Varathane Ebony - wood stain color review

Considering adding an ebony wood stain to your wood project? Check out Varathane Ebony - our full review & how it looks on 4 types of wood!

Want to stain your wood project a dark color? How about Ebony!

Ebony is a species of wood that is naturally a very very dark shade of brown - almost black.

There are wood stains on the market to help you get that same look on any type of wood.

One of my favorites is Varathane Ebony!

Varathane Ebony

Varathane is a brand commonly carried at the Home Depot.

Varathane's Ebony stain is a very dark chocolate brown color that is almost black.

It's a great choice if you want a dark stain with a bit of warmth that is a little softer than pure black.

Here is how Varathane Ebony looked on each of four wood types!

How does Varathane Ebony stain look on oak?

Oak is a really beautiful wood with natural red undertones.

I normally would not stain oak and instead would let it's natural beauty shine.

Because oak is a hardwood, it doesn't absorb as much stain compared to a softer wood. So, it mostly just mutes the undertones and settles a bit into the grain.

That being said, an ebony stain can mute the orange-ness of oak and give it more of a modern look.

How does Varathane Ebony stain look on pine?

Pine wood has natural yellow tones with some slightly darker graining.

Ebony gives really nice solid coverage on pine, and settles darker into the grain.

I think that using an ebony wood stain is a great way to give a piece of cheaper pine a high end look!

How does Varathane Ebony stain look on poplar?

Poplar has natural green and some purple undertones.

Poplar has little almost dashes it it's wood grain which gives it the look of a lot of texture.

I love how Ebony looks on poplar! It really gives it a totally new, modern look.

Just be sure to use wood conditioner to cut down on splotchiness!

How does Varathane Ebony stain look on a 2x4?

2x4s are usually very light wood with darker knots and holes. Most people don't use 2x4 for projects you would really stain, but we still tested it for you!

2x4s have grain that varies widely between white and golden yellow. I find that stain takes to this grain differently, giving it a striped look.

We usually don't stain 2x4s simply due to the nature of the projects that we use them for.

However, if you are staining one and want to cover and minimize the darker knots, a deep color like ebony is a great choice!

New to using wood stain? Grab our complete guidebook - it covers everything you need to know to get the perfect finish!

Any more questions about Varathane Ebony?