How to Distress & Glaze Cabinets

Remove the handles and hinges from the cabinet with a Phillips-head screwdriver, and then lower the cabinet doors to a flat work area covered in newspaper. Wash the cabinet surfaces with a sponge dampened in mild liquid soap and warm water. Rinse the surfaces of soapy residue with clean water and then pat the surfaces dry.

Remove the existing finish from the cabinet and door with medium-grit sandpaper. Use small, circular motions with the sandpaper over the surface of the cabinet, working in rows across each finished cabinet edge to scour away the current finish. The finish is the glossy plastic-appearing coating on the cabinet over the stain or paint, and it's added for protection against damage from normal wear and tear. Wipe the cabinet clear of sanding residue after removing the finish, using a tack cloth.

Apply a coating of latex primer on the cabinet and door to serve as an adherence surface for the distressed paint. Brush on the primer with a paintbrush, working in overlapping rows across the outside of the cabinet to ensure complete coverage. Allow the primer to dry for the manufacturer-recommended drying time.

Apply a layer of latex paint over the primer, using the color that you wish to paint your cabinets. Brush on this topcoat of paint using the same application method you used with the primer, and then allow the paint to dry according to the manufacturer's recommendations.

Sand the topcoat of paint with medium-grit sandpaper in a random pattern to thin the topcoat until splotches of the primer paint show through the latex paint. This will create the distressed look for your cabinet.

Create a brown-tinted paint glaze by mixing brown latex paint with clear glaze in a one part paint to three parts glaze ratio. Remove all loose bristles from a disposable bristle brush, and then use the brush to apply the glaze over the topcoat. The glaze enhances the distressed look, aging the appearance of the cabinets. Allow the glaze coat to dry overnight.

Cover the distressed cabinets with two coats of polyurethane, both for protection against wear and tear, as well as to simplify cleaning of the cabinets. Apply the polyurethane to the cabinet using a foam applicator. Brush the first light coat on the cabinet in overlapping rows, and then allow it to dry for two hours. Apply the second moderate coat in the same way and allow it to dry for 48 hours.

Replace the handles and hinges to the cabinet body, and then reattach the cabinet doors.