Wood Shellac Colours: Choosing the Right Shade for Your Projects

Shellac isn’t just a wood finish for me—it’s a way to bring wood to life. Wood shellac colours, from pale blonde to rich brown (garnet) and reddish-brown ruby, can transform any project. These shades enhance the wood grain, making it pop and allowing you to film finish over it for added protection.

But I often get asked “which colour of shellac flakes I should use?”

Choosing the right wood shellac colour can make all the difference. However, the colour you choose depends entirely on your project’s needs.

So, how do you decide which is best? Let’s explore the shades of shellac—and when to use them.

What Colours Does Shellac Offer?

Shellac’s colour naturally depends on the resin’s origin and refinement process. The most common shades include:

Blonde Shellac: A pale, golden hue that enhances light woods like maple without altering their tone.
Amber Shellac: Warm and golden, perfect for adding richness to medium-toned woods.
Brown Shellac (Garnet): A deep, rich brown ideal for darker woods like walnut and mahogany.
Ruby Shellac: A reddish-brown option that adds bold warmth and character.
Orange Shellac: Bright and warm, ideal for vintage and traditional finishes.

Dewaxed Shellac flakes in brown colour — brown shellac flakes from my favourite supplier

You can get these colours in both waxed or dewaxed shellac flakes. Mix with alcohol and you have yourself a homemade batch of shellac, ready to use!

How to Choose the Right Shellac Colour for Your Wood

Choosing the right shellac colour isn’t complicated—just focus on these three things:

1. The Wood Type

Blonde: Perfect for pale woods like maple or birch.
Amber: Adds warmth to medium tones like cherry or oak.
Brown (Garnet): Best for walnut and mahogany.

I once was refinishing a small cocktail cabinet, for which I wanted a rich, dark brown to contrast the deep green and gold paint I was using. However, I simply could not get the stain to the right shade.

Here is where Shellac became the MVP!

I used brown shellac to create depth in the wood, which I was not getting with the stain alone.

Then, I took it a step further by adding dye to the shellac, creating a toner. The end result was the rich brown I was striving for.

2. The Look You Want

Blonde and amber for a natural, understated finish.
Brown (garnet) or ruby for projects that need depth and warmth.

3. Your Project Style

Traditional designs? Amber or orange works wonders.
Bold or modern styles? Ruby Shellac makes a striking statement.

1960's Sideboard front view — Blond Shellac with Poly overtop

Spotlight on Brown Shellac (Garnet): Rich and Luxurious

Brown shellac finish, also known as garnet shellac, is a favourite for darker woods.

Why?

It brings depth and elegance to wood. A warm glow that is not achievable with stain or film finishes alone.

Use it for:

Dark woods like walnut and mahogany.
Statement pieces that need a bold, refined finish.
Restorations where warmth is key.

Walnut Veneer Stonehill Drinks Cabinet — shellac over walnut with poly finish

Ruby Shellac: Reddish-Brown with Bold Character

Ruby shellac offers something a little different.

Its reddish-brown tones bring vibrancy while still feeling warm and timeless.

Perfect for:

Artistic or bold wood finishes.
Projects where you want the wood to stand out.
Adding a unique touch to darker woods.

Think of ruby as the answer when brown shellac feels too safe.

Blonde and Amber Shellac: Subtle, Warm, and Timeless

If your project calls for a lighter or more subtle touch, blonde and amber shellac are the go-to options:

Blonde Shellac: Ideal for minimalist, modern projects on pale woods like maple.
Amber Shellac: Adds golden warmth to cherry, oak, and medium-toned woods.

Blond shellac is probably the shellac colour that I most often reach for. It can create that classic finish without adding much hue to the bare wood. Yet, it will make the wood grain pop in a way that simply adding a top coat will not. Shellac gives you the option to topcoat your project for additional protection that is not found in other finishes, such as oils or waxes. My personal favourite way to finish is by adding multiple coats of polyurethane over the shellac.

Talk about beauty and durability!