Steps to Staining Wood Cabinets

Don’t worry if your budget does not allow for new cabinets. With a fresh coat of stain, you can give your wood cabinets a rapid facelift. Using a different color stain, even if it is as easy as going one shade darker or lighter, may give your kitchen, bathroom, or other areas in your house the fresh, updated appearance you desire.

1. Pick a Stain

Choose a stain finish. Before you begin, you should have a concept of how you want your final cabinets to appear. The hue or tint of stain you use impacts how a space feels, particularly the kitchen. A light stain will help open up a space and make it feel larger. Choose a deeper stain to bring warmth to a bigger kitchen or room and make it appear cozier. Keep in mind the sort of wood used to make your cabinets.

You must examine the natural color of the wood and the size of the pores in the wood. For example, woods such as rosewood, cherry, and mahogany are rarely discolored due to their natural beauty. Typically, they are just covered with a transparent coat. Maple, for example, is less porous than other woods and hence more difficult to stain.

2. Remove Hardware, Doors and Drawers, and Clean Surfaces

Remove doors, drawers, and hardware from your cabinets. At this point, it is a good idea to clean the cabinets. Mix a few ounces of white vinegar with warm water in a spray bottle and spray the inside of the cabinets.

Wipe with a clean damp cloth, then rinse with a dry cloth. If the cabinets have a varnish finish, you might want to sand them lightly with 100-grit sandpaper. If the cabinets are painted, you do not need to sand them. Spray a coat of primer onto the cabinets and let dry. Then paint the cabinets with the color of paint you are going for and allow them to dry.

3. Remove Old Stain

If your cabinets already have a stain color, you need to remove the old stain and any varnish or paint with a paint scraper, putty knife, or chisel. Make sure you remove all the old colors. If you don’t, you might end up with a blotchy or uneven new stain. Clean the cabinets with a damp cloth.

4. Stain and Prime

When you are ready to stain, you need to do a quick spot test on a small section of the cabinets, usually a handle or the edge of a door, to ensure the finish is what you want. Most stains dry within a couple of hours. However, it would be best if you still allowed time, usually 12 to 24 hours, for the stain to completely dry, or you can use a blow dryer or heat gun to help speed up the process.

5. Apply the Stain

After the spot test, use a long-handled brush or foam brush to apply the stain. Start at the top of the cabinets and work down. Brush or wipe on the stain in a thin coat to ensure a nice, even finish. You might want to put on a rubber glove before you begin because staining can sometimes be messy. Always make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Some stains might require you to apply a second coat.

6. Apply a Finish

After allowing the first coat of stain to dry, apply a clear finish. With most stains, you can just apply one coat of finish, but it is a good idea to put on a second coat if you are using a water-based stain. This helps protect the wood and extends the life of the finish.

Conclusion

Staining wood cabinets is a big job, so take your time. To make the process easier, it is best to do one wall at a time. Once you are done with one wall, start on the next. You might find it easier to go from top to bottom. You want to try and do your cabinets in one sitting, but if you can’t, be sure to put on a second coat of finish on the unfinished part.

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