Faux Wood Finish for Kitchen Cabinets
Step-by-step guide made from Black Sheep House's YouTube video.
A step-by-step guide to transforming old or dated cabinets with a faux wood grain finish using paint and glaze. This beginner-friendly project requires no sanding and results in a durable, Pottery Barn-inspired look.
- Difficulty: beginner
Safety
- Always work in a well-ventilated area when using deglossers, primers, and paints to avoid inhaling fumes.
Must know before you build
- Use INSL-X STIX bonding primer; it's essential for adhesion to slick cabinet surfaces.
- Benjamin Moore Advance or similar high-quality alkyd paint ensures kitchen durability.
- Apply Rust-Oleum glaze thinly; thick coats look unrealistic and are harder to work.
- A deck staining brush is key for blending glaze to create the primary wood grain.
- Thoroughly clean cabinets with soap/water before deglossing; grease prevents adhesion.
- Remove all hardware before painting for a cleaner, more professional finish than taping.
Tools
- Screwdriver
- Scouring pad (Scotch-Brite)
- Paint brushes (Various sizes, including 1.5 inch)
- Deck staining brush
- Chip brush (2 inch)
- Small scrub brush (optional)
- Small artist brush (Rounded synthetic) (optional)
Materials
- Dish soap
- Liquid Sandpaper Degreaser & Deglosser (Liquid Deglosser, Klean-Strip)
- Waterborne Bonding Primer (Bonding Primer, INSL-X, STIX)
- Waterborne Interior Alkyd Paint (Cabinet Paint, Benjamin Moore, Advance, Semi-Gloss, Color matched to Behr's Rugged Tan)
- Masking tape
- Decorative Glaze (Glaze, Rust-Oleum, Java Brown)
- Interior Color Sample Paint (Latex Paint, Behr, Natural Twine)
- Fast Drying Water-Based Polyurethane (Clear Coat, Behr, Matte)
Step by step
Step 1: Step 1: Clean and Prep
Remove the cabinet hardware and thoroughly cleans the cabinet door with dish soap and water.
- Remove Hardware. Using a screwdriver, remove all handles, knobs, and any other hardware from the cabinet doors and drawers.
- Common mistake: Trying to paint around the hardware instead of removing it might lead to a messy and unprofessional finish.
- Clean the Cabinets. Thoroughly wash the cabinet surfaces with a mixture of dish soap and water. Use a scrub brush for any tough grime and wipe everything down with a clean cloth.
- Tip: For very greasy kitchen cabinets, a dedicated degreaser might be necessary before washing with soap and water.
Step 2: Step 2: Degloss
The cabinet surface is deglossed using liquid sandpaper and a scouring pad to prepare it for priming.
- Apply and Scrub with Liquid Sandpaper. Apply a liquid deglosser (like Klean-Strip Liquid Sandpaper) to the cabinet surface and scrub it with a scouring pad. This process dulls the existing finish, creating a better surface for priming. Wipe away any excess with a paper towel.
- Tip: This no-sand method is ideal for working indoors as it minimizes dust and mess.
Step 3: Step 3: Prime
A coat of STIX bonding primer is applied to the cabinet door, and the hinges are taped off.
- Apply Bonding Primer. Stir the bonding primer well and apply one even coat to the entire surface of the cabinet door using a paintbrush.
- Tape Off Hinges. Use masking tape to carefully cover the hinges and any other hardware you didn't remove to protect them from paint.
- Common mistake: Painting before taping off the hinges might require extra cleanup later.
- Tip: A strong bonding primer like STIX is recommended because it adheres well to many different surfaces without sanding.
Step 4: Step 4: Apply Base Coat
Apply the base color, Benjamin Moore Advance paint in a color matched to Behr's "Rugged Tan".
- Select and Mix Paint. Choose a durable, cabinet-quality paint. You can use Benjamin Moore Advance in a semi-gloss finish, color-matched to Behr's "Rugged Tan". Stir the paint thoroughly.
- Paint the Base Coat. Using a quality paintbrush, apply an even coat of the base color paint over the primed surface. Pay attention to getting into the details and grooves of the cabinet door.
- Tip: A smaller, 1.5-inch brush can be very helpful for painting the detailed nooks and crannies of raised-panel doors.
Step 5: Step 5: Apply Decorative Glaze
Rust-Oleum decorative glaze is brushed on and then blended with a deck staining brush to create a faux wood grain effect.
- Apply Glaze. Open and stir the Rust-Oleum Decorative Glaze in Java Brown. Using a paintbrush, apply a generous amount of glaze all over the painted cabinet door, working it into all the grooves.
- Create Wood Grain with Deck Brush. Take a clean, dry deck staining brush and drag it across the wet glaze in long, straight strokes. This removes some of the glaze and creates the primary wood grain texture. Use a smaller scrub brush to blend the glaze in the detailed areas.
- Tip: The glaze has a long open work time, so you have plenty of time to get the texture just right before it dries.
- Tip: A small scrub brush or artist's brush helps to blend the glaze in the corners and detailed trim where the large deck brush can't reach.
- Watch out: Wait for the paint to dry completely, ideally overnight, before the next step.
Step 6: Refine the Finish (Professional Technique)
Apply the base coat and glaze using a more detailed technique, taping off sections to follow the cabinet's grain direction for a more professional look.
- Tape Off Sections. To mimic the construction of a real wood door, tape off sections to isolate the vertical stiles from the horizontal rails and the center panel.
- Paint and Glaze Following Grain Direction. Working one section at a time, apply the base coat, then the glaze, brushing in the direction of the natural wood grain for that section (vertical for stiles, horizontal for rails). Use the deck brush and smaller brushes to create the texture before moving to the next section.
- Tip: Use a paper towel to wipe away any glaze that bleeds under the tape for a crisp line.
- Tip: This optional step yields a high-end, professional finish. Skip to the next step if you prefer.
Step 7: Step 6: Dry Brush Highlights
A lighter paint color, Behr's 'Natural Twine', is dry-brushed onto the surface to add highlights and enhance the wood grain texture.
- Apply Lighter Paint with a Dry Brush. Pour a small amount of a lighter paint (Behr Natural Twine) onto a paper plate. Dip the very tips of a dry chip brush into the paint, then dab most of it off onto a paper towel. Lightly and quickly flick the brush over the cabinet surface to create subtle, light streaks that mimic wood grain highlights.
- Tip: Use a cheap, stiff-bristled chip brush for this technique.
- Tip: If you apply too much paint, you can gently wipe it with a damp paper towel to blend it in.
Step 8: Step 7: Apply Protective Clear Coat
A final protective layer of matte water-based polyurethane is applied with a brush to seal and protect the new finish.
- Apply Matte Polyurethane. Stir the water-based polyurethane well. Using a clean paintbrush, apply a thin, even layer over the entire finished surface. Brush in the direction of the faux wood grain you created.
- Tip: A water-based polyurethane is a good choice as it won't yellow over time like some oil-based products.