How to Distress My Oak Kitchen Cabinets & Add a Darker Stain Finish

Adding the Dark Finish

• 1

  Choose a finish darker than your current stain. There are any number of finishes available, but take into consideration that the age of your cabinets may have naturally darkened the original stain.

• 2

  Remove the cabinet doors and empty the cabinets. Unscrew all the cabinet hardware with a screwdriver and keep all the screws, hinges and handles in a single container so you know where they are when you have to reassemble them later.

• 3

  Strip the current stain. Apply the chemical stripping solution and then scrape it off after the time recommended on the container. Try to scrape the material off as thoroughly as possible, but since you are applying a dark stain and distressing it anyway, your primary goal it to remove any protective covering that will prevent you from applying the dark stain.

• 4

  Let the cabinets dry. Let them dry overnight if necessary, and use fans to circulate the air.

Stain the Cabinets

• 5

  Apply the stain. Use a paintbrush to apply the stain directly to the wood. Apply the stain with the wood's natural grain pattern so any brush strokes do not run across the grain.

• 6

  Wipe off the excess. Use clean rags to wipe away the excess stain, wiping with the wood grain.

• 7

  Repeat the staining and wiping process until the wood is the stain color you desire.

• 8

  Let the stain dry. This may require 24 to 48 hours of drying time.

• 9

  Sand the dry cabinets lightly with sandpaper. Use a smooth grit sandpaper to remove any dust particles that attached during the drying process.

Distress the Cabinets

• 10

  Use a hammer or mallet to create dents. Strike the corners or edges of the cabinets in a few places to simulate damage done to the cabinets over time. Don't overdo it, and when in doubt, fewer is better than more.

• 11

  Brush the surface with a wire brush. The brush will create lines or scratches in the wood finish that simulates use. Scratch as much or as little as you think best.

• 12

  Rub sandpaper over the cabinets. The rubbing will remove some of the color and reveal the natural color of the wood beneath. Sand the cabinets unevenly, so some areas appear more distressed than other. Edges and corners should typically show more distress than areas that aren't exposed to as much wear and tear.

• 13

  Seal the cabinet. Use a shellac, low-gloss polyurethane, or other protective finishes once you've finished the distressing process. Follow the directions on the product and let dry once finished.

• 14

  Reassemble and reinstall the cabinets.