Step 5. Tape up any areas you don’t want to get stain on. Remember you’re going to have to stain the kick/toe space at the bottom of the cabinet. Fortunately, one bathroom had tile there, but the other was carpeted up to the kick space, so I pulled the carpet back, because I knew I wasn’t going to be able to protect it from the stain.
Step 6. Put your disposable gloves on (I doubled up) because this stuff is oil based, then slip a sock over your hand, and get started. I started on the cabinet boxes first, then did the door fronts and drawer fronts. Scoop up a good glob of Gel Stain ( about a heaping tablespoon) and start to spread it around. This Java Gel Stain is my favorite! The technique is to wipe it on, but don’t try to rub it in or wipe it off. Think of it like spreading butter on a piece of toast. Make sure you get in all the cracks and crevices. If you’re having trouble with the sock, you can use the tips of a foam sponge. Keep working until you get all your surfaces covered. Don’t forget you’re going to have to do the backs of the doors, but that will be after each coat on the fronts are dry.
Step 7. Let your work dry for at least 8 hours.
*Don’t panic when you see the first coat. It’s not going to look good, and you may even have a tinge of regret. Don’t fret. It will all work out perfectly. Be patient!
Step 8. Now do the backs of the cabinet doors.
Step 9. Apply your second coat to everything and let it dry for 24 hours.
Step 10. Apply your third coat. You’re going to be so pleased. Make sure you’ve gotten all the grooves, corners and crevices.
I am going to try this it looks great !
What gel stain color did you buy? I see a lot of varieties on Amazon?
This is Java, Yvette.
The grain will still show thru correct? I see that Java is pretty dark and in the close-up photo I can see grain. It looks absolutely beautiful!
You can’t see a lot, but you can still see some grain, Dawn. Hope that helps!
Everything turned out so beautifully! I’ve been searching for an easy fix for one of my bathroom vanities, where I wouldn’t have to sand or even prime if I was going to paint. I love how you can still see some of the grain as well. Great tutorial, Thank you. May I ask how has it been holding up? When applying the stain does it give off or even linger a harsh odor?
Hi Toshy, it has been holding up great! No complaints or issues to report! There definitely is an odor when applying, so we did the doors and drawers outside, and opened windows when doing the bases.
Do you need to sand the cabibets first. I did not see that step
Thank You
Hi Jonathan,
No sanding first on this one. Shocking, right?
Wow, this is exactly what I need. You did a beautiful job. Thanks for the inspiration to do it myself.
I’m so glad I could help Sallie! Good luck!
Looks great! I’m attempting this project this weekend. Do have any more tips you can share? K
Hi Yel, I’d love to hear how your project turned out!!!
Mu bathroom cabinets appear to be composite, the doors are wood however, all are painted. Do you think this product will work? Your cabinets are beautiful!
Jacque, I don’t think stain will go over paint the same as plain wood. The composite may do better with paint.
My cabinet doors are wood but i think the sides and baseboards are pressed wood. Would it still work?
Hi Becki, this will definitely work for the doors and drawers. For the baseboards and sides, I don’t think the stain will take to them the same as wood. You could always test a small area first to see how it looks.
I love them. Will this work for painted cabinets?
Stain won’t go over painted cabinets the same as regular wood, Janice.
I am curious, I feel like our cabinets are the exact same as yours in the before photo, but I think that mine are more of an MDF-not real wood. You mentioned your’s were truly oak.
Do you think this will make a difference if I go ahead and try the stain?
I LOVE the look!
Hi Diana! So glad you love the look! If your cabinets are not real wood, I don’t believe the stain will turn out the same. I would do some searching online first to see if you can stain MDF cabinets. I wish I had better news for you!
Could you use this stain and technique on a dining table?
Hi Morgan, You absolutely could use this technique and stain on a dining table! Just make sure the table is wood and you’re good to go! I’d love to see the finished product!
My kitchen is 40 years old. The cabinets have some dings and cuts where my son took a knife to sawing on the edge. Any suggestions for preparing the dings and cuts.
Hi Deb! First try sanding. If they’re really deep you can try a wood putty.
Can you go lighter with the stain? I have the oak cupboards and really just want to mellow out the oranginess as my kitchen is dark and I just want to lighten it a bit.
For sure, Jolene. Try any color stain you’d like – but if you’re going lighter than the original cabinet, it may take a couple of coats and look slightly different.
Has anyone tried it on the MDF yet?
I haven’t heard yet if anyone has. It will definitely take differently though, Debbie.
First timer here. Do you to coat the insides of the cabinet does too, or just the outside?
Just the areas you want to have the look. It’s all personal preference, but the inside of the box isn’t necessary.
Looks great. I am in the process of updating my bathroom. I want to do this to my vanity . Where did you find the java gel stain at? I have not been able to find it.
HI Francas, I have a link to it in the blog post, to purchase on Amazon. 😉 Best of luck!
Is the Java stain black or just really really dark?
It’s not black, but a really dark brown.
Is the finish still holding up?
Yep, the finish is looking great still, Angie!
I have bathroom vanity I want to put the java stain on. It’s light oak with poly finish on it . Do I need to sand it first is strip the finish off?
You don’t have to sand off the finish, Kristy! Best of luck!
I am redoing our pine bathroom vanity with this brand of gel stain and I got worried that I had put too much on the first 2 coats because is was streaky so I wiped it off – which I know you shouldn’t do- and on I am on coat 4 and not sure if I should keep going because I am nervous that I won’t like it if it gets too dark because I know I can’t go back! Also not sure why but the side od the vanity is a different shade than the rest of it so not sure what to do about that!
How did it end up turning out, Jana? The side of the vanity could be a different shade because it is lightly made of different material. Some cabinets don’t have solid wood on the sides and back, to save money.
I just used general finishes on a couple night stands. I love the look. I went to apply minwax polycrylic and it said to sand first. The sanding seemed to remove some of the stain. Is it crucial to sand before putting on first top coat? Could I just sand in between poly coats?
Hi Kim,
In my instructions, I never mention sanding. You should’t have to sand in this process.
Did you use the top coat after the staining?
Hi Elaine,
Yes there are two top coats after staining. Best of luck!
No joke, this stuff is soooo easy to do. No skill required. First timer DIY friendly. There are many colors to choose from too if you don’t like the dark colors.
I would really like to see what your first coat looked like. I tried this on another table using minwax product and it was a disaster. Yours seemed to have been easy. Did you wipe any stain off after putting it on?