Is it okay to leave raw unfinished pine children’s furniture as is to preserve the natural color, or should I use a non-toxic, transparent sealant despite color changes?
Asked by Đuraš Šarović 
5 months ago
Last Updated: July 26, 2024
I have a quick question for you… I have some children’s furniture made from pinewood that I haven’t finished yet. Whenever I try to seal it, the color changes to a yellowish hue. I’m considering leaving it unfinished because I really like the natural color of the wood. Do you think that would be okay? I know it might not last as long, but I plan on storing it in a temperature-controlled room. Any thoughts on this? Also, if you have any suggestions for non-toxic products that are truly transparent, please share!
When you clear coat pine, it will typically take on a yellow hue. The safest option is to simply leave it as is, although it’s true that dirt and stains may become harder to clean.
For our trim, we went with clear pine. I wanted to maintain its natural look, but I’ve heard that sunlight can cause it to yellow. After some research, I found that many people have had success with a white wash mixture of 1 part paint to 3 parts water. Let it dry for a few days before applying a clear coat.
You could try using a water-based poly like general finishes high performance. It won’t contribute to the natural yellowing of pine, and it might even slow it down a bit since it contains UV blockers.
We have some old pine bookshelves from my husband’s college days that have aged to a brown color. They used to be blond. Just to clarify, these are 30 years old, but I also have a pine kids kitchen that was handed down to me 10 years ago for our oldest child, and it is also turning brown.
Check out a water-based “natural” finish. If you’re okay with a completely flat finish, General Finishes Flat-out-Flat has the least amount of change in my experience.
Have you considered using clear wax on them?
I applied a clear coat that doesn’t yellow and it appears to result in a less golden tint.