in color like pine. When I first got it, I was advised to wax it, but when I tried to refinish it, the wax was hard to remove and nothing seemed to stick well. I ended up sanding it down with an electric sander, which worked better, and I was able to get Varathane to stick. I thought about rubbing it with a darker grey stain and quickly wiping it off to highlight the grain, but I decided to just put a clear coat on it instead.
That would be so nice with a clear coat on it!
How about going for a light gray instead of white?
I attempted to use Minwax Color Wash on it and it turned out really patchy. Have you ever tried diluting white wash with water before putting it on?
Check it out when it’s wet to see the real colors of the wood. If you’re into it, put a clear coat on it and forget about staining. If you want to remove some of the yellow hues, consider using a grey stain. If you want to subtly tone it down a bit, go for a tan wash.
You could experiment with wood bleach or try using this product to see if you like it. It works effectively and contains a subtle hint of grey to neutralize the yellow tone.
I’ve never given this a shot. I really like this style though. Do you happen to have an example?
Unfortunately, I don’t have any personal photos of when I used it. However, it’s thick and slightly opaque, so it does a fantastic job of counteracting yellowing. There are plenty of pictures and even videos online of people using it.
Are you planning on water popping the wood after sanding but before staining? If it’s still showing blotchiness, consider using a wood conditioner before applying the stain. Another option is to try an acetone wash before sanding to remove any wax or oils.
Do you know what water popping is? I tested out a wood conditioner and it ended up making it look even more yellow.
When you sand hardwood, you compress the grain pattern. Water popping reopens the grains. It’s a simple process – after sanding and vacuuming the table (avoid tack cloth), just spray the surface with water until it’s wet, wipe off excess water after 5-10 minutes, and let the wood dry. Then proceed with finishing as usual. The water causes the grains to expand and open up, making them ready for staining once it evaporates.
Oh, good to know, I appreciate it!
That right there is rubber wood. Stain doesn’t really take to it. Your best option would be to go with gel stain.
Consider using a wood dye. Look up Rockler online. Some Asian hardwood tabletops struggle with stain absorption and are often finished with a colored glaze.
Try a bleach wash for a lighter effect.
Violet eliminates yellow undertones. Imagine using purple shampoo for your hair. You could try a stain sample with a hint of violet mixed in.
Is there a chance that a water-based stain might not leave a yellowish tint, considering the uneven tones of the boards?
Give it a good bleach before you finish it up.
Try sanding it more first with an 80 grit sandpaper, then move on to a 120 grit to eliminate any discoloration. Finish off with a sunbleached stain for the final touch.
I’ve been sanding it a lot & those are just the colors it has. It still yellows when I wipe it with a damp cloth. I’m thinking of trying sun bleaching though!
Oh, got it! Best of luck with that! I’ve also been working on redoing my kitchen table, which was an old beat-up piece I got for free. It’s been an enjoyable experience 🙂 Mine ended up looking more yellow though
My husband recently applied a clear, water-based poly to our project, which had similar color variations. He sanded it extensively with an orbital sander, but the natural wood colors still showed through. However, I believe the clear finish turned out quite nicely!
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Have you considered doing a paint wash? Maybe a wash in a cool toned tan color is what you’re going for.
Hey , I was thinking of giving this a try next!
Have you considered using liming wax?
Maybe you could try cleaning it with a solution of half bleach and half water
Consider using a two-part wood cleaner similar to what I’ve used on teak. First, apply the cleaner and let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing with a hose. Then, use the brightener/neutralizer to bring back the wood’s original color. Let it dry in the sun for a couple of days before applying your chosen finish like stain, sealer, or urethane.
How about experimenting with a white wash staining technique, using a light grey instead of white to tone down yellows and oranges and enhance the grey tones in the wood?
Sand the surface again and finish with a water-based poly to bring out the natural color of the wood.
Yeah, this will also enhance the natural color and I totally agree that it will look great
Try giving it a white wash
Rubber wood (parawood) is probably what’s commonly used in imported furniture now, whereas the old imported wood was ramen wood. Sometimes you might need to bleach it. With General Finishes dye stain, you can mix different colors to achieve the tone you’re looking for. It’s a good idea to practice on the underside first. I personally use plastic shot glasses to mix ratios and get the right tones.
I recently saw a video where they used a light grey/brown paint wash mixed with water to remove the golden tint from the oak.
https://repurposeandupcycle.com/paint-wash-furniture-mute-outdated-furniture-tones/
Have you applied a pre-stain conditioner? It can help make the stain application more even.
Yeah, I attempted that and it actually made it more yellow.
Wood polish
Hmm, I’m having a hard time with this. Maybe my screen isn’t showing the color right. You’re aiming for ‘a lighter, more natural, brownish grey.’ But how can brownish grey be lighter than it is now?
I totally get what you mean, capturing the true color on camera is a challenge. It looks way more yellow in person for sure.
Start with the paint wash
Haha I thought this was a tortilla while scrolling through my feeds
Hey , that was hilarious! 🤣
I suggest sealing it and leaving it natural. Based on the pictures, I don’t notice any yellow tones. However, I do see a nice touch of blue pine.
Check out tan washing. It will help balance out the orange tone.
Wood naturally comes in yellow, brown, red, and green tones; any gray color is the result of a stain or oxidation. To remove these natural colors, a two-part bleach is required. For the lightest wood appearance, avoid using stain or oil-based finishes. Water-based finishes may introduce a gray hue, based on my observations.
Sand some more…. Down to 150 grit. Consider using the color ‘Sandstone’ from Sherwin Williams
Try bleaching it. I bleached a table once and it turned out really well. I sanded it down, applied bleach, let it sit in the sun for an hour. I repeated this process 3 times until I was satisfied with the result. Then I sealed it.
Is the underside similar to the top? If it is, you might want to try a technique that won’t be visible.
There are plenty of great suggestions here! Personally, I like to start with a light paint wash (very, very light on the paint) and then apply a light stain on top. Using a bit of paint first could help even things out due to the variations.