Happy October 👻!!! It’s officially spooky sea Happy October 👻!!! It’s officially spooky season in our house and Penny is here to get things started! 
She may be worried and probably over her ghost costume (and me 🤭) but she’s excited for what this new month will bring! 
#halloween #ghosttrend #ghostphotoshoot #dogsofinstagram #dogcostume #fallporchdecor
Every time I look at these bookshelves I’m remin Every time I look at these bookshelves I’m reminded of where they came from and how long they’ve come. It doesn’t even look like the same piece! 
This was one of those things that I was willing to make work  because they were a perfect size! Despite all the flaws, I was able to fix them and create a beautiful piece again and I think that makes them ten times better 🤎
#builtins #diybookshelves #fbmarketplace #interiordesign #bookcase #bookshelfstyling #diyprojects #facebookmarketplace #secondhandfurniture
This is by far my most favorite fall porch decor I This is by far my most favorite fall porch decor I’ve done! All thanks to the grapevine arch! Head over to my stories as I share more details on how I created the arch 🍂
Different size Grapevine wreaths, faux florals and faux pumpkins from @michaelsstores 
Grapevine Garland from @joann_stores 
Mums from @homedepot 
#fallporchdecor #porchgoals #falldecor #fallvibes #falldecor #porchdecor #frontporchdecor
While I’m ready to embrace fall, I couldn’t he While I’m ready to embrace fall, I couldn’t help but look back at all of the fun projects I worked on this summer!
From simple decor DIYs to major projects (hello, built-ins, I’m looking at you!), it was a summer full of learning new techniques and skills. 
Did you tackle any DIY this summer?
#summerproject #summerprojects #diyhome #diyhomeprojects #cozyhomedecor #behrpaint
It’s the first day of Fall and we’re getting a It’s the first day of Fall and we’re getting a front-row seat to fall’s beauty right on my porch! 🍂 
The grapevine wreath arch is definitely my favorite! And we can’t forget all the beautiful mums! This year for pumpkin season we did a mix of faux and real pumpkins and it’s pretty hard to tell the difference! 
Thanks to @dustin_patrick_smith & @bbbuffaloe for the pumpkin vine inspiration on TikTok! 
#fallporchdecor #autumnvibes #porchgoals #fallhomedecor #falldecor
Making this cozy corner in my living room was a la Making this cozy corner in my living room was a labor of love, and I am still so so happy with how it turned out. 
Each project helped to make the space come together perfectly. 
Did you catch all of these DIYs in my feed?
#diyhomeprojects #diybuiltins #builtins #cozycorner #diyhomedecorating #behrpaint
This decoupaged pumpkin is the epitome of fall cha This decoupaged pumpkin is the epitome of fall charm 🍂. 
Initially, I wanted to press my own leaves onto the pumpkin but they have yet to turn color this year. So I purchased napkins with printed fall leaves and flowers, grabbed some Mod Podge and turned this ordinary pumpkin into a work of art! 
I’ve linked everything I used for this project on my LTK so make sure to check it out and give this easy craft a try! 
https://liketk.it/4j6rT
#decoupage #falldecor #pumpkindecor #falldiy #diyfalldecor #craftyideas
I’m always in awe at the drastic change a little I’m always in awe at the drastic change a little paint can do. This time I painted my cafe curtains that went from bland to charming. 
They look like they belong in a cute English Cottage and the fact that they’re one of a kind with the stencil I chose makes it even better! 
I also used Rub n Buff on the rod and the clips I purchased which made it so much better! 
#fabricpainting #cafecurtains #windowtreatments #paintedfabric #diycurtains #joannfabrics
For all you static photo lovers, here’s a still For all you static photo lovers, here’s a still shot of our office once it's undergone its transformation into a guest bedroom. 
The desks do double-duty as side tables when the bed is pulled down, and there is still tons of room on either side of the bed for our guests to move around. 
Would you feel welcome in this guest room?
#guestroom #guestroomdesign #guestroomdesign #murphybed #sherwinwilliamspaint #diyoffice
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Painting by the Penny

Refinished Furniture, DIY, & Interior Design

DIY Projects, Interior Design · January 30, 2022

How To Stain Unfinished Cabinets

Kitchen with stained white oak cabinets, white subway tiles up wall, stainless steel stove and vent hood, and floating shelf

I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission on. Thank you

White oak kitchens have always been one of my favorites. They are bright, modern, and the cabinets look gorgeous. When we purchased our first rental property I knew I wanted to create a similar look, but for much less. So we purchased these Project Source in-stock unfinished cabinets at Lowe’s and I made it my mission to stain them and give them a white oak kitchen look.

