How to Make Kitchen Cabinets Darker

Adding a gel stain will darken your cabinets.

Are you looking to change your cabinet color without replacing the entire cabinets? You can apply a gel stain to your cabinets that will make them darker. There are different colors of gel stain available at your local home improvement store. It is important to test a small section before applying the stain to the entire surface of the cabinet. You can save money by staining the cabinets yourself.

Things You'll Need

• Power drill
• 220-grit sandpaper
• Gel stain
• Wiping cloths
• Clear finish
• Paintbrush

Instructions

1. Remove the cabinet pulls from the cabinet faces using a power drill. Keep the pulls and screws in a safe place for re-installation.

2. Gently sand the existing finish using 220-grit sandpaper. This will allow the gel stain to penetrate the wood pores. It is important to sand with the grain of the wood; do not sand perpendicular to the grain as this will cause scratches in the finish.

3. Clean the wood surface using a cleaner such as mineral spirits. Allow the wood to completely dry.

4. Apply the gel stain to the cabinets in a uniform fashion using a wiping cloth. Wipe the excess stain with a clean cloth.

5. Allow the stain to completely dry by letting it sit overnight.

6. Apply a clear protective coat over the cabinets using a paintbrush. This will seal the stain onto the wood as well as give your cabinets a nice shine.

7. Re-install the cabinet pulls using a power drill.

References

• House Painting Info: Restain Cabinets for a New Look