How to Stain Kitchen Cabinets Darker

Kitchen cabinets set the theme of the kitchen. Changing the look of your kitchen doesn't mean you have to replace your cabinets. Instead, you can stain your cabinets a different tone for a refreshed look in your kitchen space.

Instructions

Preparing Your Cabinets

1

Put on your eye goggles, work gloves and face mask. Work in a well-ventilated space. Prep your kitchen cabinets by wiping away any debris. Use soap and water if necessary. Let dry.

2

Sand your kitchen cabinet doors and frame with a hand sander. Use a medium-grit paper.

3

Use a piece of medium-grit sand paper to sand all the corners and crevices that the sander can't reach. Wipe away the dust with a cloth.

4

Change the sandpaper on the hand sander to a fine-grit sandpaper. Sand over the surfaces of the cabinet doors and frame.

5

Use a piece of fine sandpaper to sand all the corners and areas that the hand sander can't reach. Wipe away the dust.

Ready to Stain

6

Read the label on your wood stain can. Mix the stain gently with a painter's stick, thoroughly mixing the settled material throughout the stain mixture.

7

Using your chisel-edge brush or foam pad, dip the brush into the stain. Hold your brush at a 45-degree angle and paint the stain on the wood with even back-and-forth strokes, going along the grain of the wood. Cover the entire area, including the corners. Lift your brush away from the surface to prevent dripping.

8

If you notice the stain is a little uneven, use a dry brush to even out the stain with light and even strokes. Let the stain dry.

9




For an even darker look, use the fine sandpaper and sand over the kitchen cabinet doors and frame. Wipe away the dust and apply a second coat of stain, following the same instructions in Step 2. Let the stain dry.

10

Once it's dry, apply a protective coat, such as polyurethane, to seal in the stain and protect the cabinets from heavy kitchen use.