How to Glaze Wood Cabinets

Glazing cabinets can add life to worn-out doors.

Many wood cabinets have a lot of character due to the grain of the wood. But simply painting the wood grain sometimes covers up the grain. Painting the cabinets with a thin paint doesn't work either if you have an old fashioned home decor. Glazing cabinets creates an antiqued, or aged look to match with other old items in your home. Glazing is a thin layer of paint that blends with and deepens the cabinet's color.

Things You'll Need

• Screwdriver
• Cleaner
• Glaze
• Paint
• Mixing bucket
• Mixing stick
• Cloth

Instructions

1. Remove the screws from the hinges of the cabinet and remove the doors. Remove all the knobs and handles from the cabinet using a screwdriver.

2. Wipe down the cabinet with a cleaner to cut any grease or dust.

3. Mix gray or black paint with a clear glaze in a mixing tray, using a mixing stick. Combine the paint until you get the correct shade. Use more glaze for a thinner antique look or more paint to make the cabinets look darker.

4. Dip a rag into the glaze and paint mixture and rub it into the wood of the cabinet. Use circular movements.

5. Take a clean cloth and wipe off the excess glaze. Allow the glaze to partly dry to see whether the cabinet is dark enough. Keep applying layers until the cabinet is the correct shade.

6. Let the cabinet dry completely. Reinstall the doors and hardware.

References

• Ask the Decorator: Give Cabinets Character With a Coat of Glaze
• This Old House: Painting Kitchen Cabinets: Scott Gibson
• Kitchen Cabinet Design: Glazed Kitchen Cabinets: Steps in Faux Painting Cabinets