How to Make Metal Cabinets Look Like Wood - Outdoor Cabinets

Making metal cabinets look like wood can completely transform the aesthetic of your kitchen, bathroom, or any other room in your home. With the right techniques and materials, you can give plain metal cabinets the beautiful, warm look of natural wood grain that brings comfort and style to your space.

Benefits of Making Metal Cabinets Look Like Wood

There are many great reasons to make your metal cabinets look like wood:

Warmth and beauty – Natural wood grain brings an organic, cozy feeling that plain metal lacks. The rich texture gives depth and sophistication.
Self-expression – Faux wood allows you to customize your space and make it look exactly how you want.
Cost savings – Refinishing is much cheaper than full cabinet replacement.
Sustainability – You don’t have to discard your existing cabinets, reducing waste.
Increased home value – Upgraded cabinets can significantly increase resale value.

With the right approach, you can attain the beautiful look of wood grain on metal while enjoying these benefits.

Before You Begin

Before starting your cabinet makeover project, here are some key steps to take:

Clean the Cabinets

Make sure your cabinets are fully cleaned before applying any new finishes. Grease, dirt, or residue will prevent paint or veneers from properly adhering. Clean with a degreasing agent and then lightly sand surfaces.

Remove Hardware

Taking off cabinet doors, handles, and hinges will allow you to refinish cabinets more easily. Number or label each door and drawer to ensure proper reinstallation.

Patch Holes & Repair Defects

Fix any holes, chips, or cracks with wood filler. Sand bumps smooth. Ensure your base surface is in good condition before faux finishing.

Choose Your Faux Wood Finish Technique

There are a few different ways to make metal cabinets look like wood. Consider your budget, skill level, and desired final look before deciding on an approach.

Gather Your Materials

Once you’ve decided on a technique, gather all the necessary supplies you’ll need beforehand so the project goes smoothly.

Protect Surrounding Areas

Lay drop cloths in the work area and tape off any walls or countertops near the cabinets to protect from splatters or spills.

Budget Time

Depending on the technique and number of cabinets, refinishing can take several days to complete. Make sure to budget ample time so you don’t feel rushed.

Techniques for Making Metal Cabinets Look Like Wood

There are several great options for turning your metal cabinets into beautiful faux wood:

Stain & Glaze

For a low cost wood look, staining and glazing metal cabinets is a simple solution. Here are the steps:

What You’ll Need

Sandpaper
Tack cloth
Primer
Paint brushes
Stain in desired wood tone
Glaze Gel or Topcoat in a similar color as your stain
Protective sealant

Directions

Sand cabinet surfaces lightly to rough them up so stain can adhere.
Wipe sanded cabinets with tack cloth to remove any dust.
Apply 1-2 coats of primer evenly across all cabinet surfaces. Allow drying fully between coats.
Use paintbrush to apply liberal coat of wood stain over primed cabinets. Blot stain to avoid drips.
Allow stain to dry fully before next step.
Apply a thin coat of glaze gel over the stain, using brush or cloth. While glaze is still wet, wipe some away so the stain below shows through for a driftwood type look.
Once glaze layer is dry, apply a sealant like polyurethane for durability and richness.
Allow all layers to dry fully before reattaching doors and drawers.

The combination of glaze over stain mimics wood grain patterns. The deeper brown colors in the stain show through the lighter glaze, creating natural looking variation.

Wood Veneer

For the look of real wood, applying adhesive-backed wood veneers is a great option. Here’s how:

What You’ll Need

Wood veneer sheets sized slightly larger than each cabinet door/drawer
Contact cement or veneer glue
Utility knife and straightedge
Applicator/Squeegee
Trimmer/Router for edges

Directions

Ensure cabinet surfaces are smooth, clean, and dry before beginning. Lightly sand if needed.
Measure cabinet doors/drawers and cut veneer sheets slightly oversized with utility knife and straightedge.
Apply a coat of contact cement or veneer glue to the back of the veneer sheet. Apply a thin, even layer to the cabinet surface as well. Allow both to become tacky.
Press veneer sheet onto cabinet surface from the center outward to avoid bubbles. Use applicator/squeegee to smooth down fully.
Once adhered, use a trimmer or router around all edges for a finished look.
Repeat steps on doors, drawers, and cabinet frames.
Allow glue to cure fully before reattaching hardware.

For a less uniform look, apply strips of varying wood veneers and patterns across cabinet surfaces. Trim seam lines for a cohesive distressed style.

