How to Restore Vanity Cabinets

Vanity cabinets, like other types of wood furniture, are usually either painted or stained and glossed. Both processes are options when it's time to restore a tired-looking vanity. If you're painting, the project is pretty self-explanatory, but staining and glossing can be trickier. The surface preparation is pretty much the same for both. Make sure to work in a well-ventilated area.

Screwdriver
Old newspapers
Power sander with rough, medium and fine sandpaper
Finishing paintbrushes
Wood stain
Rags
Polyurethane gloss

Instructions

- 1
  Disassemble the vanity cabinet, taking off all hinges and other hardware with a screwdriver. Lay the pieces out on spread-out newspapers in a work area.
- 2
  Load the power sander with rough sandpaper. Run the sander over the surface of each wood piece of the cabinet, removing the existing finish and digging into the top layer of wood. Brush off the dust.
- 3
  Repeat the sanding process using the medium sandpaper to take off any remaining finish. Repeat the process again with the fine sandpaper, to get the wood flat and clean. Wipe up the dust.
- 4
  Apply wood stain over one section of the cabinet using a finishing brush. Brush it on thickly. Let it sit one minute. Use rags to wipe off the excess stain.
- 5
  Repeat for each section of the vanity. Let the stain set for eight hours.
- 6
  Brush a light coat of polyurethane over each piece of the vanity, using the finishing brush. Let it set eight hours.
- 7
  Sand the polyurethane very lightly with the fine sandpaper, dulling the surface. Wipe off the dust.
- 8
  Apply a second coat of polyurethane. Let it dry, lightly sand it, then brush on a third layer. Let it set for 24 hours. Reassemble the vanity cabinet.

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