DIY Wood Stain| How to Make Wood Stain with Acrylic Paint

Check out this tutorial to learn how to make a DIY wood stain using only two things: acrylic craft paint and good ol’ water! That’s it!

Unless your are re-staining your deck, you never have to purchase stain for a craft project ever again. I discovered this out of necessity a few years back and I felt like Einstein. I was crafting into the wee hours of the night when I sadly realized I was out of wood stain. DANG! I was out of stain but surrounded by acrylic paint.. tons of acrylic paint! So, I thought why not? I diluted it a bit and that frame looks properly stained to this day! Check out that project here. I love it when things like this happen!

This post is all about how to make your very own DIY wood Stain!

Pin DIY Wood Stain for Later

Materials for DIY Wood Stain

• A container with a lid – the lid is optional, but it will allow you to store your stain for future projects
• Craft Acrylic Paint – I usually use brown and black
• Water
• Paint brush

Instructions for DIY Wood Stain

1. Mix your Paints Together to the Reach Desired Color of your Stain

Mix your paints together to reach the desired color of your stain. I usually use a 3:1 ratio with brown and black paint: 3 parts brown and 1 part black. Once you like the shade of the paint mixture you are ready to move onto the next step.

2. Gradually Mix Water into Paint Mixture

Now that you have your desired shade mixed together, gradually mix in a very small amount of water to thin out your mixture. I usually start with just a splash of water to start and add more if needed.

3. Test Stain on a Scrap Piece of Wood

To test the color and consistency of your stain, brush it on a small area of your project or a scrap piece of wood. Personally, I like being able to see the grain of wood, so I make my stain fairly thin.  This step requires some experimenting, but don’t stress. If it’s too light, add another layer of “stain” or darken your mixture with more black. If it’s too dark, try rubbing it off with a paper towel. Play around with it!

What if I want my DIY Stain to look Glossy?

If you are wanting a glossy finish, you can always add a clear coat to your project. I never do and haven’t had an issue with fading or discoloring indoors. If your piece will be displayed outside, I would recommend a top coat to avoid fading.

Are there any Projects I shouldn’t use this type of Stain on?

I have a lot of faith in this DIY stain, but I would avoid using it on more serious projects like furniture. I don’t think using this stain will ruin your project, but I’m not sure how well it will age with lots of use.

Share your DIY Wood Stain

As always, thank you for following along with me in my creative journey. Be sure to tag me and use #meagannicholedotcom when sharing your DIY wood stain projects! Thanks for stopping by MeaganNichole.com

DISCLAIMER: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you! Thank you for supporting, so I can continue to provide you with free content each week!