Easy DIY Glazing Technique

Glazing is a faux finishing technique that’s used to create an aged look. Learn how to give basic kitchen cabinets some character with an easy DIY glazing technique presented in this DIY Network video:

There are lots of different levels of glazing, from a dramatic all-over glaze to a more subtle look. Glazing products can be a little bit hard to find, but you can use gel stain to achieve the same look.

For this DIY project, in addition to the gel stain, you will also need drop cloths, paint stirrers, gloves, artist brushes, lint-free rags and mineral spirits.

The kitchen cabinets featured in this video have been painted with an oil-based paint, which is a very popular choice because of its durability. It’s important to use an oil-based product on top of the oil-based paint, and this project utilizes an oil-based gel stain instead of glazing. The gel stain has the consistency of pudding rather than a liquid form, so it makes it easy to apply. You can control the amount of color you add without it soaking in too quickly, so it’s very workable.

The goal is to highlight the inlay detail of the cabinet and pull it out so you see it. You will have 2-3 minutes after application, so be prepared with your wipes and your mineral spirits so you can start cleaning the cabinet. There’s no exact science to this project; you can add more stain or use more mineral spirits to take more off depending on what you like. The mineral spirits act like an eraser; once applied, follow up with a dry towel and clean up the mess. It’s more efficient to have two people working on this project.

When you’ve finished staining, be sure to clean your brushes really well with mineral spirits and keep the windows open to let the room air out. After about eight hours everything will be fully cured, and you’ll have your kitchen back.