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Wood stain for kitchen cabinets


How to stain kitchen cabinets: an expert guide |

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Staining kitchen cabinets is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to transform wooden cabinetry from tired and drab and in need of some TLC, to good as new. 

Perfect for traditional designs, wood stain can be used to create various color tones, as the stain soaks into the wood, allowing the natural knots and grains to show through. ‘Staining kitchen cabinets shows off both color and texture,’ says Lucy Searle, Global Editor in Chief of Homes & Gardens. ‘It’s a great way to refresh old or dated furniture and can add warmth and character to the kitchen. It also makes it easier to touch up in the coming years if any marks or blemishes appear.’

The process is pretty simple, similar to how you paint kitchen cabinets, and the key lies in the preparation. Ryan McDonough, interior design expert at My Job Quote says that you can use a wood repair filler in a natural tone to disguise any cracks or nicks in the surface and use a furniture touch-up pen to even out any areas where the old stain has worn away. ‘You can now apply a new coat of stain,’ he says. ‘Always pick wood stain for interior use to avoid harsh chemicals inside the home and follow the application advice on the tin. Finishing with a wax will help provide a protective coat to your cabinets.’

Below we take you through the process of staining kitchen cabinets step-by-step.

How to stain kitchen cabinets

Staining is a great way to refresh the space without having to remove kitchen cabinets and install kitchen cabinets with a different look. 

Not only does a wood stain enhance the look of wood kitchen cabinet ideas in the same way that refinishing kitchen cabinets can, but it also protects them so your kitchen will look better for longer. 

Michael Rolland, interiors expert and MD at The Paint Shed , shares his step by step guide on how to update kitchen cabinets without replacing them when they’re made from real wood.

You will need:

1. Clean and protect

Start the process by removing the cabinet hardware, including the handles and knobs. Put these aside in a bag to ensure you don’t lose any of the screws. Unless you are replacing them, in which case you can donate or sell the originals.

The next step is to thoroughly clean the cabinets. As the kitchen is a place where there is a lot of grease, it is vital that you use something a little stronger than just water to clean the cabinets. TSP (Trisodium Phosphate) is often recommended for jobs like these. It can come as a ready-made spray or as a powder to be mixed with warm water.  

It is important that if you are using TSP for cleaning, you are properly protected with gloves and goggles. Once the TSP has properly dried, there will likely be a white residue. Remove this with a clean damp cloth and wait for it to dry.

It is important to note that unless your cabinets are raw wood, the existing finish must be removed. Whether this is paint or a different stain, it should be stripped using a paint and varnish stripper before applying the new stain.

Next, protect your surroundings. Be sure to remove any appliances on the countertop and lay down dust sheets to protect your floor.

If you haven’t got the steadiest hand then use painter’s tape to protect the places where the cabinets meet the countertop and walls.

2. Prep and sand

Once the cabinets are clean and dry, move on to sanding the cabinets with 80 to 120-grit sandpaper. If you have access to a palm sander, this will make the process quicker and easier, but it is not essential.

Sand in the direction of the wood grain until the cabinets' surfaces are smooth and even. If you notice any imperfections in the wood, such as deep scratches or dents, you can use a wood filler to fix them then sand until smooth when dry.

Sand the cabinets again but this time with 150 to 220-grit paper. Use a vacuum cleaner to clear the sanding dust and wipe the excess dust from the cabinets then leave to dry.

3. Treat the wood

Once dry it is recommended that the wood is treated prior to staining. As the kitchen is a high traffic area that is exposed to a lot of moisture and grease, it is important that in the interest of longevity, the wood is treated. Wood treatments can be applied using a brush or a cloth. Check the manufacturer’s recommendations for the number of coats required and drying times.

4. Stain the wood

The stain should be applied in a full flowing coat, ensuring all surfaces and end grains are fully coated. For best results use a good quality, long-haired, soft bristle brush. Avoid over brushing as this will cause brush marks and result in a poor quality finish.

Be sure to work in the direction of the grain and aim for a light, even coating. If you do notice sections looking darker than the rest, you can lighten this by rubbing off the excess stain with a fresh rag or cloth.

Allow the first coat to dry, which takes 2-4 hours, before applying a second coat. It is also recommended that you lightly scuff the cabinet surfaces with steel wool after the first coat before applying the second.

Many stains will have a sealer built into the product, meaning that no topcoat is needed. However, make sure you check the stain before calling it a day.

Can you stain over existing kitchen cabinets?

Yes, you can stain over existing kitchen cabinets, though you will need to remove all traces of the existing finish first to get the best and most professional result.

Is it difficult to stain kitchen cabinets?

It is not hard to stain kitchen cabinets – most DIYers can tackle the job perfectly well. The keys to success are: good and thorough preparation; the right wood stain and brush for application; ensuring a top coat is applied if needed. If you aren't confident of staining wood kitchen cabinets in place, removing doors and drawer fronts to stain them flat can give you better results.

Is staining kitchen cabinets a good idea?

