Staining Honey Oak Trim Darker

Staining your outdated honey oak trim is easier than you think. No sanding or stripping required. This easy method provides great result for a quick DIY update.

If you follow me regularly, you know that I stained my mantel a few weeks ago. This weekend I tackled the kitchen. One step closer to getting our kitchen finally finished!

I used the same method as I used for the mantel. I am not committed yet to re-staining all of the trim in my house, so I’m using a stain that is just a few shades darker and warmer than the existing honey oak trim. In pictures, you probably can’t tell a huge difference, but in person you can.

I didn’t take a true before picture of this wall, but here it is taped up before I started staining.

You can get a more detailed step-by-step instructions from my previous post, but I’ll give the basics here. To prep, all I did was run a dry Scotchbrite pad over the existing trim and then used a clean damp cloth to wipe off any dust. No sanding or stripping required!

Using General Finishes gel stain in Brown Mahogany, I put a tube sock over my rubber glove covered hand, dipped it into the gel stain and applied a thin coat of stain.

It’s best to work in small sections (I did one wall at a time if it was a long wall or two short walls). After a few minutes I used a clean cotton cloth to wipe off the stain, making sure to get any extra out of the crevices of the trim.

I did two coats, allowing about 30 minutes dry time in between coats. Then I removed the painters tape after about an hour.

All we have left to do in the kitchen is finish the crown molding on one set of cabinets, make curtains for the kitchen window and hang pictures in the dining area. One more rainy weekend would probably do it. I’m hoping for some nice ones though. As long as we finish before Labor Day weekend, I’ll be happy. That’s when we first started with the counter tops and painting the kitchen cabinets last year.