Stacy Risenmay

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How to Stain a Basket

By Stacy 20 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:

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Filed Under: DIY & Tutorials, Staining 20 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
stacyWelcome to my blog where I share my adventures of fixing up our tiny 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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