A Simple Guide to Stain Matching (and why your new furniture may look a little different)

When you’re adding a new piece of furniture to your home, it’s natural to want it to look like it “belongs” with what you already have. But with real wood furniture, especially handcrafted pieces like the ones we carry at Modern Bungalow, an exact stain match isn’t always possible, and often, it’s not even necessary.

Here’s what to know before ordering a new piece to go with something you already own.

1. A Little Variation Is Normal (and Beautiful)

Wood is a natural material, and each board absorbs stain differently even if cut from the same tree. Often, two pieces finished in the exact same stain color will never look completely identical because of differences in grain, density, and how that specific tree grew.

Additionally, wood changes color as it ages and interacts with the environment.

Oak and Maple: Better for color matching potential when blending new with older wood because of their consistent aging properties. 

Cherry and Walnut: Depending on exposure to sunlight, aging of these woods can make a years-old piece look significantly different from a brand-new one, even if they started with the same stain.

- Cherry darkens into a deep, warm red-brown. 

- Walnut develops golden undertones from its original cool hue.

Natural oils in our hands, how the wood is cleaned (including types of products used) and air pollutants all contribute to the evolving character of wood no matter its type.

These variations aren’t flaws. They’re part of the warmth, character, and authenticity of owning natural wood furniture.

2. Why Perfect Matches Aren’t Always Necessary

Unless two pieces are sitting inches apart or are meant to be identical, small differences in tone are rarely noticeable in a finished room. Most people actually end up loving the layered, collected-over-time feel that natural variation brings.

Think about how real wood floors vary plank to plank. That same richness and dimension translate beautifully to furniture.

Of course there are a number of different staining techniques to help harmonize your pieces like color layering, distressing techniques and mechanical aging methods meant to make the wood look natural. But remember that sometimes embracing contrast works better than forcing a perfect match.

3. If You Really Want a Close Match, Bring Us a Sample!

Sometimes, you do want things as close as possible. Like when replacing dining chairs or adding a nightstand to a bedroom set. In those cases, we request a sample of your existing piece (often a drawer front or a small removable part). That piece is then sent to the finishing shop to be matched.

The process looks like this:

- The piece to be matched is sent via UPS or truck as it goes back to Amish country (depending on size of item).

- A custom stain they think will match is mixed and applied to new wood that is in the same batch as the wood to be used in the new piece.

- It is then dried, lacquered and cured and matched against the piece sent.

- The finisher tweaks and repeats until it's as good a match as they can get, keeping in mind the new wood will age and, depending on species, may darken.

This process allows us to get much closer than simply selecting the same stain name. It’s an imperfect science (really an art) and they use their experience to do the best they can.

The cost is typically 5-10% of the total order (depending on the maker), and adds 1-2 weeks to the lead time.

Another option is to order Simply Amish or Ohio Certified Stain samples to help you match to your current pieces before committing. 

4. Quick Tips for a Stress-Free Matching Experience

- Tell us upfront if you’re trying to coordinate with an existing piece.

- Be open to natural variation. It’s part of what makes solid wood special.

- If you need a close match, ask about providing a sample and what the process looks like.

- Know that new pieces will evolve in color as they age, especially cherry and walnut.

In Summary

Stain matching isn’t about getting two pieces to look identical. It’s about ensuring they feel harmonious together. With natural materials, a little variation is expected, unavoidable, and honestly one of the best parts of owning real wood furniture.

If you ever have questions or want guidance on matching or selecting a stain, we’re always here to help.