How I Updated My Oak Cabinets Without Paint by Using Briwax! Easy Budget Kitchen Makeover! Only $24

[@queenofthehousehold]

Thank you all for the support on this video! I'm a tiny KZbinr who simply wanted to share a frugal DIY project that worked well for my home. However, there have been a few concerns that aren't mentioned in the video. Please read the notes below before deciding if this is right for you and your home. *PLEASE NOTE* 1. This is my personal experience. You may get different results. I’m not a professional. 2. Briwax has a VERY strong odor! 3. As others have pointed out, it does NOT work on wood that has a polyurethane finish to it. The Briwax will not stick. 4. I suggest trying it on the back of a cabinet door first to see if you get the results you want. 5. If you have specific questions, you can contact Briwax on their website: briwax.com/contact/

[@wordswritteninred7171]

THANK YOU EMILY! We are very limited on money. Who isn't, right? Lol But we just moved into a house that needs so much work! All the wood here, is the same. With that yellow orange hue to it. Seems nothing really goes well with it. We have the same exact cabinets as you. And with no money to spare, we were stick with them. NOT NOW!!!! THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH! Wonder why I have never heard of this before? Seems so simple to do! Thank you again! SUBBED!

[@queenofthehousehold]

@@wordswritteninred7171 I had never heard of it either until I stumbled across an article on Pinterest! I hope it works well for your home too. Thankfully, it's such a low cost option! Welcome to the community here! Glad to have you.

[@Mama-Ames]

I enjoyed your video. Your kitchen is lovely. But please try to support local business. Don't help billionaire Bezos close down small, local shops, many family-owned for generations. From my heart, I thank you.🙏♥️🇺🇲✌

[@dannydonnelly8345]

@@wordswritteninred7171 before you buy this product and use it, I say this as a former dealer of briwax, it has a terrible very toxic very poisonous odor. If you are looking to truly update your cabinets, painting them white seems to be in Vogue. Also your cabinets are coated with polyurethane, you will have to sand every bit of that off any part of the woods you put the briwax on, or else it will not stick. It will forever be wet on the surface of your cabinets smudging and rubbing off on your hands and clothing. Your kitchen will smell like briwax for months. This product is basically only good for wood that has not been finished. Or that has been completely stripped. On the other hand there are many many many other products, you just need to talk to somebody that knows about them. If you're going to paint them you need to only ruff up the polyurethane surface to make it so the paint will adhere. You did not have to strip the cabinets completely to do it properly.

[@carolg.6838]

Thank you E.ily and commenter Danny E that this product has such a very strong odor that lingers so long. Many could never use this product. Or perhaps worse if they had someone else do it while they were out and had no clue...I would have to vacate or be sick and lightheaded..for months? Emily, product aside, you did a great job on everything.

[@mals86]

Thanks for this. I have honey oak cabinets that I don't love, and I've been trying to decide what to do with them. I can understand why a lot of people would really love this look, and I appreciate your posting this video... because it's confirming that what I really hate about the cabinets is not so much the warm honey color, but the heavy distinctive oak grain. An update that highlights the grain would, I think, just make me hate them more. (This is my preference, y'all. Please don't take it personally.) There's no money in the budget for cabinet replacement and my early-2000s cabinets are pretty sturdy anyway. So I think I'm going to be filling the grain, sanding, priming, and painting -- not that I'm looking forward to that, but I'm convinced it's the way for me to go. Again, I really appreciate seeing what you've done with your cabinets because it's been so helpful to me in knowing what I do and do not want.

[@queenofthehousehold]

I’m glad you figured out what will work for you!

[@76missahmad]

Omg....THANK YOU... this is my kind of kitchen update--no removing doors, no sanding, no painting, I love it!🙌🏾 I'm updating my kitchen now and am *sick* of seeing white cabinets, plus, for me, it's just not a practical finish with 3 kids. Can't wait to try this on my oak cabinets.

