DIYs How To Finish Wood Naturally

Looking for an easy way to finish wood without harsh chemicals? Here’s how to finish wood naturally with this furniture makeover.

A picture of an old, partially disassembled wooden cabinet standing on a gravel surface. The cabinet has open compartments with two drawers and a door missing, displayed on top and on the ground. The wood is carved with simple geometric patterns.

Does this piece look familiar?

This wonderful, incredible, amazing cabinet.

(total aside: so many of you messaged me that this was an Eastlake washstand and that kind of made me love it even a little bit more).

My aunt was rearranging some things in her house and this cabinet didn’t really have a home.

What?

I have a home.

I’m fun.

I could adopt it and bring it home to Texas and put it back together and refinish the wood and find the perfect place for it in the house. So we drove it across 8 states and 2 turnpikes and the Mississippi River.

Apparently, unbeknownst to me—this type of trip is an arduous one to an Eastlake washstand.

Because somewhere between the ocean and the Lone Star state…

…this happened.

A close-up image of an old, damaged wooden cabinet with broken drawers and missing sections. The wood appears worn and splintered, exposing the interior framework. The cabinet is seen from an elevated angle.

A close-up view of a wooden furniture piece, which appears to be a drawer or chest frame. The inner structures and rails are visible, suggesting the absence of drawers. The wood shows signs of wear and age.

A close-up of a damaged wooden cabinet with a broken top panel. The piece of wood on the right side of the top is split and partially detached, revealing gaps. The finish appears worn, indicative of age and use. The surrounding area is slightly out of focus.

Yikes.

And double yikes with extra yikes on top.

The sides detached.

The top fell off.

The fronts of the drawers were swinging in the Texas wind.

When faced with a furniture catastrophe like this? Some people might have given up. Some people might have found the nearest trash can. Some people might have started looking for a home for broken Eastlake washstands.

I am not some people.

And I’m married to the most amazing carpenter on the planet.

So after many tries and figuring out how everything fit back together (and me figuring out the BEST most amazing way to finish wood naturally and bringing wood back to its original sheen and shine?

Now?

Close-up of a carved wooden cabinet with a metal knob, featuring decorative etchings. The top of the cabinet is adorned with a white, textured vase on a marble surface. The pattern on the cabinet adds a rustic, intricate detail to the scene.

A white vase filled with white hydrangeas and green leafy branches sits on a marble-topped wooden cabinet. The background features a beadboard wall and a rectangular decorative piece hanging above the vase.

A vintage wooden cabinet sits against a paneled wall, topped with a white vase filled with white hydrangeas and green foliage. Above the cabinet, an antique abacus is mounted on the wall. To the left, a dark wooden door with the word "OFFICE" is partially visible.

The cabinet LOOKS LIKE THIS.

And I found the perfect place for the washstand.

In the entry way next to the window right in front of my office.

Please scroll up and look at where we started.

And what this cabinet looks like now.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.

Close-up view of a wooden drawer with a round, black metal handle. The wood has a warm brown finish with visible scratches and imperfections, giving it a rustic appearance. The blurred background shows the wooden floor.

After my husband put it all back together and reinforced the structure of the piece so I could open the drawers and the doors without worrying about it falling apart again, the entire piece was cleaned—even the original hardware. Even the insides were cleaned—all the cobwebs are gone.

And speaking of hardware, isn’t it perfection? Does anyone happen to know where I could get another knob, though? The door is missing a knob and I want them all to match because the hardware is one of my favorite things about the washstand.

After it was all cleaned, it was time to refinish the wood. I knew I didn’t want to paint the wood. I wanted to keep the original patina. I’m all about painting a piece of furniture, but sometimes? The original piece has so much character that you don’t want to cover up years of stories and history.

So I started researching ideas for refinishing the wood. I knew I didn’t want to get all involved with chemicals, so I started looking at ideas for finishing wood naturally. There were so many suggestions and I wanted to test them out on the back of the piece.

And then?

I found the PERFECT SOLUTION to finish wood naturally.

Are you ready?

A brown bottle of Handcraft Blends Fractionated Coconut Oil with a pump dispenser. The label features images of coconuts and text indicating that it is 100% pure and natural, suitable for hair, nails, skin, and even how to finish wood naturally. The bottle size is 16 fl oz (473 ml).

// fractionated coconut oil //

FRACTIONATED COCONUT OIL.

