Espresso-finish cabinets complement a variety of bathroom layout schemes in which light-colored oak would only appear too vanilla. As you could just paint the walnut a dark chocolate colour, stain allows the natural grain to stay visible. You aren’t likely to create the rich, dark espresso tone to your bathroom cabinets with a single coating, but you can mix a mixture of stains and sealants to accomplish an enduring and gorgeous finish.

Removing the Old Varnish

For best results, remove any old coats of varnish before applying your own stain. Since the bathroom is a confined space, you should avoid working with a fast-acting aromatic paint-stripping compound. Paste-based paint removers are low-odor, and they may be put on the cabinet with a brush or putty knife. Allow the glue to work overnight and then remove the softened varnish and paste from the cabinets using a plastic putty knife. Chemical glue strippers are much less labor-intensive than sanding, and they will not harm the oak surface.

Selecting the Stain

Traditional penetrating wood stains may darken oak cabinets, however even after many programs, the wood may not be as dark as you’d like. By comparison, gel stains supply a lot easier option. The gel forms a smooth, semi-transparent movie over the oak that darkens and colours the timber. You may apply a couple of thin coats without fear of blotchy or uneven coloration. Unlike water-based gel stains, an sloping gel stain does not raise the wood grain and takes little if any sanding between coats.

Mixing Colors

Your neighborhood paint merchant may sell at least two brands of gel stain, however few producers supply a deep espresso color, meaning that you’ll want to build that color yourself in a few coats. As an example, you can begin by applying a coat of cherry-wood gel stain and then employ one or more follow-up coats of mahogany or walnut gel stain over the base color. It might be wise to test your formula on a bare oak board prior to applying the color mixture to your own bathroom cabinets.

Sealing the Deal

Finish up by protecting your espresso wood-stained cabinets with a tough, water-resistant protective end. When a hot shower steams up the bathroom, an oil-based polyurethane varnish seals the cabinet from mist and water while also decreasing the possibility of scratching or abrading the surface. Employ three thin coats using a natural bristle brush and sand between coats with a fine-grade sandpaper if any bubbles or other surface irregularities appear.

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