I could have easily painted the cabients but wanted to stain them instead. If you are interested in learning how to paint kitchen cabinets, I did it for a different unit and they turned out great too!

Unfinished cabinet base displayed in store

What you’ll need to stain unfinished cabinets

  • 120grit Sanding sponge
  • Minwax Wood Conditioner
  • Foam Brush and Rag
  • Varathane Golden Oak Stain
  • Minwax Color Wash Transparent Stain (I used Minwax pickling stain but this is whats available now)
  • Minwax water-based polycryclic in Satin
Unfinished cabinets against drywall in kitchen

Remove drawers and cabinet doors

In order to be able to stain your cabinets correctly, remove the doors and drawers. Set up a space and line them up. Make sure you are in a well ventilated room and you wear a mask (I’m not always good with this).

Unfinished cabinet doors laying on black table

I didn’t have a lot of cabinets so I was able to line them up in my living and dining room and had my windows open. You don’t have to stain the actual inside of the cabinets but its recommended to stain the inside of the cabinet doors.

Sand

Give all the cabinet doors and drawer fronts a light sanding. I used a 120g sanding sponge and went over all the surfaces lightly. I then cleaned all the dust off and was ready to apply my first product.

Apply wood conditioner

Apply wood conditioner using a rag. Wood conditioner draws out the grain and helps ensure a more even coat. It prevents the stain from looking blotchy. Allow the wood conditioner to sit for 15min.

Container of Minwax pre stain wood conditioner on black table next to unfinished oak cabinet doors

Stain

Once the wood conditioner is dried, apply your stain. I used Varathane Stain in the color Golden Oak. I applied only one coat using a rag and wiped off the excess.

Apply whitewash pickling

The whitewash pickling I used from Minwax seems like it has a new look. I can’t find the can I used and what’s available right now is Minwax Color Wash Transparent Stain. I have used this product for a different project and loved it!

Container of minwax color wash white wash stain

Initially, I applied the whitewash pickling with a rag but found it applies more even with a foam brush then excess wiped with a damp rag.

In the photo below you can see the cabinet door on the left has the stain and the one on the right has the whitewash pickling.

Unfinished cabinet doors

After applying the whitewash pickling and allowing it to dry, I applied another coat of the Varathane stain.

Protect

To protect the cabinets, apply three coats of Minwax Waterbased Polycrylic. Polycrylic does not stick to itself so sanding in between coats is required. Sand lightly in between coats using the 120grit sanding sponge.

Can of minwax polycrylic on black table

In my opinion, water based polycrylic is better to use because oil based tends to yellow over time. I applied the polycryclic using a brush but you could use foam brushes, that work great too!

Stained cabinet doors on black table next to opened can of polycrylic, brush in ziplock bag, and sanding sponge

Once the polycryclic is all dried, you can place the doors and drawers back on. I purchased these black 5 inch pulls and 10 inch pulls on Amazon for a great deal.

stained kitchen cabinets with black hardware, stainless steel stove, white subway tile up wall and wood shelf

For the end panels of the cabinets, I ended up adding the same toe kicks that are sold separately for the bottom of the cabinets and had them cut to size. I stacked them like shiplap to create a more custom look.

stained kitchen cabinet with sink and black faucet, white subway tile up wall

And there you have it, white oak kitchen cabinets look for less!

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Comments

  1. Jamie Huisenga says

    February 5, 2022 at 8:54 am

    What did you use for the countertop? I just stained unfinished cabinets (from menards) with a different stain combo but with the same results and already installed the same knobs as well. Definitely stealing the idea for the sides of the cabinets. I was wanting to do something fun but affordable!

