How to Refinish Wood Vanities

If you plan to remodel your bathroom but don't want to buy new cabinets, consider staining or painting them. Bathroom vanity refinishing is a relatively simple project. When you finish, the vanity will look like it's new. Refinishing a bathroom vanity is like redoing any other piece of furniture. Just make sure you use products designed to retard mildew growth. The products should also be moisture-resistant. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Go over the bathroom vanity with a cleaning product designed for wood. Remove all signs of hairspray, deodorant and other products that may accumulate over time.

2

Remove drawer pulls and doorknobs with a screwdriver. Put the hardware inside a cabinet for safekeeping while you refinish the vanity.

3

Place painter's tape on the wall around the vanity.

4

Use coarse-grit sandpaper to remove old stain and paint from the vanity. Use either a small hand sander, or sand the vanity by hand. If you prefer not to sand as much, use a chemical paint stripper to remove the paint or stain. Apply the paint stripper, let it set the recommended time, and then wipe it off with a soft cloth.

5

Sand the entire surface with fine-grit paper to make the surface satin smooth.

6

Remove dust from the vanity, using a shop vacuum. Go over the vanity with a tack cloth to remove any dust that remains.

7

Apply stain to the vanity with a soft cloth or a brush. Allow it to soak into the wood, and then wipe it off. Repeat if you want a darker stain. Skip this step if you are painting the vanity.

8

Paint the cabinet with a primer. Allow the primer to dry. Give the vanity two coats of paint, allowing it to dry completely between coats.

9

Apply a polyurethane finish designed for bathroom use, using a paintbrush. Brush with the grain. Allow the polyurethane to dry.

10

Sand the surface lightly with fine-grit sandpaper. Wipe off the grit with a tack cloth.

11

Apply another coat of polyurethane. Let it dry before you reattach your cabinet hardware.