I was using regular coconut oil and some recommended using fractionated coconut oil so it wouldn’t go rancid. I researched it and they are correct. Fractionated coconut oil is a much better option.

Can you believe it?

Who knew?

I’ve never used any type of coconut oil before, but I thought it was worth a try.

You can see fractionated coconut oil here.

Two quick things that are important to note:

  1. When you apply it, it creates such a rich patina, but according to my research, it doesn’t last as long as traditional wood finishes. I’m planning on reapplying it in 6 months (which is fine because this is a LOT of coconut oil) and over time, I’ve learned applying several coats of coconut oil deepens the patina and makes it even richer with more depth.
  2. I tested it on the back of the piece before I ever applied it and I would HIGHLY recommend testing it before ever applying it to the entire piece.

How To Finish Wood Naturally With Fractionated Coconut Oil

1. Clean your furniture

Clean the entire piece and then let it dry before applying any oil. For cleaning? I’ve been using Murphy’s Oil Soap for years and it works amazingly well.

You can see Murphy’s Oil Soap here.

I didn’t need to sand this piece at all because the surface was already porous and dry, but if your piece has a finish that won’t allow the oil to penetrate, it might be a good idea to lightly sand with a super fine-grit sandpaper to open up the pores so the oil can penetrate.

Make sure to sand with the grain of the wood.

2. Apply the fractionated coconut oil

I actually applied the oil with a sock.

I know, right? So random. I actually use socks all the time when I stain a piece, so I thought it might work here as well.

Rub the oil into the wood in a circular motion.

Let the oil soak into the surface for about 10 minutes and then wipe any excess oil away with a clean cloth.

3. Repeat and buff

With each coat, the wood got a little darker.

Apply additional coats of fractionated coconut oil until your piece has the patina that you are looking for.

I buffed the surface with a soft cloth to make the piece shine even more

A close-up image of a white surface, possibly marble or another type of stone, with grey-veined markings and a few small scattered dark spots. The surface appears slightly worn or stained in certain areas.

A close-up image showing a smooth, white marble surface with subtle gray veining patterns running through it. The texture appears polished and reflective.

One quick note—I discovered an added benefit when finishing the piece.

The marble on the top had old tape residue on it (you can see it in the first picture).

I buffed the top of the marble with the coconut oil and the tape residue came right off.

Close-up of white marble with gray and black veining. There are visible stains and discolorations on the surface. The background shows a smooth, light-colored wall, providing contrast. The image captures the texture and markings on the marble in detail.

Close-up image of a white marble surface with light gray and beige streaks and veins. The marble has a polished, smooth texture with some natural patterns and variations throughout.

There’s also a small piece of marble on the back of the top.

That had tape residue, also (you can see it in the top picture in the crease).

I applied the coconut oil. I tried to rub it off, but it didn’t take all the tape residue off so I lightly scraped it and now look at how beautiful the marble looks.

That’s it.

One more look just because it makes me so happy.

A close-up view of a wooden furniture piece, which appears to be a drawer or chest frame. The inner structures and rails are visible, suggesting the absence of drawers. The wood shows signs of wear and age.

From this.

Close-up of a carved wooden cabinet with a metal knob, featuring decorative etchings. The top of the cabinet is adorned with a white, textured vase on a marble surface. The pattern on the cabinet adds a rustic, intricate detail to the scene.

A white ceramic vase with a textured pattern, filled with white flowers and green foliage, is placed on a marble countertop against a white paneled wall. The setting includes a dark wooden table with decorative carvings.

A rustic wooden cabinet with ornate drawer designs and a white marble top sits against a light-colored wall. On top is a white textured vase filled with white hydrangeas and greenery. Above hangs a decorative mirror. The right side of the image shows a windowed door.

To this.

It’s almost as if this piece knew where it belonged.

The warmth of the wood and the rich patina of the marble elevate the entire entryway.

Welcome little washstand.

You are finally home.

PS Don’t forget! Tomorrow is the day to celebrate our SUMMER READING CHALLENGE!!!!

So excited!!!!

Hope you all loved the book as much as I did.

Just as a reminder—the book is Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand.

You can see it here if you want to order a digital copy for your kindle (if you are a really fast reader).

disclosure: affiliate links are used in this post.

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Posted On: August 15, 2024

Written By: KariAnne Wood

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