How to Make Plywood Look Like Oak: A Step-by-Step Guide

So, I was halfway through building a couple of floating shelves when I stopped, looked at the plywood I was using, and thought — “Ugh. This just looks like plywood.” Not exactly the rich, oak look I had pictured in my head.

Instead of scrapping the project or shelling out for hardwood, I started playing around with what I had — some stain, a wire brush, sandpaper. And hey, it actually worked. I figured out how to make plain ol’ plywood look pretty darn close to oak. Thought I’d share the process in case it saves you from the same moment of doubt.

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Can You Actually Stain Plywood to Look Like Oak?

Yep, you can. But — and this is important — only if you put in the prep work. I learned this the hard way after one too many splotchy finishes.

You’ve got options for finishing plywood (paint, oil, even wax), but if you want that oak-style grain and warm tone, staining is your best bet. It’s forgiving, affordable, and surprisingly easy once you get the hang of it.

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Let’s Talk Plywood Grades (And Why They Matter More Than You Think)

Here’s the deal: not all plywood is created equal. Some of it’s smooth and easy to work with. Some of it looks like it’s been through a war.

Grade	What It Looks Like	What It Needs
A	Super smooth, no knots	A light sanding and you’re good to go
B	A few small knots or flaws	Some filler and a bit of sanding
C	Bigger knots, rougher spots	More filler, a lot more sanding
D	Knotholes, splits, kind of a mess	Be ready for a project — but not impossible

For this shelf build, I used some B-grade plywood. It had a few imperfections, nothing major. A little wood putty and sanding fixed it up nicely.

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Here’s What I Used (Mostly Stuff I Already Had Lying Around)

• Wood putty (make sure it’s stainable)
• 180-grit and 220-grit sandpaper
• Drill with a wire brush attachment
• Clean, lint-free rags
• A basic paintbrush
• Vacuum or shop brush
• Wood stain (I went with golden oak — subtle and warm)
• Danish oil (totally optional, but I love the finish it gives)

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How I Got That Oak Look (Step-by-Step, No Nonsense)

1. Filled the Flaws

First things first, I filled in the dents, small knots, and little holes with stainable wood putty. You want to overfill just a hair — it shrinks a bit when it dries. Once it was fully dry (I left it overnight), I sanded the spots smooth.

Pro tip: Test your stain over the dried putty on a scrap piece. Some fillers take stain differently.

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2. Faked Some Grain

My plywood didn’t really have much visible grain, so I made some. I used a wire brush on my drill and lightly dragged it across the surface in the direction of the wood grain.

It gives the plywood a bit of texture, kind of like what oak naturally has. Just go easy — you’re not trying to gouge it.

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3. Sanded Everything Smooth

There’s nothing fancy here. I used 180-grit sandpaper and gave the whole surface a quick but even sanding, enough to smooth out the putty spots and open up the surface for stain.

Then I vacuumed off the dust and wiped the whole thing down with a damp cloth.

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4. Added the Stain

Using long, even strokes, I dipped my brush in the stain and brushed it on with the grain. I didn’t overload it—just enough to tint the wood.

After a few minutes, I wiped the excess with a clean rag. At this point, the grain (real or fake) started to pop a little, which was kind of exciting.

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5. Gave It a Light Sand (If Needed)

Once the stain dried, I checked the surface. If it felt a little rough or looked uneven, I lightly sanded it with 220-grit sandpaper.

If the color felt too light, I added another thin coat. One coat gave me a soft oak look, and two coats made it richer and deeper.

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6. Sealed the Deal

To finish it off, I wiped on a bit of Danish oil. I’ve used polyurethane before too — it works great — but I like the look and feel of oil for furniture. It’s warm, a little soft to the touch, and just makes it feel finished.

Let it sit for a day or so and it was ready to hang.

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A Few Lessons I Picked Up

• You don’t need high-grade plywood, just patience
• Always test your finish on scrap — every piece stains a little different
• Less stain is better than too much
• Don’t skip sanding. It’s boring, but it makes or breaks the final look

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Final Thoughts

This little trick has saved me so many times. Any time I need something that looks like it came from a high-end lumber yard — but came from the local big-box store — this method delivers.

It’s not magic. It’s just a little prep, a little stain, and a finish that makes people go, “Wait… that’s plywood?”