The Super Girly Wood Stain Hack You'll Be Obsessed With

Sometimes the DIY mood strikes and you have to create something, whether you have the correct supplies on hand or not. Whether you've recently thrifted a new wood furniture piece that needs some TLC or you're suddenly in the mood to update an old wood finish that is dating your home, you're going to need some wood stain. If you don't have any wood stains, and don't want to rush out to the store, there are all kinds of unexpected ingredients you can use to naturally stain wood. Coffee is a popular choice along with tea, turmeric, and beets. But there is one, seemingly obvious, option you may not have considered — self-tanner. 

If you've ever spilled self-tanner on your wood floors, you know it can be a hassle to get out, as the product stains wood pretty quickly. In this case, you can use that to your advantage. Although you likely wouldn't want to stain, say, an entire deck with this method, it will certainly work in a pinch for smaller projects. 

Even though you'll be using an unconventional type of stain, there are still some common and helpful tips savvy DIYers will want to know before using wood stain. Things like sanding and preparing the wood, for example, will still apply to your situation. Once your wood is prepared, add a generous amount of self-tanner to your project. Instead of a brush, you can use a self-tanning mitt to spread the product around your wood, making sure you get into every nook and cranny.

Once the wood piece is covered in self-tanner, leave it to dry overnight. In the morning, give it a quick wash and you're all set. If you're looking for a particularly dark stain, you may need to build up the color by adding multiple layers of self-tanner. One upside to the self-tanning method is scent — instead of the chemical smell most wood stains have, your self-tanner stain will likely have a warm, tropical scent.