    Reply
    • Joanna says

      February 5, 2022 at 3:13 pm

      Hi! Ahhh yes its such a good idea! Glad I could help! We used a quartz countertop.

      Reply
  2. Jenny P says

    March 7, 2022 at 9:48 am

    I am in love with this idea! I have been wanting to refinish my oak cabinets for a while but couldn’t bear to paint over wood and wasn’t sure how to make a stain work with the veneer end caps. The toe kicks are genius! Do you think the same process would work if I sanded down the previous finish and then started with your steps? I am guessing it was the original stain from when the house was built in the early 2000s. Do you think sanding would be better than stripping or vice versa? Also, can you please share the brand/color of the flooring you used? We are looking to cover our ceramic tile with luxury vinyl planks. Thanks so much for a beautiful inspiration 😍

    Reply
    • Joanna says

      March 7, 2022 at 4:17 pm

      Thank you so much! For the cabinets I would recommend both stripping and sanding. If they currently have a dark stain I would strip first then sand. If you just want to lighten them a bit you could probably get away with sanding. You could use a sander/deglosser to remove the varnish first then sand lightly. If striping, I would recommend Citristip. It can get messy and sticky but works well to remove paint and varnish.
      The flooring is laminate purchased at Lowe’s it’s Allen and Roth Urbanite Oak.

      Reply
      • Jenny P says

        March 9, 2022 at 12:16 pm

        Thank you again so much for this gorgeous inspiration!

        Reply
  3. Kelley Foess says

    March 31, 2022 at 4:22 pm

    Hello – Your cabinets are beautiful. I’m an avid painter but new to sanding. You used stain and the pickling. I see Varathane has a White Oak color. Did you consider using that or what’s the reason the two step stain and pickling was needed?

    Reply
    • Joanna says

      April 5, 2022 at 2:18 pm

      Hi! Thank you! I used the pickling because I wanted a little bit of white to come through the stain but its not necessary, its just preference. If you find a stain color you really love then go for it and skip the pickling.

      Reply
  4. Megan says

    April 22, 2022 at 10:33 am

    I just went to lowes yesterday and the sale lady said these are terrible quality 🙁 I was so sad as I just love this look. How long have you had and are you thinking they can hold up long term?

    Reply
    • Joanna says

      April 22, 2022 at 10:50 am

      Hi! We’ve had them in our rental unit for over a year and they are still in great condition! We made sure to seal them to protect them and also added soft close hinges so they don’t slam shut. For the price they are great and I would purchase them again.

      Reply
      • Megan says

        April 22, 2022 at 3:44 pm

        Interesting the lady was so hesitant for us to purchase! Thank you for the feedback.

        Reply
        • PJ says

          May 24, 2022 at 1:21 am

          Megan, I received the same treatment at Menards. I asked about the unfinished cabinets and was said oh are you interested in the “Cheap-O-” ones? Then listened to the guy just climb the price ladder showing more and more expensive “quality” options. He was a salesman, even saying he was steering me away from other options that would land him larger commissions when he just didn’t want me to buy the more affordable options (and smaller commissions). I could buy two complete sets of Cheap-O- cabinets with what he wanted me to buy….

          Reply
  5. AMY KOUNG says

    February 3, 2023 at 9:14 am

    Thank you so much Joanna! I copied your method on my bathroom’s vanities. It turned out great.

    Reply
    • Joanna says

      February 3, 2023 at 7:08 pm

      So glad to hear Amy! Thank you for sharing. I’m so happy they turned out great!

      Reply
  6. Caroline says

    February 15, 2023 at 3:55 pm

    Thank you for this post. Wondering how you kept the stain and white wash for gathering in the corners and cracks of the cabinet doors?
    I’m currently
    Staining my white oak cabinets with min wax simply white.
    Thanks in advance!!

    Reply
    • Joanna says

      February 16, 2023 at 7:40 pm

      Hi Caroline, thank you so much! My best advice is to apply thin even coats. Use a lint free rag and don’t start in the corners.

