- 1). Narrow your stain options based on your home's color and the type of wood used on your deck. Yellow cedar often looks best with clear or blonde stain, while red cedar looks good with either clear or light cherry stain. Other woods perform well with darker stains. You may also want to contrast dark house colors with light stains and vice versa. Cherry and mahogany stains go well with yellow, gray or white paint, while walnut stains work nicely with green homes.
- 2). Choose medium-to-dark stain if you live in a wooded area where debris will be falling from trees throughout autumn and winter. Opt for lighter colors to reduce the heat buildup on your deck if you live in a hot, sunny area. Make sure the stain you choose is weather-resistant and approved for high-traffic areas such as deck flooring.
- 3). Ask your paint supplier for sample or small project size containers of the stain colors that interest you most. Many stores sell stains in containers that are only a few ounces, and buying a few of these costs less than refinishing your deck if you dislike the stain.
- 4). Rub a small amount of each sample stain on a separate piece of scrap wood that is the same type of wood as your deck.
- 5). Set one wood piece on the deck, next to your house color, and look at it from a distance. Try this with each sample color, rechecking in both sunlight and shadow, until you find the one you prefer.