How to Faux Finish Cabinets to Antique Cherry

Clean the cabinets with a mixture of warm water and several drops of liquid dish soap or oil soap. Apply the soap and water using a soft, damp sponge and then dry the excess moisture with a towel to prevent the cabinets from getting too wet.

Sand the cabinets with 100-grit sandpaper to add wear, which mimics the worn look of antiques, while also roughening the cabinets so they bond better with primers and paints. Wipe loose sand away once you're finished with a rag.

Lay down plastic drop cloths around the cabinet and cover the hinges with masking tape. Apply a primer to the cabinet with a paint sprayer. This covers up the old color of the cabinet so it won't show through the cherry finish. Wait for the cabinet to fully dry before moving on to painting.

Rinse out the paint sprayer and fill it with a cherry-colored paint. Some companies offer paint options specifically treated to look older or darker so explore your options at a hardware or paint store before deciding what paint is best for you. Test the paint on a piece of wood before using it on the cabinet to see how it looks dry. Spray two coats of paint onto the cabinet, with the second coat going on after the first coat dries.

Sand the cabinet again with 100-grit sandpaper after the paint is fully dry to give the paint an aged and worn look so it more closely resembles and antique.