How can I protect "raw wood" bedside tables?

RedLass

I wonder if anybody could help me. I am going to be decorating a bedroom very soon and am on quite a tight budget. One of the items I intend to buy is a pair of these bedside tables:

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/6156374.htm?CMPID=GS001&_%24ja%3Dkw%3A{keyword}|cgn%3Apla||6156374|tsid%3A11677|cn%3Apla||6156374|mt%3A{MatchType}|crid%3A14542145259

I'll be buying replacement handles/knobs separately to give them a little lift.

The wood is raw, which is one of the reasons that I like them, but I feel they really need some protection. I don't want the first cup of tea accidentally knocked to soak into the wood and ruin the table. Ideally, I don't want to change the colour of them too much. I like them pale, I don't like the shiny slightly orange pine that you can get. A little sheen would be fine though, and I don't mind if they become slightly paler/whiter, as long as you can still see the grain.

Does anybody know what sort of product I need to buy, or can advise on how I can achieve this look? Thank you

evoke

You can do a few things: you can stain the wood to the colour of your choice first (although this generally won't provide protection). You can then varnish the wood and this should seal and protect it. Alternatively, you can wax the wood using something like a beeswax product. You could also oil the wood. Both wax and oil will need to be reapplied regularly.

Whilst you can get varnishes that contain a stain, i'd go for a decent stain first and then a clear varnish. The finish is usually better. If you don't want the satin or gloss finish of a varnish then wax or oil would be a better option.

Basically the stain will provide the colouring and the varnish, wax and oil will provide the seal you need.

Ainsley1

Wax would be my choice. It will last a fair time but would need another waxing after a few months to keep the wood pristine. For a bedside table even once a year might be enough. The feel of plain wood is maintained and little if any colouration is noticeable. Preferred to oil as it becomes harder when dried. (if it were exterior woodwork, I would prefer oil as it soaks in to give better wet protection if applied to dry wood!)

Varnish of the quick drying matt finish or satin finish would in the past have been a choice for me but I have found them to be slightly 'sticky' when placing objects such as cups on them and the finish is not always as natural looking as wax. Solvent based varnishes are the most resilient (until/unless water gets beneath the finish - hopefully not a problem for you!) but I cannot stand the smell these days!

One bonus of wax - it helps drawers slide!

penguingirl

If you just want to protect the top of them you could get a piece of glass for the top?

LutonGirl

penguingirl wrote: »

If you just want to protect the top of them you could get a piece of glass for the top?

That would be my choice. I had a piece of glass cut for the top of a wicker bedroom unit and it certainly did the trick. Ask for the edges to be bevelled. If the glass is sufficiently thick/heavy, it will stay in place nicely and you won't have the worry of spilled tea.

RedLass

Thank you, this is all very helpful.

In "coating" terms I am leaning towards a matt varnish with no stain at all. Wax sounds like it would have a lovely finish but I feel the intended recipients would prefer a no-maintenance option. It's a surprise make-over

I do like the idea of a glass top instead but how much did it cost you to do that? In my head I am seeing £££ signs but that's not really based on any fact at all.