How to Choose a Stain for Kitchen Cabinets

You can give your kitchen a fast pick-me-up without spending a lot of money, or tackling a huge remodeling project, by staining your existing cabinets. Cabinets are a big part of a kitchen's décor, so choose the type and color of stain wisely to get the best results. Staining kitchen cabinets is a project that most people can do on their own. When choosing a color for your cabinet stain there are many choices --- from color hues to natural wood grains, as well as finish types --- based on your preferences and need.

• 1

  Determine what type of wood your kitchen cabinets are made of. Some woods are more attractive than others, and offer more alternatives for lighter colors and even clear stains. Cheaper cabinets are often made of less prized lumber, but make perfectly fine cabinets when covered in an attractive stain. Cherry, maple, rosewood, rare woods or mahogany are attractive woods and may be best left unstained and only protected with a clear coat of natural Tung oil, covered with a Tung oil finish or a stain finishing coat of clear polyurethane sealer.

• 2

  Check for damage. Scrapes, scratches or gouges that can't be sanded off without hurting the shape or integrity of the wood mar the surface of even the most sought after wood types. In those cases, a stain that covers the color or texture of the wood is a better choice.

• 3

  Pick a colored stain that complements the wood's natural color if you pick a light or natural stain.

• 4

  Choose stain under the type of light in your kitchen. The best method is to buy a small amount of the stain you choose in the store, and apply it to a prepared cabinet surface in your kitchen. Take your time making a final decision, and if you have more than one choice, apply each choice to a surface, or next to each other on the same piece.

• 5

  Wait for the stain(s) to dry completely before deciding on their color. Stain colors change slightly as they dry. Look at them in all types of available light, natural sunlight from the windows and ceiling light, and the light at different times of the day, morning, noon, and even night.

• 6

  Read the directions on the stain you chose to make sure it works well with your desired finish. Certain stains do not work with polyurethane finishes. Use a resin finish or varnish over those types of stains.

• 7

  Choose the type of stain based on how much work you want to put in, the result you desire, and your preference for looks. Another consideration for the type of stain you choose is the purpose you want. Pigmented oil stains do not work well on hardwoods, and can be a little difficult to use --- pigmented oils darken the longer they are left on, and you wipe them off when they achieve the desired color. It is difficult to achieve a uniform color with oil-based stains when you have a lot of surface to cover. Oil-based stains also stay clean longer, as they discourage fingerprinting and dirt buildup.

  Water-based stains are very easy to use and clean up after, but get dirty faster. Gel stains are also very easy to use, but are expensive and limited in color choices. NGR, or non-grain stains, are hard to use, but do not fade or bleed and work best on hardwoods. Varnish covers the wood without sinking in; it is cheap and easy to use, but is not the most appealing surface covering. One-step stains that include a finish coat in one application are quick and easy, but it's hard to obtain a uniform result, and it may look faded in places.