HOW TO STENCIL WITH GEL STAIN FOR A RICH GRAIN LOOK | YOUTUBE VIDEO
Hey, sweet friends! Have you ever wanted to add a gorgeous, rich design to your furniture without using paint? Well, today, I’m sharing a fun and easy way to stencil using gel stain! This technique adds so much depth and character, whether you’re working on raw wood, a painted piece, or even a previously stained surface. Let’s jump right in!
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Here’s the thrift store wrought iron and wood table I found. A perfect blank canvas to test stenciling with gel stains.
And a convenient size to lug through all this snow we’ve been getting! Here’s the view from my back door right now. And we are expecting MORE snow tonight!
The wood top was a little scratched up on this table so it was a good candidate to upcycle and redesign.
The base is wrought iron and I like the shape and design of this table. Super cute.
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SUPPLIES YOU’LL NEED
Thrifted Coffee Table – SALVAGED
Gloves (optional but helpful)
Painters Tape
Shop Towels
White Lightning Cleaner
Heat Gun
Bosch Sander
Espresso Gel Stain
Smooth Foam Roller
Harlequin Stencil
Gator Hide Topcoat
THRIFT TABLE MAKEOVER
Here’s how I created a unique design with gel stain and stencils…
CLEAN
I removed the price tag started cleaning with a heavy-duty cleaner and cleaned it from top to bottom. I made sure to give the top grooves extra attention using a scrubby brush.
SANDING
When I gel stain over an existing finish, scuff sanding is all that’s required. This is because gel stains work like a paint – they sit on top of a surface rather than absorb into a wood surface like traditional stains do. For this table, I wanted my stencil design on top of raw natural wood so I took my heavy-duty Bosch Sander and sanded off the existing finish. I went ahead and removed all the dust using a tack cloth and then brought it back into my paint room for stain and design.
GEL STAINING
As I mentioned above, gel stains CAN be applied over an existing finish. This is exactly what I did with the lip and handles on this thrift table. I choose a gorgeous Espresso Gel Stain. I poured a small amount onto a paper plate (you’ll see why below!) and then using a soft rag, applied a small amount of gel stain to the lip and handles of this table. Once I covered the lip in gel stain, I went back and wiped off any excess.
STENCILING WITH GEL STAIN
Now for the fun part! I used this Harlequin Stencil to create a dramatic geometric design on the top of this table. Because it’s a large stencil and a large area to cover, I decided to use a foam roller to stain the design quickly. This is why I put the stain onto a paper plate – easy rolling! I could have used a stencil brush, rag, or shop towel. Just keep in mind whatever you use, the key is to offload the excess stain. Otherwise, the gel stain will seep under the stencil and look messy. I also like using painter’s tape to keep the stencil in position while rolling.
I originally was going to stencil the entire table top but after doing the center slats, I changed my mind and opted for the center focal point. I removed the stencil while the gel stain was still wet and carefully lined up the design to finish the length of the table. I hope you can see the gorgeous grain peeking through these stained checks!!
TOP COAT
To protect this table (which may be high traffic from spills, dirt, hot plates etc), I used Gator Hide. I sprayed three coats lightly sanding between coats one and two. The third coat does not need sanding. As you can see, once this water-based topcoat went on, it darkened and warmed up the natural wood and gel-stained design.
HOW TO STENCIL WITH GEL STAIN
STEP 1: PREP YOUR SURFACE
A little prep goes a long way. If your piece already has a finish, a quick clean with TSP or a mild cleaner will do the trick. Make sure your surface is clean, dry, and smooth. If you’re working with raw wood, give it a light sanding (or sand down to bare wood) and wipe away the dust.
STEP 2: POSITION & SECURE YOUR STENCIL
Place your stencil exactly where you want your design. If you’re working on a curved or tricky surface, a stencil adhesive spray will help keep everything in place. Otherwise, good ol’ painter’s tape will work just fine!
STEP 3: APPLY YOUR GEL STAIN
Here’s where the magic happens! Using a stencil brush, sponge, foam roller, or rag, apply a tiny amount of gel stain over your stencil. Less is more—so offload any excess onto a paper towel before dabbing it onto your piece. I like to make sure my applicator is fairly ‘dry’ to avoid pushing the stain underneath the stencil.
👉 PRO TIP: If you’re layering multiple colors for depth, start with your lightest shade first, then build up darker tones gradually.
STEP 4: REMOVE YOUR STENCIL
Carefully peel back your stencil while the stain is still wet. Don’t wait too long, or the stain may dry and stick to the stencil edges! If you need to reuse the stencil, wipe it clean with mineral spirits or stain remover before it dries.