Faux Wood Paint

Specialized faux wood paint allows you to create the look of wood grain yourself with a brush or sponge. Here are the steps:

What You’ll Need

Tack cloth
Paint primer
Paintbrush
Faux wood paint in desired tones
Rags, paintbrush, sponges for texturing
Clear polyurethane sealant

Directions

Wipe cabinets with a tack cloth after light sanding to remove any dust.
Apply 1-2 coats of high quality primer over cabinet surfaces. Allow to dry fully.
Basecoat cabinets with a faux wood base color using a paintbrush. Allow to dry fully before detailing.
Using multiple colors of faux wood paint, begin dabbing color onto the cabinets with rags or sponges. Create depth by applying lighter grain colors first, then darker grain colors on top.
Use paintbrushes to extend and blend faux grain colors on cabinets. Work in small sections.
Allow paint to dry fully before applying a clear polyurethane sealant for a smooth, protected finish.
If desired, lightly sand painted cabinets after sealing to increase distressed, aged look.

The customized, layered paint technique allows you to mimic wood grain patterns for an authentic look. Mix multiple colors for variation.

Wood Contact Paper

For a quick and easy solution, wood contact paper can transform your cabinets. Here’s how:

What You’ll Need

Contact paper with wood veneer pattern
Sharp utility knife
Applicator tool like squeegee

Directions

Thoroughly clean and dry cabinet surface that contact paper will be applied to.
Measure the surface and cut contact paper to fit, allowing for overlap on the edges to wrap around.
Peel back contact paper liner and apply adhesive side to cabinet surface, starting on one edge.
Use applicator to smooth paper onto cabinet surface, working from the center outward.
Carefully trim excess paper at corners and edges with a utility knife.
Use squeegee to rub out any remaining bubbles or wrinkles.
Continue process on doors, frames, and any other cabinets surfaces you want to cover.

One benefit of contact paper is that it can easily be removed later without damage to cabinets. Choose wood patterns and grains that mimic natural wood for the best results.

Unfinished Wood Panels

For a truly seamless faux wood look, you can attach unfinished wood panels over cabinet surfaces using adhesive.

What You’ll Need

Unfinished wood panels sized to fit cabinet surfaces
Strong wood glue or liquid nails construction adhesive
Finishing supplies like stain, sealer, paint etc.

Directions

Lightly sand cabinet surfaces that wood will be adhered to so they are clean and rough.
Cut unfinished wood panels to size so they cover cabinet door/drawer surfaces. Pine, poplar, birch all work well.
Apply wood glue or adhesive evenly to back of the wood panel and cabinet surface area. Clamp together tightly.
Allow glue to dry fully before removing clamps. Screw panels onto frame backing for extra support if needed.
Use preferred stains, paints, or polyurethane to finish the wood panels to desired look.
Install cabinet doors and hardware once the wood finish curing process is complete.

Wood panels allow for staining or finishing options to match your cabinets to other wood tones in the room. The full overlay provides the most seamless faux wood effect.

Tips for Achieving an Authentic Faux Wood Look

To get the most natural faux wood finish on your metal cabinets, keep these tips in mind:

Mix up techniques – Combining methods like stain and glaze with light sanding can make faux wood details more convincing.
Customize panels – Cut panels to size to cover fronts or sides rather than whole doors to create more realistic cabinet dimensions.
Add trim pieces – Applying trim molding along the tops, bottoms, and sides of cabinets makes them look more like real wood furniture.
Imperfect is perfect – Distressing your faux wood finish with small scratches, dings, or uneven staining makes it look authentically weathered.
Match wood tones – Coordinate your faux wood cabinet color with other wood trim, floors, or furniture in the room.
Consider finishes – Matte and satin polyurethanes look more natural than high-gloss.

With attention to detail, you can make your faux wood cabinets look like the real thing.

How to Make Oak Cabinets

Oak is a popular wood type for kitchen and bathroom cabinets, known for its attractive grain and warm, inviting hue. Faux oak cabinets can help you attain the same style. Here are some tips:

Base colors – When painting or staining, use amber, brown, yellow, or reddish base colors to mimic oak wood tones.
Grain details – Oak has distinctive open wood pores and knots. Recreate tiny holes and lines in these areas with small dabs of darker paint or using textured sponges.
Glazing – Drag a small brush through your base coat paint while still wet to create streaks that imitation oak grain patterns.
Distressing – Simulate weathered oak cabinets by lightly sanding edges and corners to expose some of the undercoat color beneath your top stain or paint.
Finishes – Oak has a smooth semi-gloss sheen. Polyurethane or sealants in satin or semi-gloss will emulate this.

With the right steps, you can transform plain cabinets into beautiful faux oak wood cabinets that bring warmth and charm to your space.

How to Make Cherry Cabinets

Cherry wood has a distinctive reddish-brown hue and smooth, fine grain. To make metal cabinets look like luxurious cherry:

Base coats – Use stain, paint, or veneers in rich cherry tones like burgundy, reddish-browns, or chocolate colors.
Blotchy stain – Cherries natural color variation comes from blotchy areas in the grain. Mimic this with uneven application of stains using rags or sponges.
Grain markings – Use darker reddish glazes or paints to add fine grain lines across your base color coats. Follow the linear wood grain pattern.
Sheen – Cherry wood has a smooth semi-gloss finish. A clear satin or semi-gloss polyurethane over your top coat enhances this.
Distressing – Adding light sanding or small chips to edges and corners makes faux cherry cabinets look naturally worn.

