Heading into 2026, many designers and contractors are seeing dark wood stains popping up as a popular choice among homeowners, according to House Digest. Moving away from the lighter wood tones seen over the past few years, dark stains bring a grounded, moody feel to a space.

Here are four dark wood stains to stock for homeowners and professionals as 2026 approaches.

Behr’s water-based wood stain in the shade Jacobean is a deep brown that adds visual weight to a stained piece. The formula dries quickly and is best used on smooth, unfinished, unsealed or stripped wood surfaces, including floors.

Minwax’s Special Walnut is the company’s 2026 Color of the Year, an earth-toned stain bringing warmth to interior spaces. The shade is available in wood finish, water-based semi-transparent color stain and water-based solid color stain.

The Olympic ELITE Solid stain in Mahogany from Olympic Stains is a rich, opaque brown shade for exterior use. The stain is low VOC, water-based and crack, peel, mold, mildew and algae resistant.