Wood Stains: Water Based

Furniture Design Ideas featuring Water Based Wood Stains.

Cabinet Refresh with water based stain in Espresso

"This antique table/writing desk was in bad shape when it first came to me. It was sporting a rather orange pine patina and an uneven top. My friend Greg of The Furniture Fix made a new top for me, and I stained it with General Finishes "Graystone" Water Based Wood Stain. To compliment the gorgeous gray stain, the base was painted in Driftwood Milk Paint."     
"Just wow! Custom order with a customized mix of stain for an eggplant color using General Finishes water based dye stain, Merlot and Blue, with Graphite water based wood stain surrounded by Antique White Milk Paint. Beautiful!"   
Before and after GF Hickory Water Based Stain on a Douglas Fir Door     

 "Custom, king size, double chevron headboard stained in General Finishes Tobacco wood stain and sealed in the GF Arm-R-Seal to protect it for years to come."
 

Beautiful little dresser refinished in General Finishes Brown Mahogany Water Based Wood Stain.

Comparison of Carbon Gray and Ash Gray Gel Stain vs. Graystone and Graphite Water Based Wood Stain Vs. Driftwood Milk Paint 

"Solid wood table is the perfect size for a foyer or small dining area. The oak grain was enhanced using General Finishes Graystone Water Based Stain while the base was painted in Alabaster." 

"I am a total sucker for a curved front buffet and I love the bold color my client chose of General Finishes China Blue! Complete with a newly refinished top in General Finishes water based wood stain in Tobacco and brand new hardware from D. Lawless Hardware, this gorgeous piece is ready for a new life!" 

"This beast was snatched from my available inventory and given a gorgeous farmhouse makeover using General Finishes Reverent Gray Milk Paint on the body and water based wood stain in Tobacco on the newly refinished top! I am absolutely loving this combo!' 

Top Row (left to right) Espresso, Provincial, Onyx, Graystone, Graphite, Black   Middle Row (left to right) Hickory, Sedona, Antique Brown, Brown Mahogany, Cabernet, Tobacco   Bottom Row (left to right) Whitewash, Pre-Stain Natural, Antique Oak, Pecan, Black Cherry, Walnut   *Doors are Alder

Graystone Water Based stain on some stripped down blonde mahogany. 

It is a very light gray (Fusion mineral paint Sterling, with Sacred Sage stripes on the slide out writing desk) & the wood is General Finishes Provincial, sealed with GF'S Arm-R-Seal in Semi-Gloss.

"Isn't she beautiful? She is painted in General Finishes Empire Gray, with Fusion Mineral Paint Ageing Wax. Her legs got some Fusion Hemp Oil, her top was stained with General Finishes Provincial Water Based Stain."     

"Custom cedar chest in General Finishes Provincial water based stain, High performance satin and Fusion Mineral Paint Champlain." 

"Inspired by Fall, this was painted in General Finishes Harvest Yellow with Van Dyke Brown Glaze. The top was stripped and stained in Brown Mahogany water based stain and everything was sealed with High Performance Top Coat." 

"I refinished the drawers and top using ...

Before and After in GF Graphite Water Based Stain

"This table threw us a few curve balls but it turned out even better then originally planned! The table top and chair seats were first painted in General Finishes Seagull Gray and then I applied Graystone water based stain. I wiped the stain off and feathered it back on in some areas until I achieved this soft driftwood look. The legs of the table and chairs were painted in Empire gray, a beautiful gray that compliments the top perfectly!" 

"LOOKing for something new and different? These Bassett beauties have been redesigned using a new General Finishes Water Based stain color called Graphite on the drawers and legs surrounded by a warm white frame. What a striking color combination! The brass knobs add just the right amount of shine on this mid century set." 

Refinished in General Finishes Blue Moon with a Brown Mahogany water based stain applied to the top and seat. New knobs compliment his paint color!" 

"I just love the transformations these solid oak tables go through, from old orangey finish to a stunning updated table to be used for several more decades! This table was striped down to bare wood and stained using General Finishes Water Based Stain in Walnut, then sealed with Enduro-Var for a beautiful satin finish and durable surface. The bottom was painted to match my clients dining room light fixture in a pure white base and light gray color wash."     

"Did you know you can spray water based wood stain? I will occasionally spray stain when I plan on going darker or working with a lot of spindles. These counter stools were stained in General Finishes Espresso water based stain and then the seats were upholstered in new fabric. This set was done for my own home, my messy kids have a tendency of using the seat as a napkin which drives me crazy so I made sure to scotch guard the fabric for protection." 

"I ❤️ console tables and I know you all do to! Other then dressers they are probably the most requested type of furniture I get. So naturally when I saw this cutie I had to have it. Solid oak with drawers and shelf, I hopped right in my car to go pick it up! The top was stained in General Finishes water based stain in Graphite while the bottom was then painted in Seagull Gray. New iron hardware pair beautifully with these shades of gray and complete this transformation. I also have to give a...

"The chairs were stripped and stained using General Finishes Onyx water based stain and then sealed with High Performance topcoat. The seats were recovered with a fun circular pattern fabric that the client picked out."

