These Coffee Stained Wood Nutcrackers are a cute addition to any Christmas home decor. Find out how easy it is to stain wood products with coffee in the post below. Save this to Pinterest so you can use it later too!
When I saw my friend Shahla from Treehouse Threads dying things with coffee earlier this season, I immediately knew it was something I wanted to try. I’ve seen people dye their floors with coffee and I have been amazed. I thought it must be a really complicated process to create coffee stained wood but let me tell you – it’s not!
Shahla and I both tend to spend a lot of time crafting around the holidays. We’ve both created similar project before – sometimes with different methods like these Faux Terracotta Pumpkins {HERE} – and it has been fun seeing how the final projects look. When I saw these nutcrackers at the craft store I knew I wanted to grab a few and dye them. I thought it would be really beautiful to elevate their look with just a simple stain. Shahla made the coffee stain work again here and I immediately knew I wanted to try it.
Better for you staining
Since I live in Michigan, I can’t stain things outside over winter and staining can be a really messy, smelly process. Using coffee to create coffee stained wood is a ridiculously smart choice and a more natural way to dye wood too. I have to say I really love this way of staining. It creates a beautiful look quickly and I’m already thinking of the other projects I can use this method on all winter long. I might even attempt to use it to dye some furniture pieces at some point.
The correct kind of coffee for staining
Instant coffee is a must for this process. Brewed coffee will work and so will coffee grounds steeped in water, but it is a much, much slower process. You also will not get the nice, dark finish. Things end up looking more yellow. I tried to do create the coffee stained wood originally with freshly ground beans soaked in water. Not only did I get granules everywhere, but I also never achieved the look I wanted. I darkened the wood a few shades but never to the shade even one coat of instant coffee created.
Supplies for the Coffee Stained Wood Nutcrackers
- A wooden nutcracker – These are at Michaels right now (Nov. 2023). OR any other wood item you want to use the coffee staining technique on. In the coming years I imagine they will have more things like this and even in other seasons you might find blank wood decor to use this on. I was going to try staining some crates from there too.
- Instant Coffee – The brand does not seem to matter.
- A brush – Something cheap that you won’t mind tossing. I like these ones {HERE} are perfect for this because the coffee staining goes on nicely and the brush holds up.
- A mug for the coffee. Any ol’ mug will do.
- A baking sheet for your item.
- Parchment paper to cover the baking sheet.
Applying the coffee stain
To create the coffee stained wood nutcrackers, place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Mix 1/4 cup of instant coffee and about 1/2 cup of hot water. Let it sit for a bit to really come together. Then begin brushing the stain on the nutcrackers – or whatever wood you are using – from the top down. This is very drippy so starting at the top will help. After applying one coat, let it dry for about 30 minutes. Then apply a second coat. It took me two days to create both of these and I did around 5-6 coats to get the look.
You can also add a sealer if you like. Again, because I was rushing I didn’t do this but if I was making these as a gift or really spending my time on them then I would suggest a good sealer to preserve the color.
A few inconsistencies
You have probably noticed in the close up there are some places the stain did not take. These are places where there is glue. They can be at the joints or in the case of my smaller nutcracker, even on the front of the body. It was slightly disappointing but when I’m looking at them from a few feet away, I can’t really tell. Also, you can try to sand some of it off. You might not be able to see it until you get a coat or two on them.
You can try sanding the surface with a light grit sandpaper like a 220 or 180. I did try this but I was already about 4 coats in and didn’t feel like it helped. Plus, I created these as part of a larger project for a client and I needed to hurry up. Just keep this in mind if you are working on anything larger or more important when coffee staining wood.
Looking for more holiday decor DIY projects?
If you love a good holiday decor DIY, try these projects too:
- DIY Rusty Vintage Ornaments {HERE}
- Paper Bag Stars {HERE}
- Creating a holiday mantle look {HERE}
- How to make Dried Orange Slices {HERE}
- DIY Holiday Gifting: Vanilla Peppermint Salt Scrub {HERE} and Orange & Vanilla Exfoliating Body Scrub {HERE}
Thank you so much for visiting today, friends! I hope you love my Coffee Stained Wood Nutcrackers and they inspire you this season or whatever season you are creating in. You can find a full, printable instructions below with all the supplies and steps. Happy Crafting!
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Coffee Stained Wood Nutcrackers
Ingredients
- Wooden Nutcracker or other figurine
- 1/4 cup instant coffee
- 1/2 cup steaming hot water
- A chip brush
- A coffee mug
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Optional: Wood sealer
Instructions
- Place the nutcrackers or wood figures on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Mix together the instant coffee and steaming hot water. Let it sit for a bit to really come together.
- Begin brushing the stain on the nutcrackers - or whatever wood you are using - from the top down. Let dry 30 minutes and then apply another coat. Follow this process apply subsequent coats until you get the tone you want.
- Add the wood sealer if you want to use one and let dry.
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