I have a dark wood wardrobe that I would like to lighten, say to a pine shade. Does anyone know how to do it?
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IT'S GOING TO DEPEND ON SEVERAL FACTORS AS TO WHETHER YOU WILL BE ABLE TO LIGHTEN THE WOOD OR NOT.IF THE WOOD IS A LIGHT WOOD THAT HAS BEEN STAINED DARK...YOU MAY BE ABLE TO STRIP IT WITH SOME LIQUID STRIPPER SUCH AS BIX OR ZIP-STRIP.THIS MAY OR MAY NOT TAKE OUT THE DARK COLORING...YOU MAY BE ABLE TO SAND IT TO A LIGHTER COLOR, PROVIDING YOU DON'T SAND THROUGHT ANY VENEERS OR SAND THE DETAILS TOTALLY AWAY IN YOU EFFORT TO MAKE IT LIGHTER...THERE ARE SOME BLEACHING AGENTS THAT CAN BE USED TO BLEACH OUT THE DARK COLOR, BUT THEY ARE CAUSTIC AND DANGEROUS TO BREATH AND GET ON YOUR SKIN..AND IF YOU HAVE NEVER DONE IT BEFORE, YOU JUST MAY END UP WITH A BIGGER MESS..IT'LL ALSO DEPEND ON THE TYPE ON WOOD THAT IS UNDER THE FINISH, IT MAY BE A "REAL" DARK COLORED WOOD TO BEGIN WITH, SUCH AS WALNUT OR ANOTHER DARK WOOD SPECIES..IN THIS CASE, YOU MAY WIND UP DESTROYING THE BEAUTY OF THE NATURAL WOOD..ULTIMATELY, YOU CAN SEND THE PIECE OUT TO A PROFESSIONAL PLACE TO HAVE IT STRIPPED AND LIGHTENED.$$$$ EXPECT TO PAY FOR THIS SERVICE..GOOD LUCK!
Strip the varnish, sand it down, stain to desire.
God Bless
a dark wood wardrobe?
I might be wrong but do you mean bureau?
First you would have to remove the old stain, either by sanding or stripping it. if it's a deep stain then you may want to consider taking it to a professional.
Home Depot, Lowes even WalMart carries a furniture stripping formula that you just paint on with a paintbrush then wipe off. Some sanding with very fine sandpaper for any dings, dents or imperfections in the wood and then re-coat with the color of your choice. These places also sell the color and varnish that come already mixed in the same can so it is one step instead of two. I did this last summer to some tables I had and it works beautifully!
what wood is the wardrobe make of? mahogony? cherry? to make a dark wood lighter , you'll need to bleach it and you can get the stuff at the hardwares store. second, how old is it? if its an antique, you will destroy the value of it if you refinish it.
I had an antique corner cabinet that I lightened by using wood bleach that they sell at Home Depot in the paint department. If the wardrobe has a varnished finish you will have to strip it off and sand beofre usingthe wood bleach. My cabinet turned out great and it matches my light maple cabinets now.
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