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Last week, we installed a barn door in our powder room.  The door was stained a nice walnut color and completely clashed with all the orange oak going on.  In our quest to abolish all the oak and brass, it was time for this vanity to get a little makeover.  

I’m sticking with a bit more rustic wood theme in this room, so restaining the bathroom cabinets was where I wanted to go with this.  

This is another one of those projects that seems a lot harder than it actually is!!  In fact, this was part of my #30DAYPAINTCHALLENGE and I restained this all in a 30 minute video (see below).  

I’m including affiliate links for the products I’m using in this post.  If you purchase through any of these links I get paid a small commission which keeps this blog up and running 😉 To see my full disclosure policy, click here.

 https://rootsandwingsfurniture.com/blog/restainingcabinets

First things first, since this is a bathroom cabinet with only one door, I opted to NOT take the door off.  If you were restaining kitchen cabinets, or a bigger vanity, you’d want to take it apart to make sure you didn’t miss any spots!  

All I did was remove the hardware, and clean the cabinet with Krud Kutter.  Just spray it on and wipe it off.  

Tape off the floor and sides of the cabinet, as this can get a little messy.

Then grab your stain.  I used General Finishes Water Based Wood Stain in Walnut.  This is a semi-gel stain, so it changes the color without completely covering the grain.  It’s also water based so it cleans up nicely, and I don’t notice a strong smell.  

All you do is brush it on in sections using a chip brush.  Use a paper towel to wipe back some of the stain, and keep working with it until you get the look you like.  

 https://rootsandwingsfurniture.com/blog/restainingcabinets

This is only one coat of stain – and what a difference!! If you want a darker color, you can let the stain dry (about 2 hours) and reapply another coat.  

In just a few short minutes, this is what I had… 

 https://rootsandwingsfurniture.com/blog/restainingcabinets

I did this one evening, so I let it dry overnight (or 2-4 hours), and top coated it the next day.  I used General Finishes High Performance Topcoat in Flat finish.  Apply the topcoat using a nice brush – my favorite brush is here.  

You’ll just apply it along with the grain, let it dry and then apply another coat (2-3 coats total will do). 

 https://rootsandwingsfurniture.com/blog/restainingcabinets

Once it’s all dry, re-install your hardware (I spray painted mine black to match the barn door hardware).  And you have a new (old) cabinet!! 

 https://rootsandwingsfurniture.com/blog/restainingcabinets

There are still many things I want to do in this room, so this makeover is far from over, but it’s a step in the right direction! 

So if you aren’t into the painted cabinet look for your kitchen or bathrooms, try restaining them – it’s amazing the transformation that will happen!! 

 https://rootsandwingsfurniture.com/blog/restainingcabinets

Until next time!

Jenni