One to Try: General Finishes Oil-Based Penetrating Wood Stain is easy to apply, according to reviews, even for beginners. It comes in 14 colors. It's meant to be brushed on, then the excess wiped off.

Maple and cherry, conversely, feature smoother surfaces due to their closed grain. Proceed as follows: For my table, I'm using a water-based stain by General Finishes. I'll go over each step in ...

If you still love that look, refine it for the 2020s using river rock-gray stains paired with flat white paint. If you want to replicate this look, try General Finishes water-based stain in ...