[@queenofthehousehold]

Yes! It's really easy for those of us who don't have major DIY skills. Ha! I hope you like how it turns out!

[@MovieMakingMan]

Everyone is going to white cabinets. In a few months white will look boring and dull. Then everyone will be saying how wonderful honey oak looks. I’m with you. Every video I’ve seen was about removing all cabinet doors and hardware, sanding 5 times, painting five times and then reattaching all the cabinet doors. Oh yeah, that doesn’t include finishing the cabinet frames. The entire process for a small kitchen with one person doing all the work is over 2 months! They can keep their white cabinets. If anyone comes into my house and disses my honey oak I’ll throw them out 😀. I love honey oak so to heck with the white cabinet snobs 😂😂😂.

[@kaileim970]

​@MovieMakingMan I updated my kitchen in 2008 and went honey oak because I love the color too. I may try this tho...

[@AmysMusic7]

You can’t do this over painted white cabinets. You would have to sand off all the paint first.

[@Allaiya.]

So did you do it?

[@conniesmith2748]

I watched your video several times and decided to try briwax for my cabinets which are about 50 years old. I simply love the results!! Thank you so much for your video.

[@queenofthehousehold]

That’s wonderful, Connie! ❤️

[@teaberrywmn]

You sold me on this cabinet upgrade. I've researched painting, gel stain, etc and this is exactly what I'm going for. Thank you so much for your very useful tutorial.

[@queenofthehousehold]

I did the same research before finally choosing this method, and I’m so glad I did it! I hope you like it too.

[@cynthiarafferty7662]

The Briwax really made the wood grain come out in the oak cabinets to give them a different look without painting them. To replace kitchen cabinets can be expensive and sometimes the cabinets that are in the kitchen are good quality and solid wood. I like the knobs and pull handles that you put on the cabinets. They give a more modern look to the cabinets. I like the new kitchen sink faucet too. A good use of money to update your kitchen without construction mess and spending thousands and thousands of dollars. Great job!

[@queenofthehousehold]

Thank you, Cynthia! Yes, it's a great thrifty option!

[@dollysmommy3]

A wooden skewer works really well for getting the gunk out of the corners and no chance of scratching. It works well on faucet areas too. Thanks Emily.

[@queenofthehousehold]

Thank you for sharing, Judy!

[@ThePinkPanth3r]

I came to comments to say the same thing. I get in so much trouble when I take the kitchen knives into the garage lol.

[@macbook802]

Also a toothpick

[@macbook802]

Also a steamer

[@alannarbt174]

I love that the fact that you kept the integrity of the wood here. I’m currently looking for a home to buy and so many kitchens have their oak cabinets painted over and it drives me nuts lol

[@queenofthehousehold]

Yes, I think it was such a big trend that a lot of people followed. But it's not easily reversible! ;) I love the look of stained wood.

[@blackcatusa7946]

@@queenofthehousehold beautiful I want to do this. Did you have to sand? Sorry if I missed it in the video, but didn't notice reading through the comments.

[@debpratt52]

I agree. Once you paint, you have to paint forever. (Or do a lot of work stripping it.)

[@jaecarli8516]

I’m so glad to see this product doesn’t require sanding. I’ve looked at so many videos, but yours was really helpful. Thank You!

[@Fuzzmom903]

You go!!! Thank you so much for giving hope to those of us who want to keep our custom wood cabinetry, but simply want an update that isn’t paint.

[@queenofthehousehold]

Yes, there is hope! Paint is not the only option. 👍🏻😀

[@mynewfamily9028]

After watching other videos where colored wax was used to change the look of wood, I wondered if it would work to change the color of my "orangey" oak cabinets without having to sand. I googled that question and your video popped up. Not only was my life changed, but you have my exact kitchen!!!! I was able to learn how to execute exactly what I was hoping to be able to do with my cabinets, PLUS I already know what it will look like!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH for the time you spent making this video and giving others the confidence to see that, like you, we really can do most projects ourselves....we just need to be shown how.

