How to Apply a Glazed Finish to Kitchen Cabinets

Wipe down the cabinets with a damp sponge. Remove all dirt, debris and cooking grease. Use warm water and several drops of kitchen soap or an all-purpose cleaner for tough stains. Remove dirt and debris in tight corners with a cotton swab or toothpick. Allow to dry.

Sand all crevices where the glaze will fall into with a fine-grit sand paper. Rub in the direction of the wood grain. Wipe off the excess dust with a damp sponge.

Mix together dark brown paint with clear glaze using a one-to-one ratio in a small bucket. Stir the mixture with a paint stick until the two solutions turn into a solid color. Dip a chip brush into the mixture and brush the glaze on all areas where you would like glaze to appear. These areas are often near molding and architectural features and not the flat surface of the cabinet.

Wipe off the glaze with a terry towel in a vertical or horizontal direction. The remaining glaze will fall into crevices. Add additional glaze if not enough glaze is present. Allow the glaze to dry for 24 hours.

Paint the entire surface of the cabinets with a clear coat of water-based polyurethane topcoat. Brush on the topcoat in the direction of the woodgrain with a finishing paintbrush. If the cabinets are painted, brush on in one direction. The final sheen of the cabinets will be the sheen of the polyurethane.