TAN WASHING
MADE EASY
TECHNIQUES FOR A BEAUTIFUL
NATURAL FINISH
If you want a beautiful natural finish or want to tone down red and orange before applying stain, Tan Washing Made Easy is the guide you need!
It cover everything from wood species, products, paint ratios to application technique and troubleshooting, so you understand not just what to do but why it works.
34+
PAGES
INSTANT
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THE ACTUAL
PROCESSES
REAL
TECHNIQUES. REAL RESULTS
SOUND FAMILIAR?​
You LOVE natural wood finishes,
but most turn orange or red with topcoat.
Maybe you have tried it and it did not go the way you hoped. Maybe you have never tried it at all because you are not sure where to start or what products to use. Either way, tan washing does not have to be intimidating.
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This guide answers all of it. No fluff, no filler. Just a clear honest roadmap from someone who has refinished hundreds of pieces and knows exactly where things go wrong and how to fix them.
Everything you need to get results tan washing.
WHAT'S INSIDE
Understanding Wood and How tannins affect the color.
Why the some wood will look good in a natural finish and others turn orange, red or yellow.
White, Tan or Taupe Paint
How to choose the right formula and colors and why that decision affects everything that comes after it.
Preparing Your Surface for Tan Washing
The full prep sequence from stripping to sanding to conditioning — because it affects everything.
Topcoats
How to protect everything you built with the right product applied the right way.
Wood Species Guide
Oak, pine, maple, poplar, walnut and veneer — what to expect from each one.
Troubleshooting
Blotchy stain, products that will not adhere, color that went wrong — and how to fix it.
A Look inside
BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF
This guide is for you - and it's not.
THIS IS FOR YOU IF…
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You paint furniture and want to add tan washing to your skill set.
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You have tried a natural finish before and it did not turn out the way you planned.
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You are tired of inconsistent results and want to understand why things go wrong.
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You want one clear resource instead of piecing together information from 47 different places.
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You are ready to do the work and learn the process properly.
THIS IS NOT FOR YOU IF…
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You have never refinished a piece of furniture before. Start with my Beginner's Guide to Furniture Refinishing.
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You want someone to make natural finishes sound easier than it is.
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You are looking for a shortcut that skips the prep work.
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You want a business guide. That's my Refinish and Profit book. More info HERE.
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You don't want to learn how to do the work.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hi, I'm Charene - and I've been right where you are.
I started refinishing furniture in my garage with no background, no training, and no idea what I was doing. I learned painting first, then prep, then stripping, tan washing, and staining. Natural finishes were the ones that humbled me. They take a little extra finesse, and I found that out through plenty of trial and error and more than a few strip-it-and-start-over moments.
Now I run Olive Street Designs with over 700,000 followers across YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram, and I've helped thousands of people build real refinishing skills through my guides and my content.
This guide is the resource I wish I had when I was figuring it out the hard way.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
Real feedback from real people.
I always thought tan washing was one of those techniques I'd never get right. My raw wood kept turning orange and I had no idea how to fix it. This guide walked me through the ratio and the wiping technique and my first try came out exactly how I wanted.
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— Amanda T.
I had seen tan washed pieces all over Instagram and desperately wanted that soft, natural look but every tutorial left out the details that actually mattered. This guide finally explained the whole process start to finish, and now it's my favorite finish to do.
-Rachel D.
The mixing ratios alone were worth it. I stopped guessing and wasting paint, and I love that it explained how to seal it so the finish actually holds up. My side table came out beautiful and I already have three more pieces lined up.
-Karen B.
QUESTIONS
Before you ask- here's the deal.
Is this for complete beginners?
Yes and NO. This book is best for those that have refinished a few pieces and now want to add tan washing to your skillset, but you don't have to be an expert to master this technique. ​ If you are a total beginner, my Beginner's Guide to Furniture Refinishing may be the best place to start.
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What format is it?
PDF digital download. You get it instantly after purchase. No waiting, no shipping and you can print it at home if you want a hard copy.
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Do I need expensive tools to get started?
No. Basic staining requires very little beyond rags, brushes, and sandpaper. The one tool worth investing in for a truly professional finish is a paint sprayer for topcoat application, but the book covers brush application as well for those who are not ready for that step.
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How is this different than your YouTube Channel?
The channel shows you projects. This guide gives you the foundation, the skills, the workflow, and the mistakes, all in one organized place. It's the starting point the channel can't fully replace.
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What if I want to learn the business side too?
Check out Refinish & Profit. Once you have the skills to produce a professional finish, that is the book that shows you how to turn those skills into real income. Sourcing, pricing, selling and building a business around furniture refinishing all in one place.
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Bundle all guides and Save!
If you are ready to go beyond the basics and take refinishing to the next level, the Mega Bundle gives you all guides and tracking sheets together at a better price.
This collection includes every guide in the Olive Street Designs library, along with practical systems, trackers, and field-ready checklists designed to streamline your workflow and help you build a more organized, profitable refinishing business.
Together they give you the full process from old finish to beautifully transformed pieces!