Stacy Risenmay

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How to Stain a Basket

By Stacy 22 Comments

Stain a basket? I know this may sound a little weird, but every once in a while I find the (almost) perfect basket…the right size, perfect style, a good price (baskets can be pricey!) but the wrong color! I have painted baskets before but I have also stained them.

I was building some shelves in my new bathroom downstairs and I knew I wanted a large basket with handles to put on the bottom for dirty laundry.  While at Target I spied the (almost) perfect basket. It even had a chalkboard tag! It was part of the Smith and Hawkin product line.  But it was a light tan and I really wanted it to be dark brown.

I didn’t get it that day.

I kept looking online and around town. I couldn’t find one that worked. They were either too big or too small to fit the space in my bathroom.

I went back to Target for some Christmas stuff and the baskets were on sale. I decided to go for it :)

smith and hawkin basket

 

I chose my “go to” stain color which is Minwax’s Dark Walnut. I actually remembered to put gloves on this time too! I used a foam brush to apply the stain.

how to stain a basket

TIPS:

*This is messy. Make sure the basket is on a tarp, piece of plywood, or thick cardboard so your work surface is protected. My work surface happened to be my kitchen table so I used a scrap piece of plywood.

*Only baskets made of natural material can be stain successfully.

*This basket sucked up the stain like a sponge. I had to do three coats. The more stain used, the LONGER THE DRY TIME. It took this basket 3 days in our dry Utah winter air to fully dry. It may take longer if you have humidity. If you live in a humid area, it is best to stain on a day when the humidity is low. That goes for any staining project really. Make sure the basket  is completely dry before using it.

*Make sure you work in a ventilated area. I opened my door that is right next to the table. I also opened a window. The fumes are not super strong but this is always a good habit when working with paint or stain.

*I ALWAYS have paper towels handy when I am staining. And ideally you should wear gloves to protect your hands.

Here it is all finished! I can’t wait to show you the rest of the shelves tomorrow!

bathroom-shelf-basket

 

bathroom shelf 1

 

PIN FOR LATER:

how-to-stain-a-basket

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Filed Under: DIY & Tutorials, Staining 22 Comments

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  1. BJ says

    January 22, 2014 at 5:04 am

    What a cute basket! Thanks for the tips. :)

    Reply
  2. Suesan says

    January 22, 2014 at 6:14 am

    Nice job. I’m excited to see the bathroom. I will be tackling mine as soon as I finish my kitchen. Fun times!

    Reply
  3. Ila at Lil Sprinkles of Joy says

    January 22, 2014 at 7:18 am

    Love this idea! Those baskets are my favorite and I’m always looking to spice one up!

    Reply
  4. Mindy says

    January 22, 2014 at 8:32 am

    I found some awesome, big, lined baskets on clearance for pennies once, but they were white. So I took a rattle can of black paint to them. Voila. They turned out super cute. I think being poor is the mother of most great ideas. :)

    Reply
  5. Lisa @ Mabey She Made It says

    January 22, 2014 at 8:37 am

    Such a good idea! I’d heard of painting them, but not staining them…

    Reply
  6. NaDell says

    January 22, 2014 at 10:01 am

    Are you worried about the stain staining your laundry at all if the laundry is wet or anything?

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      January 27, 2014 at 11:49 am

      Once the stain is 100% dry it won’t get on clothes- wet or dry :)

      Reply
  7. Becky says

    January 22, 2014 at 1:12 pm

    I have that same basket! But hmmm… I’m thinking I like your darker version better. hmmm.

    Reply
  8. Paula says

    January 22, 2014 at 3:16 pm

    Hi Stacy! I’m trying to decide if I should paint some wicker baskets I bought for my daughter’s nursery but I’m not sure how to do it. They’re tan and I’d like them to be white. What would you recommend?

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      January 27, 2014 at 11:50 am

      Sometimes when you spray paint, the paint doesn’t get into all the nooks and crannies. So I would paint it with a foam brush first with either craft acrylic paint or latex paint and then do a final coat of spray paint for a smooth finish.

      I hope that helps :)

      Reply
  9. Tawnya says

    January 22, 2014 at 5:42 pm

    OMG..! Brilliant! I have been eying those same baskets myself forever but hated the blonde color of them since everything in my house is dark. Not a fan of spray-paint because I like the natural look of them but I never once considered staining them. My mind is whirling with ideas now. Only concern I have is if the stain bleeds onto damp things or onto painted surfaces under it if its humid?

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      January 27, 2014 at 11:51 am

      Don’t use the basket until it has dried 100%. Once it is dry, it should not bleed.

      Reply
  10. Cath T says

    January 22, 2014 at 8:57 pm

    Beautiful results. I love the new color and the cute tag. Gives you a little boost on wash day. I imagine that it will stand up to being banged around better than a coating of paint would. I wonder if using a fabric dye might be another alternative.

    Reply
  11. Brenda says

    January 22, 2014 at 10:12 pm

    Beautiful! I so love the color and how smashing it looks. :)

    Reply
  12. Brandi @ Nest of Bliss says

    January 23, 2014 at 10:37 am

    I’ve seen those baskets at Target! I love the darker stain finish on them… I wonder if they are on sale at my location!

    Reply
  13. Janet says

    January 24, 2014 at 11:28 pm

    I have a few baskets that could use some stain, thanks for this great tip!

    Reply
  14. Lindsay says

    February 5, 2014 at 8:36 am

    It looks great! I weave baskets to sell and I use Minwax spray stain. It might be a little faster and easier than brushing it on.

    Reply
  15. Karen says

    October 14, 2014 at 4:51 pm

    I can’t tell for sure from the pics but is the finish matte or does it have a little sheen? I’m wondering if a spray or acrylic sealer would be a good idea?

    Reply
  16. Angie Bosley says

    April 19, 2016 at 2:07 pm

    Your basket turned out so great. Thanks so much for the wonderful tips.

    Reply
  17. Brandy says

    February 7, 2017 at 11:08 am

    As a basket maker, just thought I’d let you know you can also dye baskets. RIT dye works great, or you can use basket dye.

    Reply
  18. Judy says

    March 7, 2021 at 12:51 pm

    Was it seagrass? Im excited to try. But I read seagrass is difficult to stain

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      March 8, 2021 at 9:21 pm

      I’m not sure the material. But baskets that are made from natural materials absorb easily :)

      Reply
stacyWelcome! I'm sharing our adventures as we fix up our 1938 cottage. Whether it is big or small, I think everyone should love their home and I don't think it takes a lot of money to make a space your own.
 

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