      Reply
  7. Kelsey says

    February 22, 2023 at 1:26 pm

    Thank you so much for your detailed post! I’m using it as a guide to redo my entire kitchen! I had a couple questions if you don’t mind. Do the front frame of the cabinets need sanding and staining, etc. or do you just have to do the doors? And did you glue the toe kicks onto the ends of the cabinets? If so, what glue do you recommend for that. Thank you again for the post, so grateful to redo my cabinets without spending a fortune.

    Reply
    • Joanna says

      February 22, 2023 at 6:33 pm

      Hi Kelsey! Thank you so much and I’m so excited you’re using this as a guide! Yes the front frame of the cabinets need light sanding and staining as well. I did add extra toe kicks for the cabinet ends. We ended up nailing it using a brad nailer, just two tiny nail holes on the far right and far left of the toe kicks, filling those holes with wood filler and sanding lightly before staining. We also glued it using my favorite wood glue, Titebond (the premium or Ultimate) work great!

      Reply
      • Kelsey Smith says

        March 24, 2023 at 5:13 pm

        Thank you so much for the response and all the help! Very excited for the finish result.

        Reply
  8. Natalie Belewich says

    March 5, 2023 at 6:00 am

    Thank you for sharing! I followed this exactly, step by step, and used the same pulls – we absolutely love the way our cabinets came out in our “extra” basement kitchen.

    Reply
    • Joanna says

      March 6, 2023 at 12:53 pm

      Hi! Thank you so much for letting me know! I’m so happy you love it!

      Reply
  9. cristal says

    March 20, 2023 at 2:46 pm

    Hello,
    How did you make the shelves?

    Reply
    • Joanna says

      March 21, 2023 at 3:53 pm

      Hi! We purchased 2×10 inch lumbar at Lowe’s. Sanded it down to smooth and stained. Then purchased the shelf brackets at Home Depot

      Reply
  10. Taylor Thiel says

    April 24, 2023 at 6:33 pm

    Hello, I love how your project came out and you inspired me to take on my kitchen. I have 90’s Honey Oak cabinets and they have a lot of orange in them. Do you think I should stain them a brown tone first and then apply the wash or just apply the wash? Do you think the wash alone will tone them down enough?
    Thank you in advance for your input.
    ~Taylor

    Reply
    • Joanna says

      April 25, 2023 at 10:14 am

      Hi Taylor! Thank you so much! I would sand them a little to remove some of the finish, that way the white wash can penetrate into the wood. Try that on a small area first and see how it goes. If that doesn’t lighten them how you like, try sanding, staining a light brown stain then whitewashing. Gotta sand to remove the finish first.

      Reply
  11. Gayla D’Hollosy says

    July 16, 2023 at 7:42 pm

    Hi my husband and I bought the natural Lowe’s Project Source cabinets and I believe they are red oak. We would like to stain them to have a light maple vintage look. I have seen some that I like but not sure how to achieve with these cabinets. Any suggestions?

    Reply
    • Joanna says

      July 17, 2023 at 6:26 pm

      Hi! Whenever we work with red oak theres always a pink-orange tint so to get rid of that and lighten it try using a stain that has green in it. In the color wheel the opposite of red is green so a stain with green will neutralize the wood. Test out Aged Wheat by Varathane.

      Reply
  12. Rebecca Murphey says

    August 10, 2023 at 11:00 am

    So, sand, stain, pickle, then stain again? Did i read that right? Then apply top coat?

    Reply
    • Joanna says

      August 11, 2023 at 9:11 am

      Hi! Yes I found that staining again after pickling gave it a really nice effect.

      Reply

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About me

Hi! I’m Joanna, a Latina who is passionate about making homes beautiful through furniture, design and DIY! Follow along as I share all my tips and tricks and the behind the scenes. I hope to inspire you as much as you all inspire me!