STEP 5: LET IT DRY
Patience is key! Gel stain takes longer to dry than paint, so let it sit for at least 24 hours before sealing or touching up any details. If you’re working in a humid area, it might take a little longer.
STEP 6: SEAL & PROTECT (OPTIONAL BUT RECOMMENDED!)
To keep your gorgeous new design intact, apply a clear topcoat. Depending on the finish you want, you can use polyurethane for durability, wax for a soft sheen, or a matte topcoat for a modern feel.
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Wow. I love it! Such a transformation from a piece of furniture most would discard to a beautiful accessory.
Heeeyyyyy, thanks Marzenna and so nice to see you here!!!💕 It was a cute piece to start but, ya, I think it has even more character now! Miss you and hope everything is going well. Hugs XOXO
Beautiful job! I’d like to try your method on an old singer sewing machine table that I just purchased. I know it will look great! Thanks so much for sharing !
Hi Juanita! I love working on those old singer tables, lucky you! I think it would be beautiful as well! xo
Fantastic idea, Denise! Gel stain over a stencil makes perfect sense. I can. Think of so many patterns I’d like to work with. Thanks for sharing your always inspiring makeovers. Have a great week and stay warm. xo 😘
Oh, I’m trying to stay warm but this weather is killer🥶🤣… spring weather can’t come soon enough! Hope you have a great week as well my friend. XOXO
I love it. Where do you sell your furniture you have done so many pieces that would look good in my house. You are a gifted artist.
Thank you Pamela! 💕 Some of my pieces get inquiries off social media or the #siblog, some get posted on FBM, others get gifted or donated. I used to try to list them ALL for sale but it was very time consuming. I’d rather put that time and energy into creating videos and step-by-step tutorials for all of you.:)
What a great idea! You never cease to amaze me (:
Thank you Candace!🤗
To start, my sympathies on the snow, winter can be so brutal! Also I love your pink sneakers! and your gold bracelets while staining! You are fearless! The table (an unusual design) turned out great as usual I wouldn’t have thought of gel stain for stenciling. Did a similar design years ago on a table but with paint and I had some bleed thru. Nothing of your caliber but it was fun.
This little table is bringing back memories…love it!!! And yes, I’m not into any snow sports like skiing or ice skating. I’m not a huge winter person… even though it’s soooo part of being Canadian…lol. I can’t wait for spring to arrive!!! And thanks re the shoes and gold bracelets.🤗
Absolutely fantastic! And not feminine! So men would love this too along with us ladies! Love the wood showing through. It is a really nice piece!
Yessss, I can see this in a ‘dudes-decor’😃😉. I’m so happy you like the makeover Susan, thanks so much!!
That’s a really nice little find and the stenciling really brought it to life. Lots of good ideas here. Thank you!
Cute little find, right?!😃 Thanks so much, I had a lot of fun ‘playing’ with this one!
Hi Denise. Love the new look!!!
Hi Monique, thank yoouuuu! xo
Wow! I love this piece. Your choices are spot on for enhancing the unusual shapes, materials and mood of the table. Makes me happy every time I look at it.
I’m so glad you like it Cyndel! I agree, it’s a fun little table! Have a great week! xo
that looks fantastic! I did something like this in the mid 70s on an unfinished waterbed frame! Lol. I used Con-tact paper to block the stain and did some leaf shapes on the corners of the frame and then stained over the whole thing and then removed the Con-tact paper. It looked pretty great! It wasn’t nearly the professional job you’ve done here. This looks beautiful. But it was fun taking a trip down memory lane and remembering that project from years ago.
Omygosh, thanks for sharing this! I wish I could see a before and after of that waterbed frame – it sounds awesome!! So glad it brought back some fun/creative memories Marcia! XOXO
You have a great eye Denise! I wouldn’t have looked twice at this table. This is a must try!
Thanks so much Nicki! I hope you find a great piece to give this a try on! 🙂
Wow ! Such a unique piece. I’ve never seen anything like this.
And you made it amazing !
Your vision to stencil this is Perfect. Looks like it was meant to be like this.
You make this look easy… I can’t believe the stain didn’t bleed under the stencil.
Thanks so much for sharing. I love love love it !!!
So glad you love it and this stencil was easy! It was a large size so I didn’t have to keep repositioning it and the roller cuts down on time and effort as well. So long as it’s not overloaded, no bleed under the stencil!😊
Nice transformation 💖
Thanks Deborah! xo