Staining Kitchen Cabinets Can Bring New Life to Inexpensive Kitchen Cabinets

By Leslie Smith
RefacingCabinet.com Columnist

If you can't afford cherry cabinets, then staining kitchen cabinets may be your solution. Staining kitchen cabinets enhances wood grain even in inexpensive kitchen cabinets that are often built with oak.

Staining Kitchen Cabinets: Advantages

Rather than replacing your inexpensive kitchen cabinets, you can achieve the look of much more expensive woods with wood stain. Don't let the words on the stain products fool you. Cherry stain is not just for cherry wood. You can choose cherry, maple, mahogany or something else for your inexpensive kitchen cabinets. Follow the directions on the product for the desired results.

Staining Oak Cabinets

Many inexpensive kitchen cabinets in tract homes are oak. Oak is a nice hard wood, but can really date your kitchen. Oak kitchen cabinets can easily be painted or stained darker and give you a custom kitchen look that stands apart from your neighbors'. After thoroughly cleaning your cabinets, strip any varnish off and sand smooth. Use a wire brush to remove the varnish or sealer from any detail work.

Simply apply with a paint brush along the grain, let sit, and remove the excess. Drying times may vary.

Cabinet Refacing Supplies

Your hardware store can help you choose a product that's right for you. There are stains available in gels, liquids, water-based, oil-based, for indoor use, outdoor use, and so on. After you stain your oak kitchen cabinets, apply a sealer and/or varnish to protect the wood. Top off with new hardware for a complete look.

This might not be a quick process but staining kitchen cabinets will be one of the most dramatic and cost-effective kitchen renovations you ever do.

About The Author

Leslie A.M. Smith is a freelance writer and desperately needs a new kitchen. Until she can afford it, she has her eye on refacing her cabinets.