If you follow along on Instagram, you might have seen that I sanded all the layers of paint off of our entry table. I then used a black stain to update the look. I love seeing all the wood grain showing through. The texture is everything and even though it is still the same black color, it looks and feels so different. (post contains affiliate links, see disclosure)
This console has gone through quite a few changes over the years. First being stained brown with black handles. Then, it was green with brass handles. Then, I painted it black. It also had a short stint as gray but I never liked it and never photographed it. So, it got painted black again. That is five layers if you are keeping track and they all needed to be sanded off.
BEFORE
SUPPLIES
- orbital sander, I use this Ryobi
- package of sanding discs
- staining pad
- Minwax True Black stain
- Minwax Polycrylic, I always use the spray (it’s so easy!)
- brass hardware
- hardware template
- drill and screwdriver
STEPS
First I removed all the hardware and then sanded the paint off the drawers and dresser. Then, I filled the existing holes from the hardware with wood filler and sanded again. Next, I started staining and ended up doing three coats in total. The first coat was not very dark at all but eventually, it became a true black. Then, I sprayed on the poly and let it dry. The next day I used my template to pre-drill holes and reinstall the hardware.
It was a lot of work and took me a whole weekend but I absolutely love the results. I realize that at quick glance, it looks exactly the same. But in person, it looks and feels so much different. I just can’t get over this black grain! You can get this same look immediately with my original Ikea tutorial and just using the black stain!