With the right finishing techniques, your metal cabinets can take on the elegant yet laid-back style of rich cherry wood cabinetry.

How to Make Walnut Cabinets

Walnut is treasured for its luxurious, rich brown coloration and distinctive grain patterns. To make your cabinets look like beautiful solid walnut:

Base colors – Opt for deep coffee, chocolate, or caramel toned paints or stains as your base. Avoid blackish hues.
Color variation – Walnut has varied lighter and darker browns throughout. Recreate this subtle color variation by layering glazes and blotchy paint application.
Grain marks – Use a dry brush technique with darker paint to add flowing lines that mimic walnut’s long, swooping grain indentations.
Distressing – Walnut often has a worn, weathered look. Lightly sand paint edges or make small cracks in your top stain layer.
Sheen – Walnut leans towards a satin finish. A clear satin polyurethane over your top coat enhances the smooth look.

With the right blend of warm wood tones and realistic grain detailing, you can transform your cabinets into beautiful faux walnut.

How to Make Maple Cabinets

Maple cabinetry is admired for its smooth, creamy color and clean, uniform appearance. To turn your existing cabinets into faux maple:

Base coat – Opt for off-white, light tan, or warm beige paint, stain, or veneers as a base maple color.
Minimal grain – Maple has a very tight, straight grain pattern. Use small amounts of darker glaze or paint to add thin grain lines rather than bold wood pores.
Maintain uniformity – Keep your base coats consistent and solid. Avoid heavy blotchiness or heavy distressing.
Simple distressing – If desired, lightly sand only the edges and corners for a touch of wear rather than all over.
Sheen – Maple leans towards a clean satin sheen finish. A clear satin polyurethane is ideal for faux maple cabinets.

The minimal graining and uniform light colors will lend your cabinets the modern yet warm maple cabinet look.

How to Make Hickory Cabinets

Hickory wood is renowned for its captivating grain patterns and rustic appeal. For faux hickory cabinets:

Base colors – Medium brown, coffee, tan, or mossy green hued stains or paints make an ideal base to mimic hickory wood.
Exaggerated grain – Hickory has very prominent grain lines and markings. Use darker glazes, paints, or veneer strips to recreate.
Distressing – Sand paint edges, legs, and lip edges to expose underlying paint for a timeworn hickory look.
Color variations – Hickory has extreme color variations from light to dark browns. Blend several wood-toned glazes or paint shades.
Rustic finish – A flat or matte sheen clear coat over your top layer enhances hickory’s rustic character.

Bring out the dynamic, energetic beauty of hickory wood with your faux cabinet makeover.

How to Make Mahogany Cabinets

Mahogany is a luxury wood valued for its rich red tones and intricate grain patterns. To make your cabinets into faux mahogany:

Reddish base – Start with cherry, burgundy, or reddish brown toned stain, paint, or veneers to mimic reddish mahogany tones.
Bold grain – Mahogany has eye-catching flecks and bold grain lines. Recreate using wood-grained veneer sheets or dark walnut colored paint/glaze.
Color contrast – The bold grains against the red background creates noticeable contrast. Don’t over-blend layers.
Smooth finish – Mahogany leans towards a smooth polished sheen. Choose a gloss or semi-gloss sealant as your top coat.
Minimal distressing – Limit any sanding or cracks to the edges only to maintain a refined mahogany look.

The bold grains against a red base along with a smooth finish will give your cabinets a striking, upscale mahogany cabinet appearance.

How to Antique New Cabinets To Look Old

If you want to refinish cabinets to have an antique, aged look, there are several simple techniques you can use during the finishing process:

Base coat irregularity – Apply base paint or stain coats unevenly, allowing blotchiness and variation to show through.
Heavy distressing – Use sandpaper, chisels, or chains to chip paint and expose undercoats throughout the cabinet surface, not just edges.
Glaze buildup – When applying glazes over base coats, allow glaze to dry heavily in recessed areas for a messy, overcoated look.
Worn edges – In addition to sanding, use metal brushes or scrapers to create peeled, cracked edges on cabinet doors, feet, and frames.
Rust effects – Dab on metallic paints or rub metallic waxes onto corners or hardware to mimic worn rust spots.
Irregular sealant – Wipe polyurethanes and sealants unevenly to create shine in some spots and dullness in others.

With the right amount of variation and visible wear, you can make new faux wood cabinets look like authentic antique cabinetry full of charm and character.

How to Make Cabinets Look Expensive

Certain finishing techniques can make inexpensive cabinets look like high-end custom cabinetry. Here are some tips:

Consistent base – Maintain solid, even base coats with minimal blotchiness for a refined look.
Subtle distressing – Limit any distressing to the