Refinishing kitchen cabinets Ideas

Refinishing kitchen cabinets can be a simple, inexpensive project that’s done over the course of a few weekends to create a whole new look that transforms your kitchen into a favorite gathering spot for the whole family.

All you need for refinishing kitchen cabinets are the right tools, some elbow grease, and an adventurous attitude to transform an outdated and ho-hum kitchen into a stunning showplace you’ll love. You’ll need to devote a couple of weekends, or even a full week, to transforming your kitchen cabinets into a place of pride in the home.

First you’ll need to gather your supplies. Once you have your supplies, remove the cabinet doors, drawer faces, handles and other hardware. Make sure you label each in accordance with its location on the cabinet boxes, so you’ll know where they go when it comes time to reassemble. Try placing a Post-it note on an inconspicuous back corner. Place the hardware in plastic baggies, then line the cabinet doors up in a work area so you can stain them last.

Refinishing kitchen cabinets Ideas

Next comes the sanding. Sanding off the existing finish thoroughly means the difference between a clean, beautiful, professional look versus a messy look full of drips and bubbles you’ll have to do again later. Use an electric hand sander with a heavier grit sandpaper for the first sanding. Wipe all the dust particles off with a tack cloth or damp rag, and then sand again with a finer sandpaper, about 220 grit. This will prepare the wood for the stain.

To apply the stain, use a rag and rub the stain into the wood going along with the grain. Rubbing the stain into the wood permeates the pores and allows for a much deeper saturation. Keep in mind, the stain will darken as it dries. Also, the more coats of stain you use, the darker it will appear on the wood. This will help you determine how much or how little to use based on the results you want. You can buy blends that combine the stain with a polyurethane finish to protect the wood, or you can buy the stain and polyurethane finish separately. Just be sure to get a stain and finish that are compatible and work well together. The labels on the stain will help you determine this. If you’re not overly picky about the exact color of stain you want, there are many blends available for amateurs. You won’t be able to totally control the results, but it is the easiest and most convenient option.

Refinishing is a great way to get a fresh, new, real-wood look to your kitchen cabinets that you just can’t get with paint. It’s easy and convenient and almost fool-proof as a DIY project. All it takes is a little elbow grease and you’ll have a whole new look for your kitchen.