How to Choose a Wood Stain Colour

A fresh coat of stain protects and beautifies exterior wood surfaces. Choose Woodluxe® Exterior Stains on decks, fences, swing sets, outdoor furniture and any other exterior wood project for the best outcome.
Three black lanterns on a deck stained with Platinum Gray HC-179 Ultra Flat Solid Woodluxe® Exterior Stain. Three black lanterns on a deck stained with Platinum Gray HC-179 Ultra Flat Solid Woodluxe® Exterior Stain.
Opacity and colour: This combination makes up the final look of your staining project. Follow this step-by-step guide to find the best wood stain colour for an outcome you’ll love. Discover a full list of Woodluxe colours and opacities.

Step 1: Consider the age and condition of the wood


The age and condition of the wood plays an important role when you are choosing your stain.

Evaluating the approximate age and wear-and-tear level of your deck, fence or other exterior wood project is an important first step. Need help? The experts at your locally owned store can help you determine the best exterior stain products for your outdoor spaces.

Step 2: Determine your wood staining goals


Answer these three questions to determine your wood staining goals:

  1. Do you want your stain to enhance the natural appearance of your wood or transform the wood’s existing colour?

  2. Do you want to make a colour statement or stay as close as possible to your wood’s natural hue?

  3. How much of the wood’s natural grain do you want to show through?
    4.

Step 3: Take the surroundings into account


When choosing a wood stain colour, here are a few things to keep in mind:

  • Consider your home’s exterior siding colour.

    Blend in? If you want your deck to blend in with your existing exterior colour scheme, choose a stain that is the same colour as your home's siding or trim but a shade lighter or darker.

    Stand out? If you want your deck to stand out, consider using a complementary colour for an energizing look. Complementary colours are opposite each other on the colour wheel. Learn more about complementary colours in the Colour Handbook video.

    Testing a sample of the stain colour and opacity before you buy the full amount needed for your project will get you on the right track to selecting the wood stain that's right for you.


  • Assess your home’s landscaping.

    Softer colours highlight colourful landscaping and draw less attention to decks, railings and fences. Neutral colour stains, like Maritime White OC-5 or Beige Gray ES-51, keep the visual focus on colourful flora and fauna, and less on your deck and railings. Red-toned stains, like Boston Brick 2092-30 or Beaujolais 1259, will bring out the greenery. The same rules apply for fence colours.


  • Think about your home’s climate and natural light.

    Many homeowners living in warmer states prefer a lighter deck colour, as it absorbs less heat in direct sunlight. Lighter colours like Maritime White OC-5 or Beige Gray ES-51, mentioned above, are great for creating a light, airy look, as are Arbor White ES-01 and Cliffside Gray HC-180.

Step 4: Choose your opacity


Stains come in a variety of different opacity levels.
A deck stained with Teak ES-30 Translucent Woodluxe® Exterior Stain. A deck stained with Teak ES-30 Translucent Woodluxe® Exterior Stain.
Translucent Stain

A deck stained with Mahogany ES-60 Semi-Transparent Woodluxe® Exterior Stain. A deck stained with Mahogany ES-60 Semi-Transparent Woodluxe® Exterior Stain.
Semi-Transparent Stain

A deck stained with Cordovan Brown ES-62 Semi-Solid Woodluxe® Exterior Stain. A deck stained with Cordovan Brown ES-62 Semi-Solid Woodluxe® Exterior Stain.
Semi-Solid Stain

A deck stained with Maritime White OC-5 Solid Woodluxe® Exterior Stain. A deck stained with Maritime White OC-5 Solid Woodluxe® Exterior Stain.
Solid Stain
Translucent

  • What is Translucent opacity? Translucent stain allows the full beauty of the wood to show through. Woodluxe Translucent Stain available in seven ready-mix colours.

  • What it does: Highlights the wood’s natural appearance.
Semi-Transparent

  • What is Semi-Transparent opacity? Semi-transparent stain allows most of the grain pattern and texture of the wood to show through. Woodluxe Semi-Transparent Stain is available in 75 colours.

  • What it does: Enhances the beauty of the wood with colour, while still allowing most of the wood’s natural grain and texture to show through.
Semi-Solid

  • What is Semi-Solid opacity? Semi-Solid stain allows the texture and some of the grain pattern of the wood to show through. Woodluxe Semi-Solid Stain is available in 75 colours.

  • What it does: Covers most imperfections, while allowing some of the wood’s natural grain and texture to show through.
Solid

  • What is Solid opacity? Solid stain allows the texture of the wood to show through. Woodluxe Solid Stain is available in all 3,500+ Benjamin Moore colours.

  • What it does: Covers the majority of imperfections, while allowing a bit of the wood texture to show through.


Download the Woodluxe brochure for more information or pick one up at your locally owned Benjamin Moore store.

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Helpful Tip

Solid opacity stains provide longer-lasting results and help cover imperfections.

Step 5: Explore your stain colour options


A stain colour can either enhance or transform the natural hue of wood. If you want your stain to enhance the natural appearance of your wood, choose a colour that's close to its natural hue.

Most homeowners opt for Translucent to allow the wood's grain and texture to show through. Translucent Woodluxe Exterior Stain offer just a hint of colour, each aligning with a specific wood type:
Bleached Gray ES-78 Exterior Stain
Bleached Gray
ES-78
Natural ES-10 Exterior Stain
Natural
ES-10
Cedar ES-40 Exterior Stain
Cedar
ES-40
Teak ES-30 Exterior Stain
Teak
ES-30
Mahogany ES-60 Exterior Stain
Mahogany
ES-60
Redwood ES-20 Exterior Stain
Redwood
ES-20
Chestnut Brown ES-65 Exterior Stain
Chestnut Brown
ES-65

Step 6: Synch colour choices with wood undertones


All wood has a natural undertone. Here are some ideas for choosing stain colours based on undertones and wood types. Note that all stain colour suggestions below are shown in Semi-Transparent opacity. Explore Woodluxe stains and opacities on our colour detail page.

Wood With Yellow Undertones
• Most common wood types: Cedar, pine
• To enhance, try these:

To go warmer, try these:

To go cooler, try these:

Wood With Orange Undertones
• Most common wood types: beech, cherry
• To enhance, try these:

To go warmer, try these:

To go cooler, try these:

Wood With Red Undertones
• Most common wood types: Redwood, mahogany
• To enhance, try these:

To go warmer, try these:

To go cooler, try these:

Wood With Warm Brown Undertones
• Most common wood types: Red oak, walnut
• To enhance, try these:

To go warmer, try these:

To go cooler, try these:




Step 7: Sample, sample, sample


It is essential to test the stain on wood before you commit.

  • Let the stain to dry completely before making your decision on colour and opacity, as the stain’s appearance can change as it dries.

  • Especially with lower opacities, keep in mind that there will be variations in colour. Just as natural wood has different textures and grains, your stained wood will likely have lighter and darker spots.

You can buy Woodluxe Exterior Stain samples online and have them shipped directly to your home or pick them up from your locally owned Benjamin Moore store.

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Helpful Tip

Test colour and opacity on a few different pieces of wood: Not all pieces will take the stain the same way.

Step 8: Start your wood staining project


You’ve chosen a wood stain opacity and colour, and you've tested a sample on different pieces of wood—and most important, you're happy with the results. Now it’s time to start your wood staining project!

Preparation is key: Check out how to prep a deck for staining. Then see our guide to how to stain a deck. As always, your local Benjamin Moore store can help with any questions you have, from choosing a stain colour to using a product.