Top 5 easiest woods to stain

Choosing the best wood for staining can make or break your cabinet renovation. But it’s a hard choice if you don’t understand the unique characteristics of different wood species. 

Every wood species absorbs stain differently. Woods with open grain structures and consistent textures, like cedar, readily absorb stains, resulting in a vibrant finish. And you must meticulously prepare woods with denser structures, like maple, to avoid the stain looking patchy.

The journey to beautifully finished kitchen cabinets involves understanding these nuances. In this guide, we give you tips on how to choose the right stain, which woods to avoid, and the importance of sanding. We also share the top five easiest woods to stain so you can complete your project with confidence. 

What is a wood stain?

A wood stain is a finish that’s applied to wood surfaces, like cabinets, to enhance their appearance. It consists of a pigment, binder, and solvent and can be oil, water, or gel-based. 

Unlike paint, which covers the wood, stain penetrates the wood’s fibers, highlighting its inherent patterns and infusing it with a new hue. It’s a translucent finish that comes in a range of colors, allowing you to create different effects. 

Wood stains also add a layer of durability to your cabinets. When maintained properly, they are UV- and moisture-resistant and provide decent protection against minor scuffs or scratches.

When to consider using wood stains for cabinets

Use wood stains for cabinets when you want to add a touch of color or highlight the grain. This works wonders in traditional or transitional kitchens, where wooden textures take center stage. 

However, there are some instances where wood stains aren’t the best option. You might go in a different direction if:

• You want a solid, uniform color with a contemporary feel.
• You have a high-traffic kitchen that requires maximum durability.
• You’re refinishing cabinets that have an unappealing grain or don’t stain well.

In these cases, we recommend using paint or lacquer instead of stains. Paint provides a sleeker finish and is easier to refinish cabinets with. Lacquer provides a very hard finish that is much more durable than stain. When refinishing cabinet doors that are difficult to stain or paint, you can also consider laminates or veneers, which create the illusion of solid wood. 

Woods that are easy to stain

Using woods that stain well is key to flawlessly finishing your kitchen cabinets. When deciding on the best wood for staining, pay attention to its natural grain pattern, cell structure, and undertones so that you can more easily achieve your vision. 

1. Oak

Oak is one of the most popular and easiest woods to stain, thanks to its distinct grain pattern and porous composition. Its large, open pores readily absorb stains for even color distribution and a vibrant finish. Additionally, stain really brings oak’s pronounced grain to life, creating a characterful texture. 

There are two popular types of oak: red and white. Red oak is more porous, absorbing stain faster and deeper. This, combined with its undertone, results in a richer color. White oak is a little more stain-resistant and provides a subtler effect. You may need multiple coats to get your desired result. 

2. Ash

Ash stands out as an easy-to-stain wood because of its open grain structure and minimal natural pigmentation. Its light color also offers more versatility, accommodating a range of stain hues without interference from the wood’s undertones. 

Ash’s responsiveness to staining offers a predictable experience. Whether you want a natural appearance or a deeper, more intense shade, ash’s cooperative nature promises an uncomplicated process and visually striking outcome.

3. Hickory

Hickory has a coarse grain pattern and warm coloration. Available in various shades, from creamy yellow to reddish brown, hickory’s surface often features multiple color variations. This may sound like a drawback, but it creates a distinct look. 

Hickory has earned its reputation as a wood that stains well due to its pronounced grain structure and natural porosity. This facilitates efficient stain penetration and better absorption. While it isn’t the cheapest, it is one of the most durable options, with a Janka hardness rating of 1,820.

The only caveat is that its surface is rougher than most hardwoods and requires proper sanding before staining. However, sanding is a crucial step no matter what wood species you choose, so you would be doing this anyway. 

4. Cedar

Another easy-to-stain wood is cedar, which is known for its naturally porous and straight-grained composition. Unlike hickory, cedar has a relatively smooth and uniform surface. That means you will get an even and vivid finish. These inherent properties make cedar responsive to various staining techniques, whether you’re going for a subtle or bold finish.

With a pinkish-red color, cedar has warm undertones. This means it looks great paired with golden oak, honey, or amber hues, which accentuate its warmth. Reddish-brown stains, like cherry or mahogany, also work well, adding richness and depth. This is one reason stained cedar cabinets are so popular in farmhouse-style kitchens.

5. Chestnut

Our final entry for the easiest woods to stain is chestnut. With warm brown hues, elegant grain patterns, and moderate porosity, stain brings out the beauty of this wood. Like the other woods on this list, chestnut has open pores that readily accept stain and allow the color to penetrate evenly.

