How to Stain White Kitchen Cabinets to Look Like Wood

Place plastic sheeting beneath the cabinets to protect the floor, and use painter's tape to mask off any areas that you don't want to paint.

Go over the cabinets thoroughly with a household cleaner to remove dirt, oil and grease, which interfere with paint adhesion. Dry the cabinets with a soft cloth.

Remove the doors and hardware from the cabinets, and go over them lightly with fine-grit sandpaper to rough up the finish. Wipe off the sanding dust with a damp sponge. Let them dry.

Apply a coat of light tan cabinet and trim paint, using a quality paintbrush. Do not use too much pressure, as that can cause brush marks. Allow the paint to dry for four to six hours before continuing.

Rub an even layer of water-based wood stain on the painted cabinets, using a soft, lint-free cloth. Rub up and down. Apply even pressure to keep the stain uniform. Work in in small sections so that you can make the wood grain impressions before the stain dries completely.

Wait about 15 minutes to avoid smearing the stain, and then create the wood grain pattern, using a graining tool. Apply a small amount of stain to the graining tool, and press it against the top of the cabinet, exerting a slight pressure as you pull the graining tool down the cabinet. Continue working from the top to the bottom of the cabinet in this manner until you are satisfied with the amount of grain. If you want to soften the grain pattern, brush over it gently with a lint-free cloth after it has dried about 15 minutes. Move on to the next section of cabinets when you are done.

Allow the cabinets to dry for 16 to 24 hours after you have applied the wood grain pattern. Rub on another coat of stain with a lint-free cloth, working in the direction of the grain. The stain must dry for two to four hours before you apply additional coats. The graining pattern will still be visible after one coat of stain is applied over it, but each additional layer will soften the pattern, making it lighter as it blends in.

Apply a coat of polyurethane varnish to the cabinets to add shine once you are satisfied with the color of your cabinets. Use a quality paintbrush to apply the varnish, and allow it to dry for six to eight hours before you handle the cabinets.

Reassemble the cabinets after 48 hours have passed. This will allow the varnish to cure properly and ensure that the finish is not damaged when you reassemble them.