3 Steps to Glaze Cabinets Correctly
Glazing to cabinets is like hot fudge to ice cream, it’s just a perfect combination. Glaze gives that added depth and dimension to otherwise plain painted cabinets. I absolutely love the look of glazed cabinets, it’s sophisticated and elegant and really boosts the overall look of your kitchen. Best of all, it’s easy to do yourself.
By definition, a glaze is a semi-clear coat that is darker than your paint color. It is applied on top of fresh paint and then wiped off quickly which leaves behind a nice dark outline along edges and details.
The best thing about glaze is that it is forgiving and easy to work with. If you mess up, you can wipe it off and try again. There is literally no regrets when working with glaze. So why wait? Let’s get started!
STEP 1
It’s best to apply glaze to freshly painted cabinets. This ensures you’re not glazing over old dirt, dust, or grime. If you aren’t planning to paint your cabinets, at least give them a rrreeeaaaallllly good cleaning. Use a degreaser and a liquid sandpaper and allow them to dry completely. It’s best to remove the cabinets off the hinges and remove the hardware completely.
STEP 2
Choose a paint that is a lighter color than your desired glaze. The glaze will darken the original color by about 2 shades. You can choose virtually any color/glaze combination. The most popular paint color is white, because the glaze shows up easily to create an antiqued look. You can glaze wood-stained cabinets, colored cabinets, or grey cabinets with dark brown or black glaze. If you choose white paint, make sure you use WATER based paint such as acrylic or latex. Using an oil-based white will result in yellowing over time. Unless of course, you want that antique look.
STEP 3
When the cabinets are ready, start glazing by using a rag or paint brush to apply the glaze, it will look messy and a little scary, but don’t worry. This is the hardest part. As soon as you apply the glaze, wipe it off in one direction.
The stronger you wipe it off, the less color it will leave on the cabinet. As you wipe the glaze will stick to the corners, edges, and details, giving it that perfect antiqued look. I like to have a partner for this part, so one of us can paint on the glaze, and the other can wipe it off. Glaze dries quickly and darkens slightly over time, so allow it to dry completely before you decide to make it darker. If you aren’t happy with the look, use paint thinner to remove the glaze completely. If necessary, you can use a paint brush to make the glaze appear darker in specific areas. Wipe lightly to blend in with the rest of the cabinet while leaving the color where you want it most.
Sealing glazed cabinets is not necessary, but a varnish or laquer finish can help the glaze to last longer and prevent cabinets from looking worn. Only apply a finish after the cabinets are completely dry and let the cabinets cure for 48 hours before applying hardware and reinstalling them.
Glazing can transform cabinets like nothing else can. It changes the entire look of a kitchen and takes painted cabinets to a whole new level without spending thousands of dollars on a full remodel. Like always, if you have any questions or suggestions, comment below!
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So the order is paint, glaze, then poly?
Yes Jackie!
Can I put the glaze over satin paint?
You can apply glaze over paint, but not over stain. A stain is oil based and will not allow the glaze to adhere since it is water based. You could “stain” your wood using a water-based paint, and then you can glaze over it. Check out my article on How to whitewash to learn how to use any paint as a stain.
Is glazing possible with chalk painted cabinets if the cabinets are sealed with polyacrylic?
No, If your cabinets are already sealed, the glaze will not adhere to the cabinets. You might get an overall darker look to them, but no glaze will get in the grooves of the wood.
what color glaze did you use on the last photo, i am assuming over white paint?
Lisa, I didn’t refinish that last picture, I found it on pinterest and just had to add it to my article. The author is unknown, but it was painted with Valspar Aspen Gray, glazed in black.
Hi Genevre! I have solid maple custom cabinets and after 20 years I’m ready for a slight change. Is there a technique that I could use to put a white glaze on my cabinets? I want to tone down the golden color and update them to a whitewash or glaze or something lighter. I love all you fix ’em uppers. Any suggestions are appreciated.
Bennie, yes you can apply a glaze to your cabinets! Maple has a naturally buttery color, if you want to remove all the golden color you will need to repaint them a solid color and then glaze them. If you don’t mind the golden look but want to tone it down, a white glaze would be perfect. If you are unsure of what you want, I would get a maple sample piece of wood from a local hardware store and try several different colors and glazes. Once you decide what you want to do, test the inside of your cupboard to make sure it is what you want. You can also learn more tips with this article Good luck on your DIY project!