Staging outside is just as important as staging inside your house.  Step back, way back, across the street if necessary and look at it with a blind eye.  If it helps take a picture and then review your first impression.  Several of the aspects that help the first impression can be done with a little elbow grease.  Today’s DIY is one them.

I feel like I just purchased these Andorak Chairs, but when I think about it they have been sitting in the sun for two full summers.  They look pretty worn out and dull.  I also happen to have plenty of stain left from my chaise project so this little touch was virtually pennies.

Here’s what my chairs look like before I got started.

andorak chairs before

Staining is a pretty easy project and takes just a few supplies.

Things You’ll Need:

  • Wood Stain
  • A Few Rags
  • Paint Stirrers
  • Portable Vacuums
  • Unfinished Furniture
  • Used Furniture
  • Old Newspapers
  • Sandpaper
  • Slotted Screwdrivers
  • Sandpaper
  1. Place the object to be stained outside or over newspapers in a well-ventilated area.
  2. Sand all surfaces with light-grit sandpaper, then sweep away any remaining sawdust with a hand vacuum, brush or rag.
  3. Pry open the top of the can of stain with a flat-head screwdriver and use a paint stirrer to mix thoroughly.
  4. Dip one corner of a clean rag into the stain. Dab away excess stain on the lip of the can.
  5.  

    Apply a light coat of stain to a hidden part of the object being stained. Apply the stain evenly to avoid a mottled appearance, and use a moderate amount of pressure on the rag.

  6. Check the stain’s color. If the color is right, dip more of the rag into the stain, dab off the excess, and begin staining the rest of the surfaces.
  7.  

    Apply the stain lightly and in long strokes going with the grain of the wood.

  8.  

    Wait an hour or until the first coat is dry.

  9.  

    Check the color.

  10.  

    Add one or more additional coats to darken the stain.

  11.  

    Let it dry overnight.

Because my andorak chairs are for the outdoors I choose to skip several steps, I simply just re-stained over the top of the remaining stain on my chairs.  I didn’t have poly over the top of my stain that needed to  be removed before I could stain them.  The entire project of 2 chairs and 2 side table only took 45 minutes.
Tear off - During
chairs during
Chairs after
On another note, yes the siding in the background belongs to my house.  It’s old, moldy and rotting.  It’s been our dream to tear this off and replace it since we bought our home 3 years ago.  I’d like to say I can do it myself but the project really is to big so we’ve been patiently waiting until the time is right.  So I’m finally able and EXCITED to say that you’ll be seeing lots of this project this fall!
Cheers.

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