Dark Stain and Yellow Milk Paint Step Stool

From Gilded to Grounded: A Standing Jewelry Armoire's Dark Moody Transformation

Sometimes, a "bright and airy" makeover just doesn’t fit the vibe. I found this standing jewelry armoire after it had already been given a white and gold facelift by someone else, but it felt a bit too "glam" for many people. I knew it had the potential to be something much more sophisticated, mysterious, and—of course— moody . In this tutorial, I’m taking you through the process of retaining some of the previous DIY and layering on a deep, velvety dark green finish. We’ll be leaning into those shadows, highlighting the unique curved silhouette. Whether you're looking to tone down a piece that's "too bright" or you're ready to embrace the dark academia aesthetic, here is how I turned a high-contrast piece into a seamless, moody masterpiece.

I run milk paint classes and the perfect project is this IKEA solid wood step stool.

Milk paint loves solid wood!

Here is a stool I did with blue milk paint colors

First step is to assemble the stool, I have left the step tops off to stain with Homestead House's stain and finishing oil all in one in cappuccino. This rich dark stain goes on so well on the natural wood. I applied 2 coats lightly sanding between and after the coats dried overnight.