HGTV is right. Gel stain over an existing finish is sponged or brushed on and left to dry.(about 24 hrs) if you then want it darker you can apply another coat. If you need to thin the stain in order for it to spread better add a few drops of paint thinner or mineral spirits. Once you get the darkness you are looking for let dry completely and poly over the top for protection. I gel stained my kitchen cabinets last year darker, and was very happy with the outcome!

Wow! Thanks for the quick reply! No wonder it didn't take! So how do you get it to be an even coat all around, does the thinning take care of that? I don't want a streaky look and I noticed that it's hard to blend the stroke marks around corners, etc. Thanks so much!

I did thin mine for a smoother finish, more even. I used a sponge brush and applied it fast and evened it out in long strokes. You could also layer it on the same way but take off the extra with an old wadded up towel thus getting the build up out of the corners. It leaves the table with more of a mottled smoother look, vs a wood grain, and most definitely you'd probably need two coats maybe three. My cabinets were flat paneled and I did the first coat with the wash cloth technique and the second coat with the sponge brush to mimic a fine wood grain like mahogany.

Glad to help, working with new stuff can be nerve racking!

I've used the gel stains, but prefer polyshades. I like to do several thin coats, rather than risk having runs.

I took a very light piece of furniture from a natural light to a medium cherry, and two others to a dark walnut. The more stain the darker the color. I also like the sheen the satin finish gives~the gloss is too shiny.

IÂve used the gel stain to build up a color gradually. On bare wood, regular stain is much easier. But sometimes IÂve bought a piece already finished and wanted it to match my existing furniture better. The gel stain works well for that. It will take much longer to dry over finished wood. Give yourself plenty of time and donÂt rush it. Make sure it is really dry before reapplying the next coat.

Like the other poster, I thin it a bit and it spreads better. I use a good quality bristle brush, to get an even thickness of coat is too hard to do with a rag. When it is thinned there will be fewer brushstrokes visible too. IÂve even tinted it with artists oil colors when I wanted to adjust the shade a bit to match something better (though if you do that drying time is increased even more.).

I donÂt like Polyshades; it puddles in the low parts.