{"id":1613,"date":"2022-05-19T21:31:00","date_gmt":"2022-05-20T01:31:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/diywithchristine.com\/?p=1613"},"modified":"2024-02-28T16:25:10","modified_gmt":"2024-02-28T21:25:10","slug":"mix-custom-wood-stain-colors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diywithchristine.com\/mix-custom-wood-stain-colors\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Mix Wood Stains To Make Custom Colors (+ Examples!)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Have you ever wondered if you can mix stain colors? Well, look no further because I have your answer!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mixing stain colors create custom colors that add uniqueness to wood projects. Custom stain colors help your wood project better complement other colors within your home by minimizing the natural wood tones (red, brown, yellow) in some colors and enhancing the neutral tones (gray, black, white) in others. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, mixing 50% brown stain and 50% gray stain creates a more modern gray-brown stain that cannot be bought in store.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I really wanted a more gray-brown color for our floating fireplace mantel, so I decided to run this experiment to figure out what happens when you mix stain colors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This post will demonstrate what I found!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that I\u2019ve figured out how to mix custom stain colors, I know that I can always find the perfect color to complement the project I\u2019m working on. And after you see my mixing process\/ results, you\u2019ll be able to also.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Below, I broke down the different custom colors I created and how I mixed them (I even used 4 different stain colors!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hopefully, this will help you determine which custom stain color is best for your next wood project. (Or how you could create your own custom color!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s dive in!<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n To determine what happens when you mix stain colors, I used 4 different colors of Varathane Fast Dry Wood Stain on a sanded piece of pinewood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I absolutely love <\/strong>this stain found at Amazon<\/a> because it dries in 1 hour and is ready to be top-coated! <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n (Unlike other stains that take 2 hours all the way up to 24 hours to dry before being top-coated. I don\u2019t know about you, but I don\u2019t have time for that!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Plus, this stain leaves a rich color with a single coat of stain, which is another time-saver. That\u2019s what we\u2019d call a win-win around here! <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n So I always opt for this brand of stain for my wood projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Varathane colors I used to mix my custom colors include Early American, Weathered Gray, Ebony, and Dark Walnut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here is a picture of how all of the various color mixtures turned out!<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n My all-time favorite custom color is 50% Early American and 50% Weathered Gray because it creates a gorgeous and modern gray-brown stain. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This color mixture complements my mostly gray, black, and white home perfectly.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n No matter what colors you mix, you\u2019ll want to mix them in a measured out fashion (ex. 25% one color 75% the other color, 50%-50%, etc.). <\/p>\n\n\n\n That way, you can replicate the recipe in the future! (Or on the off chance that you don\u2019t mix enough the first time for your current project. You know, it happens to the best of us haha!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can do this by using a plastic spoon or an old tablespoon or anything else you can come up with to make the measurements equal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alright, let\u2019s discuss the custom colors I made!<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n The different mixtures I made from Early American and Weathered Gray were my favorite. <\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Early American stain is a lighter walnut that naturally brings out the gorgeous woodgrain in pine. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When Early American stain is mixed with the more opaque Weathered Gray stain, it changes from a strong brown color to a gray-brown color.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n That makes this color perfect for your home if you have a strong contemporary style. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Grays are in, so mixing a wood stain that complements the grays in your home is an excellent move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s exactly why we mixed a custom color for our floating fireplace mantel. 50% Early American mixed with 50% Weathered Gray makes this beautiful color!<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n (P.S. If you want to make a floating mantel just like ours for cheap, you should check out my tutorial here<\/a>. Regular fireplace mantels that look just like this cost $350+. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I said no way! I made mine for less than $60, and it\u2019s something that I\u2019m proud to tell guests that I made!)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n As you mix these colors, add a little more Early American stain for a more brown color, or a little more Weathered Gray stain for a more rustic gray color.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n The next two colors I mixed together were Ebony and Weathered Gray. <\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Both Ebony stain and Weathered Gray stain are opaque<\/em> – meaning that they don\u2019t let the wood grain shine through as well as the other more yellow or brown colors.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n So that makes any of these mixtures perfect for you if you aren\u2019t a huge fan of prominent woodgrains. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Mixing Ebony and Weathered Gray stain also would go fabulous in your home if blacks and grays are strong accent colors throughout your home.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Imagine some gorgeous wood tables or stools in the 50% Ebony and 50% Weathered Gray mixture!<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you mix these colors, add a little more Ebony stain for a more prominent black color or add a little more Weathered Gray stain for a more prominent gray color.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n The next two colors I mixed together were Ebony and Dark Walnut.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Mixing Ebony Stain with Dark Walnut stain is perfect to darken a dark walnut even further and pull in the more modern blacks and grays into the stain.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you haven\u2019t noticed, I love mixing brown stains with black or gray stains. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I think they complement each other wonderfully because the browns highlight those gorgeous woodgrains while the blacks\/grays pull in that more contemporary, muted look!<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you felt like the Early American and Weathered Gray stain mixture was still too light for you, then mixing Ebony and Dark Walnut could be the answer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n (Or mixing Dark Walnut and Weathered Gray stain could be an excellent custom gray-brown stain mixture! <\/p>\n\n\n\n I didn\u2019t test that color combo, but it also would create that gray-brown color that\u2019s darker than the Early American version would bring.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Any of these color mixtures would look fantastic on wood shelves with a bright white wall behind them!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Just like the other colors, mix a little bit more Ebony stain for a more prominent black color or mix a little bit more Dark Walnut stain for a more prominent brown color.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n The last custom stain mixture I tried was Early American and Dark Walnut.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, you might be laughing at me for mixing two brown stains that are relatively close in color, and it\u2019s okay. I\u2019m laughing too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All of these colors turned out almost exactly the same haha! Of course, that\u2019s probably not surprising to some.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But to me, I had to make sure I wasn\u2019t missing out on a really pretty color combo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The beauty behind me spending the time to make this mix is that now you don\u2019t have to wonder about how it would turn out! <\/p>\n\n\n\n The best stain mixture recipes involve mixing more opaque colors like Ebony or Weathered Gray (or other gray, black, or white stain colors) with less opaque colors like Early American or Dark Walnut (or other natural wood-toned stain colors).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I loved doing these experiments because now I can keep this piece of pine and determine which custom color would be perfect for my next wood project!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, I\u2019m sure you have a few other questions about staining as I have over time, so check out these FAQs to build your staining knowledge base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some other frequently asked questions about stain and polyurethane applications to help you create the most flawless wood projects!<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Here is a list of the most popular stains and how long you should let the stain dry before applying polyurethane. <\/p>\n\n\n\nQuick Navigation: Mixing Stain Colors<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Mixed Stain Color Chart Using Varathane Fast Dry Wood Stain On Pine<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Stain Mixing Ratios<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Early American & Weathered Gray Custom Stain Mixture Recipes<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ebony & Weathered Gray Custom Stain Mixture Recipes<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ebony & Dark Walnut Custom Stain Mixture Recipes<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Early American & Dark Walnut Custom Stain Mixture Recipes<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Other FAQs About Mixing Stains<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How Long Should Stain Dry Before Applying Polyurethane?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n