In many instances you can save a lot of work by just refinishing parts of the piece. For example the drawer front, the top of a table or bureau or maybe just the arms and seat of a chair may need some work. After making those repairs, you will have rejuvenated the rest of the piece.

If the piece you are stripping is veneered, be careful when using water as to not lift the veneer. When refinishing, it is more desirable to make every effort to bring forth the original surface and not produce a new one.

Important information on sandpaper: The 120 refers to the grit size. The lower the number, the coarser the paper. You can also sand the furniture with steel wool. [6] X Expert Source William & Shannon LatilFurniture Refinishing & Home Remodeling Specialists Expert Interview. 29 October 2021.

Stains can be cross-mixed to achieve different tones. For example, adding mahogany to walnut will give a reddish brown color or ebony to walnut combines for a deep dark brown.