[@queenofthehousehold]

Yay! I’m so happy this video was helpful. That is exactly why I made it. I couldn’t find any other videos explaining the process and I knew others would want to see it like I did! 😁

[@annb3575]

Hi, i would like to "neutralize" the orange of my 36 year old oak kitchen cabinets. what product did you use to tone down the orange?

[@kandaschurr7034]

Great job, and I like that you matched your hardware to your new faucet! After years of trying to figure out what to do with my yellowed cabinets, you, dear Emily, have solved the problem in seven minutes and forty-two seconds. Wow. Thank you so much for sharing!!!

[@queenofthehousehold]

Yay! I’m so glad you enjoyed this video, Kanda! The faucet and hardware really took the kitchen up a notch!

[@Diana-gn8rp]

I watched this video and ordered everything used. I had 1950 kitchen cabinets with useless brass ornate center pulls. Removed all 20 from drawers and cupboards. Cleaned, Bri wax ( used a paint brush) , wood filler in two holes of each cupboard, added new modern bar handles to each corner and all drawers. Had hubby involved to drill holes. I can’t stop admiring our work. Cost me around $80.00 total and they look WONDERFUL! Thank you. The Brie wax soaked into worn areas around the corners of frequently used cupboards since the middle pulls were useless, making the cupboards look new. They are walnut, but I used the same color as you since they was out of the darkest color.

[@queenofthehousehold]

I love hearing this! I'm so glad it worked for you and you are so pleased with the results!

[@kimberlyemili6137]

Thanks Emily! I did it today. I used Dark Brown Briwax as the Tudor was out of stock. Also replaced door handles and drawer pulls. Very pleased with results. (And my clean sink!)

[@queenofthehousehold]

Yay, I’m so happy to hear you did all of that! Way to go, Kimberly!

[@karenstaedter183]

Love it. Thanks

[@JamieM470]

So it IS actually possible to change the color of those yellowish-orange oak cabinets without taking everything apart, sanding, stripping, etc. Yay! Love this! Thank you thank you!!!!!!

[@queenofthehousehold]

Yes! I love making things as uncomplicated as possible! 🙌🏻

[@toninatoli]

The cabinets look great. I'm most impressed with you installing the faucet! Plumbers are soooo expensive to hire!

[@queenofthehousehold]

Thank you, Toni! It took sometime to figure out, but I’m glad I was able to install it.

[@lauralake7430]

When drilling cabinets, run the drill in reverse right when you start the hole and right before you go through the back. The hole will be cleaner and not splinter. Also, you can get a wax brush for application that might be easier to use and use less product. Ive been a woodworker for a little bit of time, and these are things that help me, they might help you. Great video.

[@aprilella5027]

This looks amazing! It transformed the kitchen entirely. Thank you I had never heard of this product. I will definitely go with this option instead of painting

[@queenofthehousehold]

I'm so glad this video helped! I hope you enjoy using the Briwax, April!

[@ccpbux]

I'm currently gel staining a bathroom vanity and stopped to take a break & watch KZbin videos on cabinet staining. I also have the honey oak cabinets and have been wanting to stain my kitchen cabinets darker, but it's a huge project for me & I've been a little nervous about doing it. I ran across your video and will definitely do the Briwax method for my kitchen. Great job on your update!! I love seeing other moms doing DIY projects! The feeling of accomplishment & seeing the results afterward are always so rewarding!! Thanks for sharing!

[@queenofthehousehold]

Yes! I love the feeling of accomplishment. I hope you like the Briwax on your kitchen cabinets!

[@arlenel9583]

Wow. Never heard of this product. Emily, this was amazing to see how you transformed your cabinets. Mine are about 40 years old and I've been wanting to find some way to brighten them up without a major paint project (not me doing it) or replacing. I found a video also on how to de-gunk them with Tire and Wheel Cleaner, so after I eventually do that, I just might give this a try. Thank you for sharing.

