How do I achieve this finish?

[gregbbb]

Hi

I've made an open cupboard with internal shelves for shoe storage and have a question with regards to the finish of the shelves themselves.

I used Whitewood PSE timber (spruce) for the shelves. Here they are bare:

IMG_20191130_134415

• gregbbb
• 30 Nov 2019

I've since applied a Sikkens Cetol TSI Satin Plus wood stain I had kicking around but only afterwards realised that it's clear so has made little difference to the colour of the timber.

I'd like to darken it up a bit to reach the sort of colour in these shelves here...

Hatchgate-Farmhouse-27

• gregbbb
• 24 Jun 2019
• 1

What should I be applying? Woodstain? Varnish? Which brand/colour?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Ryler]

Looks like paint.

 

[johnny2007]

Ronseal wood varnish/stain.
It's all in one, cheap enough and they have a variety of shades from clear to dark walnut.
It's the diamond hard line.
Used it for many projects and passed the test of time.

 

[johnny2007]

https://www.ronseal.com/for-home/wood-care/wood-varnish/interior-varnish/

This one

 

[gregbbb]

Thanks guys. Any idea on the colour of that Ronseal to go from spruce to the colour in the 2nd photo?

 

[johnny2007]

You have the "live colour.
A photo never gives real shade.

 

[gregbbb]

So I've experimented with shades up to French Oak and none have darkened the wood significantly. Even 3 coats of French Oak and the spruce now looks like pine.

I presume that by painting I'll lose the the grain in the wood so do I just need to go for something like Mahoganny?