How to Glaze and Stain Cabinets

Add depth and character by glazing kitchen cabinets.

Glazing and staining cabinets is an inexpensive, practical way to give your kitchen a makeover. Doing this yourself will save a fortune on new cabinets and allow you to control the project. By taking your time and experimenting with various colors and shades, you'll achieve the exact effect you're looking for. Glaze-finishing cabinets is relatively easy; what's more, the project can be completed over a single weekend.

Things You'll Need

• Flat-head or Phillips screwdriver
• Masking tape
• Pencil
• Denatured alcohol
• 180-grit sandpaper
• Medium steel wool
• Microfiber tackcloth
• Sanding block
• 180-grit sanding sponge
• Coarse steel wool
• 120-grit sandpaper
• Dropcloths
• Bucket
• 2-inch China bristle paintbrush
• Lint-free rags
• 1-oz. bottles of craft paint
• 2-inch standard-bristle paint brush

Instructions

1. Count left to right and label the positions of doors and drawers by sticking a square of masking tape to the inside. Mark with a pencil as "upper door 1, lower door 1, drawer 1," and so on. Slide out all drawers and remove the doors by unscrewing the hinges with either a flat or Phillips-head screwdriver. Unscrew knobs, handles and hardware.

2. Clean all surfaces thoroughly with denatured alcohol.

3. Abrade surfaces that only need to be glazed by breaking the gloss with 180-grit sandpaper or medium steel wool. Wipe down with a microfiber tackcloth to remove sanding residue.

4. Prepare light wood to accept stain if required. Rub down to bare wood by using a sanding block on flat areas and a sanding sponge or coarse steel wool for the indentations on raised panel doors. Start with 120-grit sandpaper and finish with 180-grit. Work in the direction of the grain and take care not to round off corners. Wipe off all sanding dust with a microfiber tackcloth.

5. Cover the working area and countertops with a dropcloth. Keep a bucket of clean water handy for rinsing off brushes and rags.

6. Apply water-based stain evenly with a 2-inch China bristle paint brush or a lint-free rag folded into a square pad. Remove excess stain and wipe smooth with a second lint-free rag. Rinse the brush and rags frequently. Allow stained cabinets, doors and drawer fronts two hours to dry.

7. Seal the surface by brushing on a light coat of translucent water-based glaze. This material is slow-drying and easy to work with. Once the clear coat has been applied, wipe smooth by removing excess glaze with a dry, lint-free cloth. Leave overnight to dry.

8. Mix translucent colored glaze by adding a ratio of 1 oz. of craft paint to 2 cups of glaze. Start with three shades darker than the cabinets. Test the color on a piece of scrap wood and continue adding small amounts of colorant until the desired effect is achieved. Mix well and mix plenty--enough to finish the job with some left over. The glaze will be milky when first applied and become clear and darken slightly as it dries.

9. Work the glaze into the grain starting 2 to 3 inches from the cabinet edges, using a 2-inch standard bristle paintbrush. Wipe off with a clean, lint-free rag. Repeat by adding more glaze and blending with the brush until the desired shaded effect is achieved. Repeat with scrollwork, grooves, inside corners and raised panel indentations if necessary. Allow some glaze to settle in the lower areas to enhance the rubbed effect. Allow to dry overnight.

10. Replace knobs and handles. Hang the doors and slide the drawers into place.

Tips & Warnings

• If the glaze dries out too quickly, use a water-based paint retardant. In other cases you can remove semi-dry glaze with a damp cloth and start the section over.

• Don't aim for perfection. Slight variations will enhance the aged appearance of your kitchen.

• If you have any glass-fronted cabinets, cover the panels with newspaper secured with masking tape before applying stain or glaze.

• Rinse your "wipe-off" glazing cloth often; otherwise, you'll just be pushing glaze around.

• Organize your work by lining the drawers end-up on the countertop before starting.

• Wear a paper dust mask while sanding.

References

• Ask the Decorator: Give Cabinets Character with a Coat of Glaze
• Hub Pages: Glazing Kitchen Cabinets
• Easy 2 Diy: Applying an Oil or Water-Based Stain