I'm sure many of you DIY-ers and weekend warriors are familiar with wood stain. It's a great way to give a quick makeover to new and repurposed wood furniture. The only down side are the harsh fumes that linger on the piece long after it's dry — plus, they're not so great for your respiratory system.
Lo and behold, someone has come up with a great alternative to conventional stains: coffee! Well, the coffee grounds, to be exact. They're inexpensive, can be applied just like other furniture stains are and a great natural alternative to dye your furnishings pretty shades of brown.
Head on over to the Charles & Hudson blog for DIY inspiration and instructions on this method.
Photo: How can I recycle this via Flickr.
This article appears in Jul 28 – Aug 3, 2011.