Yes, if you want a really hardwearing finish. Staining kitchen cabinets allows you to easily touch up over time, as any marks or scuffs can quickly and effortlessly be covered up.

What is the best stain for kitchen cabinets?

The best stains for kitchen cabinets are water-based but always ensure that your wood stain matches your wood finish for best results.

Hayley is an interiors journalist, content provider and copywriter with 26 years experience who has contributed to a wide range of consumer magazines, trade titles, newspapers, blogs and online content. Specialising in kitchens and bathrooms, she has twice won the CEDIA Award for Best Technology feature. Hayley writes for H&G about kitchens, bathrooms, cleaning, DIY and organizing.

8 Stunning Stain Colors for Kitchen Cabinets

There are purists when it comes to wood cabinetry — those who believe that it should never be painted, and stained only in woodsy shades of brown — and there are those who enjoy seeing how wood can be dramatically transformed. Perhaps most of us fall somewhere in the middle.

I admire the inherent beauty of wood left unadorned, but I am also digging the many uniquely hued stained kitchen cabinets I’ve been spotting on Houzz. Staining your cabinets an unexpected color is a terrific way to put a custom touch on your kitchen cabinetry. It’s also a great option for those who want to be able to see and appreciate the grain and texture of wood, but like to have a little fun with the color. If custom-built and -stained cabinetry is out of your budget, and you have some experience staining wood, this could be a good DIY project. You can buy unfinished cabinets and stain them yourself or strip and refinish existing wood cabinetry. But if you have any doubts about your stripping and staining skills, it’s definitely worth hiring a pro.

Here are eight fantastic kitchens with interesting stained cabinetry, along with three eye-popping palettes featuring exotic stain colors to consider for your own kitchen.

Jetton Construction, Inc.

1. Soft green. This lovely light and open space gets a custom touch with green-washed kitchen cabinets. Because the color is soft, it looks very natural. The result is fresh, fun and unique.

Find a skilled painter to stain your cabinets

T2THES DESIGN + BUILD

2. Warm dark gray. This is a gorgeous deep and rich hue, cooler and more gray than typical cabinet stain colors. It pairs well with the modern stainless steel accents and the beautiful marble backsplash shown here; everything comes together brilliantly in this elegant kitchen.

Shelter Interiors LLC

3. Silvery gray. A light gray stain will give your cabinets character, is unexpected and allows you to retain a soft, light, neutral look that easily works with many design styles, finishes, materials and colors. This kitchen has a lot of wood in it, but because the cabinetry color is not a typical wood tone, there's enough variation to keep it from appearing too woodsy.

Linda McDougald Design | Postcard from Paris Home

4. Grayish green. Another beautiful and unique kitchen featuring dark grayish-green wall cabinets. This stain color is a fantastic neutral that allows you to easily work in other colors, or you can keep the palette earth tone and neutral — as was done here — for a cozy and inviting feel.

Traditional Log Homes Ltd

5. Deep red. Red stained cabinets make a bold statement and work best in a kitchen with minimal adornment, especially if the space doesn’t get a whole lot of natural light.

Hire a kitchen designer to help you achieve this look

Mindful Designs, Inc.

6. Greenish black. A greenish-black stain on wood that has strong linear graining is a bold choice and works well with the bright aqua island in this contemporary kitchen.

Whitten Architects

7. White. White stained, or whitewashed, cabinetry has been around a long time, but it's getting a fresh look in decidedly more modern spaces, such as in this rustic modern beauty.

Depending on the species, white stained wood tends to look a bit pink, though, and if you pair it with yellowish greens, the pinkness will be more pronounced. This is because pink and yellow-green are opposite each other on the color wheel — they offer the most contrast to each other. Inject reddish-orange hues or blue-greens instead, as was done here. The pink will be less pronounced.

Jordan Lotoski

8. Ebony. We've seen many gorgeous black painted and stained kitchen cabinets on Houzz lately; this one is a handsome and elegant feast for the eyes.

Jennifer Ott Design

Example palette: Watery blue wood stain

Soft blue stains, like this example from Sherwin-Williams, make a cool pairing with stainless steel accents and dark charcoal-gray flooring, such as this sheet flooring from Marmoleum by Forbo.

Jennifer Ott Design

Example palette: Yellow-orange wood stain

Take the yellow-orange hue inherent to many wood species up to the next level by staining the wood a vibrant mustard color, like this one from Minwax. The quartz countertop here, Blanco Maple from Silestone, has a subtle amber-colored aggregate in it that picks up on the glowing wood stain color. Cool it all down with a soft gray floor tile, such as StonePeak Ceramics' Parkland in Artic.

Jennifer Ott Design

Example palette: Fresh green wood stain

Cabinets stained a leafy deep green from Sherwin-Williams would look amazing atop a rich black walnut wood floor. Keep the countertops simple with a medium-gray quartz material such as Caesarstone's Concrete.

Tell us: Are you a fan of colorful stained cabinetry? Or do you think wood should be left in its natural state whenever possible?

