by 
The Curious Bag
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<h4 class="dechead">On One Hand: Light Stains
Light stains give a very natural finish to light colored wood. Colors like Puritan pine or golden oak can emphasise the grain in both hardwoods and in softwoods. When dealing with slightly darker woods, such as cedar or golden oak, the stain will hardly alter the color of the wood but will bring out the grain. A slightly darker stain such as early American will slightly darken the wood while still bringing out the highlights of the grain.
On the Other: Dark Stains
Dark stains such as jacobian, red oak or an ebony will still show off the grain, especially in pine. The effect will be more subtle than with the lighter stains but still very beautiful.
Bottom Line
The project is yours. Both dark stains and light stains can beautify and complement the grain. You must decide how each of them fits into your final plan and overall decor. One suggestion is that an oil-based stain absorbs more deeply into the wood than gel and all in one stains. This is a better way to emphasise the grain. You wood can then be finished with an acrylic varnish.
Source:
Sherwin Williams:how to stain wood
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