[@queenofthehousehold]

It really is an amazing product! I hope it works well for your cabinets too. I had no idea about that trick for cleaning gunk from the cabinets. Thanks for sharing!

[@jeffmorse645]

Thank you for not destroying your wood cabinets. If a person has the budget I'd use modern finishes (dark counters, contrasting backsplash and flooring and black stainless steel appliances rather than ruin natural oak cabinets with paint. That really sets golden oak cabinets off and modernizes the look.

[@queenofthehousehold]

Agreed! Great tips!

[@daviddavid9837]

Yes! I found it! This is exactly what I need for the 48-year-old kitchen! Thank you so much for posting this!

[@queenofthehousehold]

Yay! I’m so glad this helped, David!

[@candicebrock7064]

Just waxed our bathroom vanity and I am so pleased. I applied with wax brushes from Amazon. It was so simple. Thank you for sharing this helpful tip. 😁

[@queenofthehousehold]

Yay! So happy to hear you like it. 🤗

[@sunshine4evr517]

This is exactly what I was looking for. I am updating on a budget to sell my house. The results are amazing , fresh, and more 2022

[@sandramichaud8033]

You made this a couple,years ago, but this is what I need to refresh my cabinets. Just need to choose the right color. We all thank you!

[@shirleycolopy4322]

Beautiful job! Love the knobs and faucet. Little things like that make a huge difference! You don’t have to spend thousands.

[@queenofthehousehold]

Yes, Shirley! I agree. Simple fixes are my favorite!

[@marsha8622]

Oh so happy to find this. My husband won't paint or replace our 40 year old oak cabinets and they look horrible. I will try this in our bathroom first. My question is does it smell bad? I have asthma and sensory issues so need to know how strong an odor this has. If you doubt countertops I will be watching or searching for that too. We need new ones and he won't do that either. Thanks....

[@queenofthehousehold]

Hi Marsha! Yes, it has a VERY strong odor. I haven't done any changes to my countertops, but I've seen some people paint them and create a granite look. There are kits you can buy from hardware stores.

[@happytrails8242]

This looks great!!! I've been wanting to give my kitchen cabinets an update but really wasn't looking forward to sanding and staining...I want to give this a try!!

[@queenofthehousehold]

I hope you like it!

[@Cat-xs6os]

Love the job on your kitchen! It does look so much better! Great way to save time and money on cabinet re-do! I'm doing this now to using dark brown Briwax on our honey oak cabinets and love how it looks so far!!! I used liquid sand paper to strip laminate off (do not wipe in circles as instructions say or you will have circular patterns showing up after applying Briwax) I used rubbing alcohol to clean cabinets first. Vinegar is suppose to work well to clean cabinets too. (I'll try that next). Wear a mask, gloves, and have ventilation. Smells goes away in about 2 hours. Good Luck 🍀

[@jennieolson6199]

I saw your comment and wondered how it turned out after sanding the cabinets? Also, does the color stay on them? Thanks for the info!

[@joyceprice6749]

The kitchen looks great. I have painted and stained all my life and I must say you did a terrific job.

[@queenofthehousehold]

Thank you so much!

[@frankkay6457]

What a BRILLIANT HACK! I used the TEAK Briwax on my tired, dated medium oak kitchen, and it LOOKS GREAT! THANK YOU SO MUCH!

[@queenofthehousehold]

That’s great! I’m so happy you liked the results too. 😊

[@Skarfp]

I've been wanting to do my bathroom vanity and happened to come across your channel. It was so inspiring that I ordered a can of BriWax right away and look forward to getting to work. Thank you so much!

[@queenofthehousehold]

I hope you love how it turns out!

[@monicahamm3353]

Hi Emily..... great project...... I just wanted to let you know, though, for future videos...... you don't need to crank up your music when you are not talking.......... it just forces the viewer to turn down the volume on your video and then back up and back down....... you should aim for a nice constant sound level whether talking or music. That is the key to not aggravating the viewer.

