If you are considering updating the current look of your kitchen, an easy and interesting way to change the style is by restaining wood cabinets. Restaining wood cabinets does not cost a great deal of money and does not take a great deal of time to complete if the homeowner follows some simple tips and tricks for restaining cabinets. The result will be cabinets with a completely new look that can completely change the decor of your kitchen.

For a more unique and complete different look than your old cabinets, you may want to consider changing the handles and pulls for your cabinets as well. The hardware needed to change the handles and pulls for kitchen cabinets can be found at any home improvement store and changing the handles can cause the appearance of the cabinets to dramatically change.

For example, golden oak cabinets with wooden pulls that have been restained a dark cherry or black and with replaced pulls that are golden will have a significantly different appearance and will cost less than $200 to change.

The Proper Way Of Restaining Wood Cabinets

The first step in restaining wood cabinets is to strip the old stain off of the cabinets. In earlier years, this step would be completed by sanding off the previous coat of stain, which would take a great deal of time and elbow grease and would create a big mess. Today, there are many wood stripper products available on the market that can remove the stain from the cabinets quickly and easily.

While using the wood stripper on the cabinet doors, the homeowner may want to remove the doors from their hinges and take them outside to complete the task. The wind in the air outside will help to dispel some of the noxious fumes that are characteristic of wood stripper and the door will be easier to strip laying on a flat surface below chest level. The doors can be left in place if desired, but the doors are more difficult to work with this way.

After the entire surface of the door has been stripped, the door will need to be prepared for restaining. Use a clean rag dipped into the wood stripper to remove any last traces of the previous finish from the door. Then, you should use a clean, damp rag to remove any remaining residue of the wood stripper from the surface of the door so that the stripper residue will not interfere with the new stain.

Applying The New Stain

The new stain should be applied to the doors and base cabinets using a paintbrush, a foam brush, or a pad. Many individuals prefer using the foam brush because it places the right amount of stain on the door and prevents streaking or brush strokes from appearing on the wood. Foam brushes also allow a larger area to be covered in a shorter amount of time.

Woods that are considered to be soft will absorb more of the stain that woods that are considered to be hard and non-porous. You should wait at least five minutes between coats of stain to allow the wood to soak up the stain and reveal the true color that the stain is imparting to the wood.

After the stain has been allowed to dry on the wood for between six and eight hours, the wood should be coated with a layer of polyurethane to seal the stain and create a glossy shine for your cabinets.