When it comes to kitchen cabinetry, it can seem like there are layers and layers of paints, finishes, and stains that you are supposed to apply. While it can be a bit overwhelming to think about all of these different steps at once, the process is quite simple. Know what to do with the
wood stains on your cabinets before you add the finish and your cabinets will be practically perfect.
Test The Stain Before Settling On A Color
Wood stains come in all different colors and brands, but the stain can look vastly different from the advertised color once you put it on your cabinets. If you're trying to match the stain to the interior trim in your home or the color of the furniture paint in your kitchen, use a scrap board to test colors at the paint center and then bring them back to your home to compare. You can also test a bit of stain on a leftover cabinet board or the inside of a cabinet door to see how the wood stain matches your cabinets.
Water-Based vs. Oil-Based
There are two different types of wood stain, and you should know the differences before you commit to one over the other. Water-based wood stains seep into the wood grain quickly and deeply, providing the deepest color enhancement. As it is based in water, this type of stain will raise the wood grain and may require additional light sanding after the stain dries. Oil-based stains enhance wood with minimal grain swelling, so while they may require some sanding it will not be as much as when you use a water-based stain. These stains absorb slowly, so the application process may require you to wipe some of it away.
Prep Cabinets Beforehand
The purpose of wood stain is to enhance the natural beauty of the wood, but that means it will also highlight any of the wood's flaws. When there are porous areas of the wood, they will absorb more stain and result in blotchiness. A test board from your cabinet is especially useful to see if this will happen before you apply a stain to your entire cabinetry. If it stains unevenly, apply sanding sealer to the cabinets before you stain them.Picking the right wood stain is a great opportunity to make your cabinet surfaces and your decorative knobs and pulls flow together with the rest of your kitchen. By 2021, the kitchen cabinet demand in the United States is estimated to grow by nearly $17.1 billion. Make sure that you invest in this growth well and apply a wood stain that will make your cabinets really stand out.