Chestnut has the added benefit of being a versatile canvas for various colors. Lighter stains retain the natural, rustic appeal of chestnut, amber stains add more depth, and dark walnut stains provide a dramatic, sophisticated look. Its versatility allows you to create a truly personalized finish without having to worry about blotchiness or dullness. 

Woods that are difficult to stain

Knowing the worst woods for staining is just as important as knowing the best woods for staining. Certain species can be really challenging. This is usually because of dense or irregular grain patterns that make it tough to get an even finish. 

Here are some woods we’ve had the most trouble with and a few tips to make staining them a little easier:

• • Birch absorbs pigment unevenly, especially with darker stains. To avoid blotching, use a pre-stain conditioner to partially seal the wood’s surface.
  • Maple does stain well — but it needs careful preparation. This is because it’s tight-pored with irregular grain patterns, so uneven coloration is a high risk. To avoid it, sand the doors well, use a conditioner, and opt for a gel stain, which adheres better to tight grains.
  • Poplar is one of the softest hardwoods and has inconsistent density. There’s also a lot of natural color variation with poplar, making it difficult to achieve an even tone. For best results, use a darker poplar because it has denser grains and stains a lot better.
  • Pine also has an unevenly dense grain, which stains have a hard time penetrating. Lighter colors provide a nicer finish than dark ones, which highlight knots and blemishes. 
  • Cherry has a reputation for blotching because its grain absorbs different amounts of stain at different rates and depths. Circumvent this by sanding thoroughly before staining.

How to choose the right stain

Several factors impact a stain’s final color and affect how it looks on different wood species. Here’s what to keep in mind:

1. Consider the grain of the wood

It’s important to consider how your cabinets’ grain will look with the stain you pick. For example, hickory is a light wood with a darker grain, so picking a light stain will really make the pattern stand out. But if you want a more cohesive look, use a dark stain to disguise the grain and achieve an all-over color. 

2. Research how well the type of wood absorbs stain

Different wood species have different grain structures, porosities, and natural characteristics, impacting how they interact with stains. Understanding these nuances allows you to choose the best wood for staining. The key thing to know is that stains absorb best into woods with larger cells, like oak. Woods with smaller cells and tighter grains stain poorly.

3. Work with the undertone of the wood

Pay attention to whether your wood has warm (red, pink, yellow, orange) or cool (blue, purple, green) undertones. This prevents your stain from clashing with the wood and looking unnatural. For example, red oak’s undertone is obviously red, so a stain with a warm undertone will be more complementary than one with a cool undertone.

4. Always sample

Sampling the stain is key to getting the result you want. You need to know how the wood will react to the color before you start. Otherwise, you might end up frustrated with the results. Always remember: The larger the sample, the more accurate the stain color will be. Also, use two coats of stain for the most accurate sample. 

The importance of sanding before staining

A professional-looking finish hinges on properly preparing your cabinet doors. This involves thorough sanding. Even the easiest woods to stain need to be sanded. While it can be time-consuming, it’s crucial not to skip this step.

The end grain of any wood is more porous and absorbs more stain than the rest of the door, meaning it will appear darker. Sanding the end grain with finer sandpaper combats this, allowing you to get a consistent color. 

Sanding also removes imperfections, rough patches, and existing finishes. This creates a smooth and even surface that the stain can bond more strongly to. If you do not remove these imperfections, you will be left with inconsistent contact areas, resulting in poor adhesion.

It’s particularly important to sand hardwoods and closed-grain woods that tend to resist stain absorption, such as maple or cherry. Sanding opens up their wood pores and allows for better stain penetration. This promotes consistent coloration, enhancing your cabinets’ beauty rather than highlighting their imperfections.

You will get a smoother finish if you work from coarser grits up to finer grits. We suggest starting with 180-grit sandpaper on the majority of the door and then 220–grit sandpaper on the end grain.

Learn more with The Cabinet Door Store

In summary, the easiest woods to stain are oak, ash, hickory, cedar, and chestnut. Look for woods with open, porous grain structures, and always do your research before committing. If your heart is set on a wood species that is notoriously difficult to stain, you can always get around it by meticulously sanding your cabinets, using a pre-stain conditioner, and steering clear of darker tones.

Alternatively, you can skip the headache and purchase pre-stained cabinet doors at The Cabinet Door Store. We stock multiple wood species, cabinet profiles, and matching drawer fronts, all available in a variety of high-quality wood stain colors. You can even see how each stain looks on different species so that you can find the perfect match for your kitchen.

Browse our online store to find everything you need for your cabinet renovation, including hardware. Or, if you need specific help with your project, contact our team of experts.