Instagram

Follow @Paintingbythepenny

Happy October 👻!!! It’s officially spooky sea Happy October 👻!!! It’s officially spooky season in our house and Penny is here to get things started! 
She may be worried and probably over her ghost costume (and me 🤭) but she’s excited for what this new month will bring! 
#halloween #ghosttrend #ghostphotoshoot #dogsofinstagram #dogcostume #fallporchdecor
Every time I look at these bookshelves I’m remin Every time I look at these bookshelves I’m reminded of where they came from and how long they’ve come. It doesn’t even look like the same piece! 
This was one of those things that I was willing to make work  because they were a perfect size! Despite all the flaws, I was able to fix them and create a beautiful piece again and I think that makes them ten times better 🤎
#builtins #diybookshelves #fbmarketplace #interiordesign #bookcase #bookshelfstyling #diyprojects #facebookmarketplace #secondhandfurniture
This is by far my most favorite fall porch decor I This is by far my most favorite fall porch decor I’ve done! All thanks to the grapevine arch! Head over to my stories as I share more details on how I created the arch 🍂
Different size Grapevine wreaths, faux florals and faux pumpkins from @michaelsstores 
Grapevine Garland from @joann_stores 
Mums from @homedepot 
#fallporchdecor #porchgoals #falldecor #fallvibes #falldecor #porchdecor #frontporchdecor
While I’m ready to embrace fall, I couldn’t he While I’m ready to embrace fall, I couldn’t help but look back at all of the fun projects I worked on this summer!
From simple decor DIYs to major projects (hello, built-ins, I’m looking at you!), it was a summer full of learning new techniques and skills. 
Did you tackle any DIY this summer?
#summerproject #summerprojects #diyhome #diyhomeprojects #cozyhomedecor #behrpaint
It’s the first day of Fall and we’re getting a It’s the first day of Fall and we’re getting a front-row seat to fall’s beauty right on my porch! 🍂 
The grapevine wreath arch is definitely my favorite! And we can’t forget all the beautiful mums! This year for pumpkin season we did a mix of faux and real pumpkins and it’s pretty hard to tell the difference! 
Thanks to @dustin_patrick_smith & @bbbuffaloe for the pumpkin vine inspiration on TikTok! 
#fallporchdecor #autumnvibes #porchgoals #fallhomedecor #falldecor
Making this cozy corner in my living room was a la Making this cozy corner in my living room was a labor of love, and I am still so so happy with how it turned out. 
Each project helped to make the space come together perfectly. 
Did you catch all of these DIYs in my feed?
#diyhomeprojects #diybuiltins #builtins #cozycorner #diyhomedecorating #behrpaint
This decoupaged pumpkin is the epitome of fall cha This decoupaged pumpkin is the epitome of fall charm 🍂. 
Initially, I wanted to press my own leaves onto the pumpkin but they have yet to turn color this year. So I purchased napkins with printed fall leaves and flowers, grabbed some Mod Podge and turned this ordinary pumpkin into a work of art! 
I’ve linked everything I used for this project on my LTK so make sure to check it out and give this easy craft a try! 
https://liketk.it/4j6rT
#decoupage #falldecor #pumpkindecor #falldiy #diyfalldecor #craftyideas
I’m always in awe at the drastic change a little I’m always in awe at the drastic change a little paint can do. This time I painted my cafe curtains that went from bland to charming. 
They look like they belong in a cute English Cottage and the fact that they’re one of a kind with the stencil I chose makes it even better! 
I also used Rub n Buff on the rod and the clips I purchased which made it so much better! 
#fabricpainting #cafecurtains #windowtreatments #paintedfabric #diycurtains #joannfabrics
For all you static photo lovers, here’s a still For all you static photo lovers, here’s a still shot of our office once it's undergone its transformation into a guest bedroom. 
The desks do double-duty as side tables when the bed is pulled down, and there is still tons of room on either side of the bed for our guests to move around. 
Would you feel welcome in this guest room?
#guestroom #guestroomdesign #guestroomdesign #murphybed #sherwinwilliamspaint #diyoffice
Has the @vornado fan kept us cool as the summer he Has the @vornado fan kept us cool as the summer heat lingers? Yes. 
Has it looked pretty cool while doing do? Also yes!
While I love the cool breeze the fan gives off, I also love its classic style. It means that the Vornado fan instantly matches my decor, regardless of what room it’s in!
Need one for yourself? Check out my stories for a direct link!
#vornado #keepcool #classicdecor #vornadofan #coolbreeze #beattheheat
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