Ways with wood stains

02 Mar 2023

Wood stains are an excellent way to enhance the natural beauty of wood and add character to your home décor. There are many Resene wood stains available, from natural to blue, or red tinted, each with their own unique colour and characteristics.

This room makes the most of colour through wood stains using Resene Colorwood Natural on the flooring and Resene Colorwood Charred Black on the plywood. The battens are painted in Resene All Black, light shade in Resene Black White, sideboard in Resene Snow Drift, nest tables in Resene Bison Hide and Resene Quarter Drought, vases in Resene Quarter Drought and Resene Half Hairy Heath and dish in Resene Tequila. Sofa from Nood, Rug from Adairs, throws and cushions from Citta, all other items stylist's own. Project by Laura Lynn Johnston, image by Wendy Fenwick.

A natural wood stain is the most commonly used type of wood stain, designed to enhance the natural beauty of wood by deepening its natural colour and bringing out the grain. Resene Colorwood Natural is ideal for creating a classic, timeless look in your home like wooden flooring or furniture. 

Wood stains can be used creatively on much more than floors and decking. Dark stains like Resene Colorwood Charred Black give sharpness and structure to wood grains, elevating an inexpensive material such as plywood to give a room a dramatic backdrop.

Top tip: If choosing a dark wall colour, keep in mind that you may need to adjust your lighting to suit. Dimmer switches are a great option for creating moodiness and ambiance and reducing glare while still allowing the flexibility to bring the lights up for circumstances that may demand more illumination. 

This beachy light toned room has flooring finished in Resene Colorwood Whitewash, walls painted in Resene Eighth Joss and a headboard painted in Resene Norway with cross stitch patterned feature in Resene Quarter Joss, Resene Woodrush, Resene Planter, Resene Half Malta, Resene Bandicoot and Resene Lemon Ginger. The bedside table is painted in Resene Bandicoot. Project by Annick Larkin, image by Bryce Carleton.

Great for brightening up spaces or creating coastal vibes, Resene Colorwood Whitewash is chic and sophisticated, a great look for any space. You might also like to try a grey tone for an antique, rustic feel using ReseneColorwoodGreywash. If you’d rather have a slightly bleached look, try ReseneColorwood Rock Salt.  

Try a red-tinted stain for outdoors like Resene Kwila Timber Stain, a shade that pairs well with surrounding greenery and complements outdoor spaces.  

Reddish wood stains such as Resene Woodsman Kwila and Resene Kwila Timber Stain are perfect for creating a warm and inviting atmosphere and can be used to achieve a traditional, rustic look or a more modern, sophisticated vibe, depending on the shade and the application.

You could go ‘against the grain’ for a unique look and try Resene Woodsman Earthsong, a fresh forest green ideal for creating a fresh, organic feel in your home, or a grey blue such as Resene Woodsman Pickled Bluewood, perfect for creating a nautical, beachy feel or a bold, modern look.

Whether you're looking to create a traditional, rustic feel or a modern, contemporary vibe, there's a Resene wood stain to suit your needs. When choosing a wood stain, consider the type of wood you're working with, the style you want to achieve and the overall ambiance you're looking to create in your home. With the right wood stain, you can enhance and protect the natural beauty of your wood and create a warm and inviting atmosphere.

View the colour range online:

For interiors, Resene Colorwood or for exteriors, Resene Woodsman.

Published: 02 Mar 2023