The Perfect Stain For Our White Oak Vanities

Primary Bath Vanities

If you love the look of white oak, but are unsure (or overwhelmed) about the particular stain to get that natural oak look you want, you’re not alone! I know the struggle as I tried and compared several different stains on scraps of white oak before I decided on this stain for my primary bath vanities.

The particular stain formula I used was the Sherwin-Williams Minwax Performance 550 Penetrating Oil-Based Stain, with the specific formula MW423 Whitewash. The wood used here was white oak, and keep in mind the look achieved with this stain will differ with different types of wood.

The composition of the stain is as follows:

Black (B1): 1 oz

White (W1): 2 oz, 12 parts

Yellow (Y1): 1 part

Deep Gold (Y3): 3 parts

Stain Can Photo

I found this stain to be a perfect fit in this bathroom because of how close it is to the natural color, without being overly warm with yellow/orange undertones or overly cool with pink/cool grey undertones. This stain did appear “pale” when placed against other stains I tried but when placed with the specific elements in the room, it complemented them well. The goal here in this bathroom was for the countertops, floor tiles and shower slabs to stand out in the design, which is why I wanted a stain that wasn’t too loud grabbing attention away from those elements.

The process:

1. Sand

Sanding well is important for a smooth, even application. We sanded first with a coarse grit (80-100) and moved to finer grits (120-150) before finishing with a 220-grit sandpaper.

2. Clean

We used cloth on the wood surface to thoroughly remove any dust and debris from the sanding. This is important to ensure even coats.

3. Stain

We first applied a pre-stain wood conditioner with a brush which helps ensure an even absorption of the stain. Next, after stirring the stain thoroughly in the can right before application,  we used a brush to apply the stain in the direction of the grain and a clean cloth to wipe off excess stain. After the first coat thouroughly dried, we applied a second coat of stain following the same process.

4. Finish

After the second coat fully dried, we applied a clear Polyurethane layer in a matte finish for water resistance.

Other tips:

Make sure you always test the stain on a piece of scrap white oak before you decide on it! While testing keep the following in mind –

·      The lighting in every room differs. To account for this, place the stained scrap wood in the room you will be installing the cabinets in and observe it through different times of daylight as well as under artificial light, to check for undertones.

·      The other elements in the room play a crucial role in determining the overall look of the stained cabinets. To account for this, place the countertop, floor tile, wall tile samples together with the stained scrap wood in the room where it would be installed to check if they blend well - think warm vs cool, or, bold vs subtle