The Perfect Wood Stain Color To Pair With A Stainless Steel Kitchen

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Stainless steel kitchens are great at brightening up a kitchen and giving it a feel of modernity. And when they're paired with complementary wood furniture, they can seem even more complete. However, the key to making a kitchen with stainless steel look intentional is to really nail those wood stain and paint color combos so that they create a warm, polished, and balanced look instead of one that seems unwelcoming and impersonal. 

The reason behind this is that sometimes, when a kitchen is full of stainless steel appliances, it can make the space feel as though it's lacking charm or personality. Incorporating the room with the right wood tone, for example, a dark brown-stained wood, builds more visual harmony and richness than stainless steel can often provide alone. And creating this balance is really simple: add a dark brown stain to areas like cabinets, countertops, tables, and any other wooden furniture in your kitchen. For example, you can pair your stainless steel kitchen with furniture that has a brownish-red-hued stain, such as Varathane's Dark Walnut Wood Stain, adding deep stylistic elements to help create warmth.

It doesn't have to be on every wooden surface in the room, just enough so that it's highlighted amongst all of the stainless steel pieces. And this is one of the many reasons why wooden furniture will never go out of style; it can always be painted or stained to fit within a room's decor. To create this cohesive look, check out the various shades of dark brown stains, like the Chocolate stain from Behr's premium line. 

The reason why dark-stained wood works particularly well with stainless steel rooms is that it breaks up the monochromatic look with hints of brown, red, and orange, and even green undertones. Varathane's Espresso Wood Stain has dark undertones that will work well for relaxing the atmosphere of a stainless steel kitchen, giving it a softer appeal. These subtle hues can stand out even more when complemented with green paint or decorative touches like vases or plants. 

A well-chosen stain, such as a brandy, walnut, or cherry finish, can create an eye-catching focal point in a room. These stains are also beneficial if you're looking to turn your outdated furniture into stunning modern pieces for your kitchen. Brands such as Varathane, Miniwax, and Rust-Oleum have various stain shade selections to choose from. It's helpful to sample the stains on different wood pieces (or even an unnoticeable area in the room) to get a feel for how they'd look in the space. 

Applying stain to wood furniture is fairly simple. Once you have all of your stain and paint tools (including brushes, gloves, tarps, cleaning rags, etc.), you'll want to wipe down the furniture with a slightly damp cloth to remove any dirt or grease. Next, take a medium-grit and then fine-grit piece of sandpaper and lightly go over the furniture, removing any slight imperfections. This also helps prevent unevenness after the application. Next, apply one or two additional coats, and then add a layer of polyurethane for protection.