How to Apply a Darker Stain on Kitchen Cabinets

Make your kitchen appear more dramatic by applying a darker stain color to your cabinets.

Applying a darker stain to kitchen cabinets simplifies the process of refinishing your kitchen cabinets. Choosing a darker stain for your cabinets will eliminate the time- and labor-intensive process of removing an existing stain on the cabinets, as you would have to do to re-stain dark cabinets with a light color. The process of applying a dark stain on kitchen cabinets will require some prep work and a few days for application and drying.

Things You'll Need

• Screwdriver or reversible drill
• Sand paper or electric sander
• Tack cloth
• Old sheets
• Newspaper
• Painter's tape
• Paintbrush
• Wood stain
• Varnish (optional)
• Paint thinner

Instructions

1. Choose a stain color that is at least a shade darker than the current stain on the cabinets by comparing a sample stain chip with the current stain on the cabinets.

2. Remove the kitchen cabinet doors using a screwdriver or reversible drill. Simply unscrew the hinges that attach the cabinet doors to the cabinet. Set the hinges aside to protect them from stain damage.

3. Sand the face of the cabinet doors as well as the exposed surfaces of the cabinet front. You do not have to sand hard in an attempt to completely remove the old finish from the wood: Sand only enough to prepare the cabinet for staining by producing a rough surface. You may sand by hand or use an electric sander. Cabinets and doors with trim will require more hand-sanding.

4. Wipe the sanded surfaces with a tack cloth to remove the wood dust from the surface of the cabinets and cabinet doors.

5. Cover the countertops and floor with old sheets or newspaper to protect against dripping wood stain. Use painter's tape to secure the sheets or newspaper. Set the cabinet doors on two or three layers of sheets or newspapers before staining to protect the floor.

6. Paint the stain over the cabinet faces and the cabinet doors with a paintbrush. Apply only a single coat of stain and allow it to dry completely (at least 24 hours) before applying a second coat or varnish. Allow two days of drying before replacing the cabinet door pieces to the front of the cabinets.

Tips & Warnings

• Clean the paintbrushes thoroughly with paint thinner after use to prevent damage and preserve them for another painting or staining project.

References

• Online Tips: How to Stain Kitchen Cabinets
• Online Tips: How to Apply Wood Stain

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Refinish Furniture: Do It Yourself Kitchen Cabinet Stripping for Refacing