How to Glaze a White Cabinet

Adding glaze to white furniture adds character and dimension to the piece.

Adding a faux glazed finish lends character and depth to a kitchen fitted with plain white cabinets as well as to the occasional piece of white furniture. You can add an individual touch by selecting a contrasting color to enhance your overall decorating theme. If you can hold a paintbrush and mix a can of paint, tackling a DIY cabinet glazing project over a weekend is well within your reach.

Things You'll Need

• Flathead or Phillips head screwdriver
• Household detergent
• 60-grit sandpaper
• Coarse steel wool (optional)
• 120-grit sandpaper
• Fine steel wool (optional)
• Microfiber tack cloth
• Denatured alcohol
• Translucent water-based clear glaze
• Mixing can
• Craft paint
• 1-inch China bristle chip brush
• Paper plate
• Dropcloth
• Newspaper (optional)
• Lint-free rag
• Bucket
• Furniture polish or wax

Instructions

1. Prepare the piece by removing all handles, knobs and hardware with a screwdriver. Wash the surface down with a mild household detergent.

2. Break the surface gloss of the existing paint in the areas to be glazed. Start by rubbing lightly with 60-grit sandpaper or a wad of coarse steel wool, and finish with 120-grit sandpaper or fine steel wool. Take care not to round off corners or abrade through the coat of paint.

3. Remove all sanding dust by first running a microfiber tack cloth over the surface. Finishing by wiping down with the grain using a lint-free cloth soaked in denatured alcohol.

4. Pour enough translucent water-based clear glaze into a mixing can. Mix in your choice of color by adding a ratio of one ounce of craft paint to three cups of clear glaze and stirring. Test the color on a paper plate. Keep adding small amounts of colorant until you reach your desired shade. Glaze will darken slightly after drying overnight.

5. Position the piece on a dropcloth or sheets of newspaper. Start at the top of the cabinet and work the glaze into the grain. Begin at the corners of the cabinet and work your way 2 to 3 inches toward the center without reloading your brush. Wipe off excess glaze with a damp, lint-free rag.

6. Keep a bucket of water handy; rinse and dry the brush with a lint-free rag before dry-blending the glaze. Aim for darker edges, fading to white toward the middle of the cabinet. Keep adding more glaze and blending with a light touch until you achieve the desired effect. Move on to the next section.

7. Add glaze to inside corners, raised panel indentations, scroll work and grooves. Wipe off with a damp cloth, but allow some glaze to pool into the lower recesses and inside corners. This will enhance the faux antique look of the finished piece.

8. Allow the piece to dry overnight. Replace the handles, knobs and hardware. Buff with a light coat of furniture polish or wax.

Tips & Warnings

• Water-based glaze is fairly slow drying. If the glaze dries too quickly, add some water-based paint retardant to the mixture and stir well.

• Glaze is milky when first applied, but dries to a clear translucent finish overnight.

• Rinse and wring out your cloth after wiping off each coat of excess glaze.

• Don't be too fussy and aim for perfection. Slight variations in color depth will enhance the antique glazed effect of the finished cabinet.

• Wear a paper face mask when sanding the cabinet.

• Do not use oil-based glaze on a water-based finish; it will lift the paint off.

References

• Kitchen Cabinet Design: Glazed Kitchen Cabinets
• Karla's Cottage: How to Paint Furniture
• Ask the Decorator: Give Cabinets Character With a Coat of Glaze
• Hub Pages: Glazing Kitchen Cabinets