Painting

• Painting kitchen cabinets gives them a fresh look with minimal expense. Paint for cabinets is available in any color, allowing you more flexibility in decorating choices. If you choose a color that is very different from your current color scheme, you may need to make other changes as well, such as replacing countertops. Another option is to paint the cabinet frames in one color and the doors and drawer fronts in a different color. To add a dramatic look to the cabinets, paint them in one color and sponge a different color over the first color. Stenciling a design on the doors gives a one-of-a-kind look to your kitchen.
  
  

Faux Painting

• Faux painting techniques create an antique, rustic look. Glazing is a technique that is typically used on cabinets that have ridges and details in the trim. The glaze highlights the details, giving an aged look. The process involves painting the cabinets in white or ivory. A glaze of brown, black or gray is rubbed over the surface and wiped away, leaving the dark glaze to highlight the details. Crackling is another faux painting technique that results in an antique, rustic look for a country kitchen. The simplest method is a one-step crackle paint. Paint it on and it crackles as it dries. A two-step method involves painting the cabinets in the color of your choice. The crackle is applied over the paint. This method gives a more realistic antique appearance.
  
  

Staining

• If your wood cabinets have begun to show their age and you want to maintain the same look, re-staining your cabinets is an option. The process involves sanding the wood, applying a de-glossing product, applying the stain of your choice, and adding a protective clear coat. Choose a stain that is similar to the current shade or slightly darker for best results. To go from a light wood to a dark finish, however, apply a gel stain.
  
  

Pickling

• Pickling gives a whitewashed effect to your cabinets. The technique involves applying a coat of flat white oil-based paint to the wood. Wipe the paint off before it dries completely, leaving behind a thin coat of white paint with the natural wood showing through. Before applying this technique to your cabinets, practice on sample pieces of wood to see what the effect will be. Some woods, such as maple and birch, pickle more uniformly and may not give the look you want.