Is there a way to lighten or paint over an orange-gold stain on wood without sanding everything again, as shown in the attached inspiration pic?
Asked by Heiko Berberich 
3 months ago
Last Updated: July 26, 2024
The stain ended up a bit more orange/gold than I was hoping for. Do you think it’s possible to bleach it or maybe paint over it and restain? I’ve attached a picture for reference. I really don’t want to have to sand everything down again. ðŸ˜
Want to experiment? Try whitewashing with paint or a white stain to see the results.
Simply sand down and restain with a color that complements the wood you’re working with. Keep in mind that stains can look different depending on the type of wood. Sand a small area underneath, test it with two or three stains, choose the one you prefer, then sand and restain the surface.
It’s nearly impossible to achieve a light stain on pine. Pine tends to absorb stains and turn yellow/orange. Your best option now is to glaze or paint the table top. You can apply a semi-solid or translucent stain on top of the existing finish if you still want to maintain some wood grain. To reduce the orange hue, consider adding some blue to the stain. If the wood has a “rustic” look with nice open grain, look up “ceruse finish”. It might create a nice effect, but the wood’s grain quality is important. Good luck! Experimenting can be enjoyable!
I applied a dark stain on pine and let it sit for an extended period before wiping it off, then did multiple coats….I ended up with a beautiful dark shelf as a result.