From crisp whites to serene blues and earthy greens, explore a range of the best cool-toned wood stains perfectly suited for modern interiors. Find the ideal cool-toned stain colors for pine, oak, maple, and more to match your décor palette.
When you think of wood furniture, you likely think of warm, golden, or even orange, toned wood. However, not all wood has to have a warm tone.
If you decorate with cooler tones in your home in general, then warm wood like a golden oak will stick out like a sore thumb.
I’ll never forget we rented a beach house one spring break that had the most gorgeous oak wood floors and they had painted all of the walls a cool icy blue color. It looked terrible.
They should have either painted the walls a warmer white, or refinish the wood floors with a cooler wood stain if that was still look that they preferred.
If you also prefer a cool toned look, then you are going to want some cool toned wood stains for your furniture, floors, and other accent pieces.
Let’s take a look at the best cool toned wood stain colors!
When & Where to Use Cool-Toned Wood Stains
In general, you want to match the tone of your wood to the overall tone of the colors and decor elements in your room. If you decorate with cool colors – stark white, blue, silvery grays – you will want to choose cooler toned wood finishes, too.
Cool wood stains often give wood a sleek, modern appearance while still maintaining a natural wood look.
Cool tones are also perfect if you want a beachy or coastal look and plan to decorate with a lot of blues and grays.
Suitability of Cool-Toned Stains for Different Wood Types
Cool-toned stains transform the appearance of various woods, mimicking the look of other species. But, Wood type that have strong warm colors are going to be hard to stain cool.
Naturally white or lighter wood species will complement cool-toned stains best.
Specific Wood Types that Work Well with Cool-Toned Stains:
- Ash
- Maple
- Birch
- Pine
- Certain oak variations
- White wood
The best cool toned wood stains
If you want your wood to have a cool tone, stain it one of these colors:
- white
- gray
- blue
- green
White-Toned Stains
White wood stains instantly lighten, brighten, and cool down natural wood tones. A whitewash or white stain offers a light, opaque finish to wood and can create a gorgeous bleached-wood effect.
Recommended for Wood Types
- Pine
- Maple
- Birch
- Ash
Examples of White Wood Stains
- Varathane Antique White Wood Stain
- Minwax White Wash Pickling Stain
- General Finishes Whitewash Water-Based Stain
See all of the best white wood stains!
Gray-Toned Stains
Gray stains offer a bit more color and softness compared to a stark wood stain. Just check your grays – they can be quite warm – almost taupe – or icier and cooler in tone.
Recommended for Wood Types
- Oak
- Maple
- Pine
Examples of Gray Wood Stains
Check out all of the best gray wood stains!
Blue-Toned Stains
Blue is a totally unexpected wood stain color, but it can be really beautiful in the right application. I love a navy blue for drama and a light blue to give a piece a bold, coastal look.
Recommended for Wood Types
- Oak
- Ash
- Maple
Examples of Blue Wood Stains
- Varathane Vintage Aqua Wood Stain
- Minwax Navy Blue Wood Stain
- SamaN Interior Water Based Wood Stain – Azure
Check out all of the best blue wood stain colors!
Green-Toned Stains
The final option for cool toned wood stains is green! A lot of wood types actually have some green to them naturally, so I find it easier to work with than blue. Green can be subtle or bold and feels earthy and natural!
Recommended for Wood Types
- Pine
- Cedar
- Oak
Examples of Green Wood Stains
- Behr Semi-Transparent Stain – Woodland Green
- General Finishes General Finishes Water Based Dye, Green
- Varathane Rustic Sage Green Wood Stain
Be sure to check out our other DIY wood stain ideas!
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Hello, I’m Morgan, half of the creative force behind CharlestonCrafted.com! With a passion for DIY that dates back to 2012, I’ve transformed three homes and now I’m dedicated to helping others craft their dream spaces. Let’s turn your house into a home together!