DIY MANTEL STAIN

6/10/2019

Sometimes no matter how hard we look, we just cannot find that perfect something to add to our home! Price, finish, and size are always factors that can keep us from finding our vision, so why not just MAKE exactly what you dreamt up?

With our latest project, that is exactly what we did. We were looking for a 7' long wood mantel that was the perfect grey but also wasn't over stained. Those were our non-negotiables and it made a lot more sense to just do it ourselves!

Below are four easy steps to follow to create your dream mantel.

What You'll Need:

Sander
Saw Horses
Tack Cloth
Stain Cloth
Sanding Sheets
Minwax Grey Stain

Step 1: Sanding

Using your saw horses, place your piece of wood balanced on the two, in a place where saw dust won't hurt anything (it's messy) and start your sanders! Make sure to sand down all sides of your raw wood, including the ends, until all of the rough spots and edges are smooth.
This may take a couple of go's!

Step 2: Saw Dust Removal

After sanding there will be lots of little wood particles hanging out on your mantel's surface, this is where your tack cloths come in handy! These little guys are SUPER sticky, annoying for your hands, but amazing at getting off all of the saw dust for a smooth surface. Run your tack cloth over every bit of your mantel to make sure no wood pieces get left behind.

Step 3: Conditioning

I find that using a wood conditioner helps the stain adhere to the wood MUCH better than times I have not used a conditioner. Use one of your stain cloths and dip it into your pre-stain, (don't forget to wear gloves) and apply a generous coat to all sides of your mantel, again, don't forget the ends and edges.
This dries pretty quickly, so no waiting period necessary before step four.

Step 4: Staining

The last step to staining your mantel is of course, staining! Use a fresh stain cloth and dip it into your stain (don't forget to stir it) completely covering the mantel one coat at a time. The more coats you apply, the darker your stain will be and the less natural wood grain will show.
For this mantel, I only applied two coats of stain to maintain visibility of the wood grain, adding a very light grey tint. Wait at least 30 minutes between coats of stain to allow the wood to accept the stain and to see an accurate stain color.

Tip: After deciding what side of your mantel is going to be the back (touching the fireplace), test out your stain here first to make sure you love the color!

TA - DA ~ You have stained your own mantel!
After allowing it to dry for several hours, you are ready to hang that beauty. This project is a great way to save money and create a one-of-a kind focal point for your home. Enjoy your custom addition to your fireplace friend, tag us on Instagram so we can see your take on this DIY mantel stain tutorial!

Stay tuned to see the finished fireplace and how we stage our new mantel!