Check out this 7ft tall chair done in General Finishes Exterior 450 Cedar Stain and Exterior 450 Satin Topcoat by 

"I was so happy to help restore this family piece. The top turned out absolutely gorgeous. Painted in General Finishes Lamp Black & sealed with Fusion Mineral Paint Clear Wax, it's a nice contrast to the top, which got a facelift with General Finishes NEW Hickory Water Based Stain & Fusion's Stain and Finishing Oil in Natural." - Flipping Fabulous

"I was working on this clock for my sister. She just graduated with a doctorate’s degree and I know she wanted a large clock so when I saw this at Hobby Lobby I knew it was the perfect size. It was the wrong color and a missing screw made it deeply discounted so I was able to get it for a good deal. I removed the numbers, sanded and stained with General Finishes Weathered Gray which is a new color in their Water Based Wood Stain. I just gave it to my sister and she was so excited and...

Stripping this thrift-store find down to her bones, I rebuilt her to last another lifetime! Using General Finishes Weathered Grey on the entire piece, I brought out the beautiful wood grain she had hiding beneth the surface of her old garb. After allowing her to dry, I lightly sanded with a 400 grit to accent the wood grain further. To lighten the piece up even more, I used a mix of General FInishes Snow White and water to make my own white wash to place around her outside and edges, leaving...

This table is over 100 years old but built solid and in great shape and will probably last another 100 years, which is what I love about antique furniture! This particular piece was brought to me from a client who had it in their family from generations and at one point was covered in linoleum! Stripped down to its natural state, refinished in Pecan water based stain and then multiple layers of top coat brought this table back to life!

 

This hutch received an update while staying true to the client's decor.  Refinished in Black Stain with the doors and drawers done in Antique Oak, a two tone combination challenging the outdated stigma that black and brown can pair well together.

GF's new Graphite Water Based Stain

"Talk about a before and after! I bought this antique buffet months ago and was waiting for the perfect time to refinish it. Recently, General Finishes came out with new colors for their Milk Paint and Water Based Wood Stain lines. I selected their "Perfect Gray" for the base and "Graystone" for the top." - Eight Hundred Furniture, LLC.

"This is a really neat antique turned leg hutch!The top is stained with General Finishes NEW Water Based Stain Provincial, & the body is painted in layers of General Finishes Alabaster and Lamp Black, a smooth black. It is distressed enough to reveal the Alabaster & some wood, sealed with Fusion Mineral Paint Stain and Finishing Oil in Natural." - Flipping Fabulous

"This oak console table has been refinished in all shades of gray. The top was stained with one of General Finishes NEW water based stain colors called Graphite and I absolutely love it! The bottom was painted in a lighter shade, Seagull Gray. New antiqued pewter hardware from D. Lawless Hardware and gray striped paper liner in the drawers complete this transformation." - Nap Time Creations

This beautiful piece features a worn General Finishes blackish finish, natural legs, with black and white floral lined cabinets and drawers. Full of original character and mixed with a modern finish, this piece will undoubtedly make a statement in your home!

  • 50:50 mix of General Finishes Antique Oak and Black Cherry Water-Based Stains (top only)

2018 GF Design Challenge 3rd Place Winner - Upcycling Category - Roll Out the Burl-El

Oh I love the flame burl and the inlaid on this federal style buffet.  I loved it from the moment I saw it.  I picked it up from a woman who was moving out west to go work at our national parks.  She was emptying her townhome.  I told her I would give the buffet new life and a lot of love.

In prep I cleaned her up with dish soap and water to degrease then scrubbed with a 50/50 mixture of denatured alcohol and water.  The top and the drawers needed to have that beautiful wood grain...

"I started off painting this white, but it just wasn't happening. This has a base coat of General Finishes Alabaster, with the world's best black- General Finishes Lamp Black- sealed with Fusion Mineral Paint Stain and Finishing Oil in Natural. The top is stained with General Finishes NEW Water Based Provincial. It's gorgeous!" - Flipping Fabulous

Love the new General Finishes Gulf Stream Blue!

The top & legs were stained with the new General Finishes Water Based Wood Stains Graystone, layered over Provincial. The entire piece has been sealed with High Performance Satin using my new Dixie Belle blue foam applicator (the best $6 I've ever spent).

"This large wood end table has been stained in one of General Finishes new water based stain colors, Graystone. It’s a beautiful soft gray that allowed for the brown in this grain to show through as well. The bottom was painted in a lightly distressed Alabaster (New GF Milk Paint color!) which really lets the top of this table standout!" - Nap Time Creations

"I started by staining the top and drawer fronts with Whitewash water based stain by General Finishes and painting the rest in a lightly distressed white. When I bought this piece the original hardware were long gone but I am really loving these iron cup pulls I added, they are the perfect addition to this farmhouse makeover." - Nap Time Creations

Introducing 9 new GF Water Based Wood Stain colors

NEW Hickory Water Based Wood Stain from General Finishes, introduced April 2019

NEW Provincial Water Based Wood Stain from General Finishes, introduced April 2019

NEW Antique Brown Water Based Wood Stain from General Finishes, introduced April 2019

NEW Graphite Water Based Wood Stain from General Finishes, introduced April 2019. 

NEW Graystone Water Based Wood Stain from General Finishes, introduced April 2019

NEW Cabernet Water Based Stain from General Finishes, introduced April 2019

NEW Sedona Water Based Wood Stain from General Finishes, introduced April 2019

"This six drawer dresser is now available! You read that right, there are six drawers! Updated to mimic the card catalogue look, but yet functional in that the drawers are larger allowing for ample storage. Refinished using General Finishes new colors, Perfect Gray Milk Paint and Antique Brown Water Based stain which prove to be a new favorite combination." - Flipping Unbelievable