How to Faux Paint a Cabinet

Remove the cabinet from its hinges, using a screwdriver. Remove the handle and hardware.

Wash the cabinet surfaces with hot, soapy water. Rinse the cabinet with a wet rag, and dry it with a towel. Let the cabinet air-dry the rest of the way.

Sand the surface of the cabinet with 220-grit sandpaper to remove any existing finish. Wipe up the dust with a tack cloth.

Paint the surface of the cabinet with an interior semigloss latex paint. Use a foam roller or a paintbrush, and apply the paint in a thin, even coat. Let the paint dry for 24 hours.

Mix your custom glaze in a small bowl by combining interior latex paint in your selection of color with interior oil-based clear glaze. Adjust the ratios of glaze to paint for a darker or lighter shade.

Apply the glaze with a sponge, cloth or foam paintbrush. Each tool will give you a different finish. The sponge and cloth will be more mottled if you dab the paint on, while the strokes of the paintbrush look will look more antiqued.

Wipe the excess glaze off the cabinet if you are going for a weathered or antiqued look. Let the glaze dry according to the package directions, then apply a thin coat of a water-based sealer. Let the sealer dry.

Replace the hardware on the cabinets. Hang the cabinets in their place.