how do i make a dark wood look like light oak?

Answer 1

You can buy "wood bleach" and bleach out the wood so it will become colorless. Then you stain to suit.

You must bleach the wood, it would be impossible to stain a dark wood to a lighter oak.

This bleach is sold in stores such as Sherwin Williams or MAB paint stores and is specifically for this purpose to bleach out wood..

The wood bleach is quite different from household bleach which will not bleach out wood.

Answer 2

If you mean the wood is dark as if it's mahogany or walnut or any other dark colored wood, you will not be able to bleach it to become lighter. If that's the case your best bet is to buy a wood graining kit (you can get light oak in that) and wood grain it.

Answer 3

I would expect bleaching would kinda do it. Never had to do it as most people want something darker than what they have.

Otherwise stain it with a very light stain and let that dry thuroughly(a week) Then with same stain type(oil based or water based) try some oak colored stain and see what color you can get.

Answer 4

answer number 1 certainly has a valid clue.

Is the wood dark? or just the stain on it? You could sand ir down until you get back to the raw wood and re-stain it. You could clean it well, perhaps scuff it with fine sandpaper and use an opaque varnish stain. OR as the young lady suggested, Paint it with colors and tints that may make light oak. That might mean you'd actually have to do a faux finish, adding grain etc.

Steven Wolf

Answer 5

Strip it, sand it, bleach it, then re-stain it & seal. Bleach the raw wood if it's a dark variety of wood.

Answer 6

Paint it light gold.