101 BEGINNERS TUTORIAL ON HOW TO STAIN A WICKER BASKET | YOUTUBE VIDEO

Hello sweet friends, and welcome back to another Trashy Treasure Tuesday! Last week in the thrift store I came across a wicker basket that I loved – but didn’t love the color. I’m so happy I picked it up though! I gave it a makeover and it’s looking gorgeous in my living room. Today, I’m sharing a beginner’s 101 step-by-step tutorial on how to stain wicker. I can’t wait to hear what you think of this easy before and after!

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I’m also joining my TTT crew and sharing links to their projects below. I’m looking forward to seeing what they’ve created and I hope you join me on today’s tour as well!

Here is the thrifted wicker basket I started with. It’s fairly large, perfect for blankets, pillows, or anything else that might need a hidey-space.

I found it at my local thrift store selling for $8.99 with an additional 30% off. I didn’t know it at the time of buying it, but it’s an Ikea Box.

It’s in really good shape other than fraying edging around the lid.

THIS POST IS SPONSORED/CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS TO PRODUCTS I USE.  YOU CAN SEE MY FULL DISCLOSURE HERE.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

Thrifted Wicker Basket  – SALVAGED
Continuous Spray Bottle
Sanding Sponge
Soft Rag/Towel
No Pain Gel Stain (Walnut)
Raffia Ribbon (for repair)
Chip Brush
Satin Clear Coat

HOW TO STAIN WICKER

I’ve always been confused about the difference between wicker and rattan and thought I’d share this little tid-bit as I’m probably not the only one. After doing some research, I learned rattan is a type of material and wicker is a weaving style or technique. Rattan is often used in wicker furniture yet wicker can also be made from bamboo, willow, and other materials.

Here’s how I transformed this wicker blanket basket…

STEP #1 CLEAN & PREP

To clean the wicker, I used a continuous mist water bottle and a large sponge. I didn’t want to saturate or drench the wicker with water so the fine spray worked well. When cleaning the underside, I saw the Ikea sticker. Mystery solved. Andrea and I thought it might be Pottery Barn.

I made sure to give the inside and the lid a good cleaning as well. Once my sponge was coming out clean, I let the basket dry 100%.

STEP # 2 SCUFF SAND WICKER

Once dry, I scuff-sanded with a flexible 220-grit sanding sponge to create some tooth on the wicker for better stain adhesion. When I finished scuff sanding, I removed the dust using a tack cloth.

I also removed the felt from the bottom and gave this basket a once over to see if it needed any repair.

STEP #3 REPAIRING

There were a few ‘worn’ areas of wicker on the bottom of this basket but I wasn’t worried about it as no one would notice the bottom so much. The top lid was unraveling a little though. To fix it up, I went to Michaels and picked up a spool of raffia ribbon. I cut off the pieces that were hanging loose on the basket lip and then threaded new raffia ribbon around the rim.  I threaded it in between the existing rattan and used a hot glue gun on a few areas for extra hold. Bonus – raffia ribbon is also great for gift wrapping so the rest of the spool won’t go to waste over the holidays!

STEP #4 APPLYING THE STAIN

Now for the FUN part! I tested a few stain colors to see which one I liked best. I tried three stains on the backside of the wicker basket. The first (from left to right in the pic below) was Golden Ash, Walnut, and Colonial Black. I really liked the tone and warmth of the Walnut stain.

I applied the gel stain using a chip brush making sure not to overload the bristles. I started applying the stain up and down.

Then side to side. If any was pooling or some areas weren’t getting covered, I pounced the chip brush up and down and then smoothed everything out afterwards. I’ll have the full demo in the Youtube video being published this weekend.

When I had a full side of the wicker basket covered in stain, I took a soft rag and wiped off the excess immediately.

STEP #5 SEAL THE WICKER

Once the stain is 100% dry, I applied 2 coats of this sealer with my chip brush. I was going to spray it on with my paint gun but I wanted to share how easy it is to brush it on if you don’t have a sprayer. The key is not overloading the brush. I dipped my chipbrush into the topcoat just enough that the top of the bristles were covered.

I like using this Satin Clear Coat because it goes on milky. This way I can see if there are any drips or places I’ve missed.

12 (MORE) TIPS – STAINING WICKER

1 Choose the right stain for the wicker. An oil-based stain, gel stain or stain specifically designed for wicker as these will penetrate the wicker and last longer.

2. Clean the wicker thoroughly before applying stain. Remove all dust, dirt and oils. Then allow the wicker to dry thoroughly.

3. Work in a well-ventilated area. Safety from fumes and good air circulation is key.

4. Protect your workspace with drop clothes. Depending on what type of stain you use, it can get messy and stain is not easy to remove.

5. Use a sprayer for even application. A paint gun or spray stains can be purchased in cans from any hardware store. Spraying stain on wicker is easy because it gets into all the nooks and crannies of the weave.

6. Brush carefully in small manageable sections when using a brush. Avoid overloading your brush. Apply the stain up and down. Side to side. And don’t be afraid to pounce the brush into the nooks and crannies of the wicker. Then smooth it out.

7. Work in sections for an even application then wipe off the excess.

8. Apply additional coats of stain if you want a darker look. Stain on wicker is buildable.

9. Always test your stain color in an inconspicuous area before applying all over your project. Depending on the natural rattan or finished material used on your wicker piece, it may absorb differently and the color may not be exactly what you’re after.

10. Apply the stain moderately so the material doesn’t get oversaturated as this can weaken or warp the natural rattan or wicker material.

11. Use a water-resistant poly topcoat for outdoor projects.

12. If you have any questions about gel-stains, I have a full Q&A Tutorial answering over 16 FAQ’s on How To Apply Gel Stain To FINISHED Wood

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