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How to Finish Wooden Furniture

Get the best from beds, wardrobes, tables and more

With such a wide range of wood finishes available, it can sometimes be difficult to know which product is best to use on interior furniture. The following is a brief guide to the types of finish and their main attributes.

Varnish: Varnishes are the strongest type of finish and give a more glass like appearance, with 3 gloss levels available: matt, satin and gloss.

Wood Oils: With a good level of durability and a soft sheen appearance, wood oils provide a good level of water resistance to interior furniture and can be easily repaired if the wood oil becomes damaged or scratched.

Wood Waxes: Whilst Wax Polishes are the least strong of these 3 finishes, wood waxes give a beautiful traditional look and are easy to apply. Wood waxes provide a good level of sheen once buffed and are fairly easy to repair if they get scratched or damaged.

Stage 1: Preparation Stage 2: Staining Stage 3: Top Coats Stage 4: Buffing Furniture Maintainance Optional Extras

Stage 1: Preparation

Preparing interior furniture for the best results.

As with almost any project, preparation is the key to great looking results. With the correct preparation, interior furniture can be revived or transformed.

Wax Remover Recommended
As an effective alternative to sanding, wax remover can help with the removal of existing wax coatings from interior furniture and flooring prior to coating with a new product or wood finish.

Brand: SWS

from £1.95

Stainable Wood Fillers Best Value
Perfect for use on interior furniture, stainable wood filler can be applied, sanded and stained to produce a repair that blends in with the surrounding wood.

Brand: Bonda

only £4.29

Wood Filler Gel Best Quality
For an almost invisible repair on interior furniture and wooden flooring, just mix fine wood dust from the piece being repaired with the wood filler gel. After application, the dried gel can be sanded smooth and stained with wood waxes, oils or stain.

Brand: Manns

from £16.59

Filler Knife
Strong and flexible, these very handy filler knifes are great for applying and shaping wood fillers on interior furniture and wooden floors.

Brand: Mako

only £1.77

Sandpaper Rolls
Essential for repairing and preparing wooden surfaces, interior furniture and wooden floors. Our aluminium oxide sandpaper is both tough and durable allowing longer periods of sanding before the paper needs changing.

Brand: Hermes

from £14.27

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Stage 2: Staining

Wood stains to enhance and transform interior furniture and floors.

With a choice of water, wax or solvent based stains, it's possible to enhance or transform interior furniture and floors. Combined with a compatible wood dye, almost any colour or shade of wood stain can be achieved transforming the look and mood of a room.

Wood Stain
Perfect for colouring interior furniture, floors, wood craft and other projects. Water based wood stain can be easily applied with a brush or sponge, ideal for difficult to reach areas such as carved, turned and decorative legs on tables and chairs. To be used in conjunction with your chosen top coat(s).

Brand: Manns

from £2.50

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Wax Stain Alternative Product
Perfect for use as a one coat finish, wax stain is ideal for interior furniture. Commonly used by the trade, wax stain is often used to age the appearance of new wood, concentrated wood dyes can be added to change the shade or colour of the stain. With a wax content, this product can be buffed to give interior furniture a gentle sheen.

Brand: Ciranova

from £9.00

Wood Stain (Solvent Based) Alternative Product
Solvent stain is an effective, non grain raising, stain that can be used on interior furniture and flooring. With a solvent content, this product is light fast, quick drying and non grain raising, an issue that can arise with water based stains on soft woods. Solvent based wood dyes can be added to change the shade or colour of this stain. Requires varnish, oil or wax as a top coat.

Brand: Manns

from £37.95

Stage 3: Top Coats

Wood finishes to enhance the look and durability of interior furniture.

Top coats are designed to protect and seal wood stains and other finishes from the day to day rigours of use. Providing a protective coating that can normally be dusted or wiped with a damp cloth, a good top coat will protect the look of interior furniture and floors for many years.

Easy Wax
Specially good for interior furniture, this soft wax is ideal for furniture with shaped features such as turned or moulded table and chair legs. Easily applied with a paint brush or sponge, easy wax nourishes and protects wood and can be buffed to a good sheen.

Brand: Manns

from £5.97

Hard Wax Oil
Hard wax oil produces an extremely tough finish that is suitable for interior furniture and other wooden surfaces that are subject to a high degree wear and tear. Quick drying and safe for use on childrens furniture and toys, hard wax oil is a perfect all round solution.

Brand: Fiddes

from £3.50

Extra Tough Clear Varnish
Ideal for use on interior furniture and flooring, extra tough clear varnish is available in a matt, satin and gloss finish. Low odour and quick drying, this is a popular product for internal wooden surfaces.

Brand: Manns

from £3.47

Stage 4: Buffing

Producing a natural sheen on interior furniture surfaces.

Wax and hard wax oil can be gently buffed to create a natural sheen on interior furniture and other wooden surfaces. With the aid of a good stockinette cloth or drill buffing brush, a good level of sheen can be quickly and easily produced reducing the need for further top coats.

Cloth Highly Recommended
Perfect for the maintenance and cleaning of interior furniture, stockinette cloth is both convenient and affordable. These lint free cloths are perfect for buffing and polishing furniture and flooring.

Brand: Manns

from £2.97

Drill Buffing Brushes
Ideal for buffing and polishing interior furniture, these handy brushes fit any standard electric drill and come in a range of shapes and sizes.

Brand: Manns

from £15.25

Furniture Maintainance

Cleaning, polishing, dusting, get the most out of interior furniture.

When cleaning real wood furniture and wooden floors, excessive amounts of water should be avoided. For interior furniture with a varnished finish, damp cloths can be used to clean the surface. Oiled furniture should only be wiped over with a slightly damp cloth, never wet. For stubborn marks on extra tough clear varnish or hard wax finishes, a little floor cleaner in a container of warm water can be used with a damp cloth.

Cloth Highly Recommended
This very versatile product is suitable for buffing polishing and cleaning interior furniture. Made from a lint free cotton weave, it will not leave bits and pieces of cloth over furniture surfaces or wooden floors.

Brand: Manns

from £2.97

Easy Wax Recommended
When applied with a fine grade wire wool, easy wax can be used to remove fine scratches and water marks from interior furniture, it's also great for cleaning old waxed surfaces.

Brand: Manns

from £5.97

Steel Wool
Used with our easy wax product, a fine grade wire wool can be used to help clean old waxed surfaces. Steel wool can also be used to remove fine scratches and water marks from interior furniture and other real wood surfaces.

Brand: Trollull

from £2.45

Optional Extras

To aid with the upkeep of interior furniture and finishes.

With a few extra tools, the time and effort spent on large scale projects can be significantly reduced. From spray machines to brush cleaners, these handy extras can help to save time and money when producing, renovating or maintaining interior furniture and other wooden surfaces.

HVLP Apollo Spray Mate
The best way to quickly and effectively coat interior furniture with varnishes, oils or waxes. Light and portable, HVLP spray machines work from mains power with no need for heavy and bulky air compressors.

Brand: Apollo

only £102.77

Mako Bucket
Square and large enough to use with rollers, these Mako buckets have a number of handy little features that help with measuring and using paints and wood finishing products. Ideal for use with waxes, oils and stains on flooring and internal furniture.

Brand: Mako

from £3.77