How to paint kitchen furniture with stain

There are many adherents of the natural style, who are sure that wood should never be painted, and if they do, then use brown tones as close to natural as possible.

More daring natures enjoy the process of transformation of wooden surfaces treated with bright dyes. We think that most of us are neither one nor the other, but stick to the golden mean.

It's hard not to admire the inner perfection of unfinished wood, but there are many examples of successful furniture finishing with expressive colors. Stain is an easy way to personalize your kitchen.

Thanks to it, you can experiment with the palette without losing the opportunity to contemplate the natural structure and pattern of wood. Whether you paint your cabinets yourself or hire a professional, it's up to you, and the online magazine Kitchen Interior Ideas is ready to showcase 8 stunning stained wood kitchen interiors.

In addition - a story about 8 exotic shades of wood stain, one of which is sure to please you.

1. Light Green

This light and open interior was given its own personality after the entire kitchen unit was treated with green stain. Its shade is so light that the image turned out to be very natural. And everything else is fresh, cheerful and unique.

2. Smoke gray

A stunningly deep and rich shade that is colder and more intense than we are used to seeing in kitchen furniture. As you can see in the photo, it pairs beautifully with modern stainless steel fittings and marble countertops.

3. Silver Gray

This shade will give the interior character, but retain some neutrality that allows it to work with any style. It would seem that the kitchen in the photo consists almost entirely of wooden elements, but the feeling of redundancy does not arise due to the exquisite finish of the furniture.

4. Grey-green

Here is another beautiful and unique kitchen with grey-green wall cabinets. The advantage of this shade is its absolute versatility, which allows you to create any images in the interior.

5. Burgundy Red

This color will show off your boldness and make a kitchen look great with minimal decor. Dark red cabinets will look especially advantageous in a dimly lit room.

6. Green with black

This stain is ideal for wooden surfaces with a pronounced longitudinal texture. In the modern interior in the photo you can see a surprisingly harmonious combination of greenish-black cabinets with a turquoise kitchen island.

7. White

Whitewashed furniture seems to have always been around, but today it often forms the image of a modern kitchen with a rustic character.

Some bleached woods tend to look pinkish, this effect is enhanced when combined with yellowish green elements. The fact is that pink and yellow-green are opposed to each other on the color wheel, which means they are contrasting.

By adding orange or blue-gray details, you can make the pinkish tint less pronounced or even level it out. This is exactly what the owners of the kitchen in the photo did.

8. Ebony or black brown

Black kitchens are not uncommon today, but this interior seems so elegant and warm that you immediately want to touch the matte surfaces of the cabinets that make it up.

This shade can create a unique look when paired with brushed stainless steel countertops and jet black flooring like the Marmoleum sample shown here.

Approximate combinations: greenish blue

The yellowish tint, characteristic of many types of wood, must be brought to the intensity of mustard. Shown here is a sample of a white countertop with slightly translucent amber filler, which subtly emphasizes the expressiveness of such cabinet finishes. The third recommended component is soft gray floor tiles.

Sample combinations: yellow-orange

Spring green wardrobes just need the addition of a dark walnut floor. And the countertop can be quite simple - gray quartz is perfect.

Sample combinations: juicy green

Categories: Kitchen color

Paint or stain? How to decorate the facades of kitchen cabinets?

Hello, dear readers of the online magazine Kitchen Interior Ideas! An important factor in updating the kitchen is the surface treatment of cabinets and drawers. What should she be? You will learn about this today from our story.

Contractors usually offer two types of finishes: painting or staining. Which is better, judge for yourself.

Painted cabinets

Painted furniture is usually sold assembled and has a smooth, beautiful surface.

Some firms produce all finishing work on special equipment. The furniture leaves the factory packed and ready for installation.

However, many stores sell unfinished cabinets. The sold goods are accompanied by a master with an appropriate set of tools and materials, and already at the buyer's house he completes all the finishing work. The cost of such cabinets is not lower than those that have been finished at the enterprise.

Types of paints

The customer needs to know what modern design furniture is made of. It is important what material was used for its decoration, what are the consequences of its use, how resistant it is to water, whether it emits harmful substances.

There are many options: various varnishes, oil and water-based paints, with or without alkyd resins. All this knowledge is very useful.

Method of painting

Not only the paint itself is important, but also the way it is applied. Smooth or matt surfaces can be achieved by spraying. Although painting with a brush is not excluded. It should be borne in mind that, after drying, some finishing materials change color slightly.

Wood finish

It is chosen according to wishes and tastes. Lots of options. For example, Furniture Stain Cherry gives Shaker-style kitchen furniture a very attractive look.

The color scheme of room is made in the same tone. Floor-to-ceiling panels, drawers and doors are made from the same wood.

Each board is selected according to its color and wood pattern so that its mirror image is next to it. Without such a selection, the price of products would probably be lower, but the appearance is not so aesthetic.

Getting to know samples

Some large companies show the client preliminary options for individual details of future furniture, for example, cabinet doors.

Learn more