[@queenofthehousehold]

Thank you for the feedback, Monica! Have a great day. 🙂

[@infjfemale200]

You did a beautiful job with updating the cabinets as well as replacing your faucets, it look so nice! I also like that the counters are clutter free.

[@queenofthehousehold]

Thank you!

[@SharryLynnOR1]

We put black hardware pulls on our honey oak cabinets during Covid. Then just changed out our beige tiles with light brown grout counters with granite in browns, beiges, black and tans. Now the cabinets need cleaning and update to bring out the wood grain. Not paint! We are teetering between Gell and Briwax. We need to get our kitchen put back together, too. Help?

[@SharryLynnOR1]

We also changed our faucet to a black brass bridge configuration and separate ariator to spray the sinks and meal prep. Looks SO traditional! Love it!

[@FigsFrogPrince]

This product, new to me, really brought out the beauty of the grain in this wood, very good looking, rich! Thank you for showing us how

[@queenofthehousehold]

Thank you for watching, Ellen!

[@Holly-nb3vm]

Guys, I got sucked in by this video. It doesn’t work if your cabinets have any finish whatsoever. This will NOT STAIN POLYURETHANE, it will only change the color if you sand off most of the finish. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I tried it. Absolutely no change whatsoever (except to the worn areas) and I used BLACK!

[@queenofthehousehold]

Oh no, Holly! I’m so sorry it didn’t work for you. Thank you for sharing your results though.

[@murphy75571]

That's the problem we are having. It made it look nicer but didn't change the color and we bought dark brown. Did it work after you sanded it down?

[@brandimarsh7875]

I literally just asked this question before seeing your response. BUMMER!!! Thanks for sharing the warning!

[@NowWhatPpl]

Strange bc it looks like her cabinets in video have a poly coating?

[@richb5918]

You have to take off the protective finish. The stain can not penetrate the wood otherwise. Use a stripper before you sand. It will save time.

[@JudyMiller-wz3uh]

Hi Emily. If you still are not happy with your non-wood side panels, you might want to check out very thin oak veneer sheets. That's what we did in our kitchen and we like them much better.

[@queenofthehousehold]

Thank you for the tip!

[@dianamedrano3591]

It looks really nice! Very proud of you! Hard working lady!💪👏

[@queenofthehousehold]

Thank you! 😊

[@perpetuallyamused77]

Wowzers - this is awesome. Your 'after' looks like the cabinets in my kitchen that I love. I was about ready to paint our lower level kitchenette cabinets that are more yellow toned but am going to try this first and see how it works!

[@dianabaskin1944]

Thanks for sharing. This looks like something I can do. Most of the videos I have watched show taking the doors off, sanding and painting over the wood to make them look smooth. I do not want to do this because it is a part of the style of my older house. I just want to update them. Looks great.

[@queenofthehousehold]

Thank you, Diana! I took the easy route for sure without taking the doors of. Ha! I hope it works for you. I do want to mention that it doesn't work over cabinets with Polyurethane. But if your cabinets are just stained it should work!

[@arlettedumais5776]

I had white cabinets, then installed oak just like these. Later moved to a house with white cabinets (again) and have had them for 30 years. Believe it or not, both were easy to care for, even with kids. This technique is a great option to revitalize tired looking cabinets without costly renovations. Thank you for sharing!

[@queenofthehousehold]

Thank you for sharing your experience, Arlette!

[@margareth1504]

I have the wooden doors, and I wish they were white because partner just will not wash hands in between anything and they are always a terrible mess with grime and drips and sticky yuk that you see from one angle but not from another angle. He makes a lot of food for himself as he wishes too, but has no bother whatsoever for keeping anything even a bit clean. With 36 seperate kitchen verticle surfaces on doors drawers etc., and their handles, it needs a good clean over all of it every single day, and with the wood you might and do miss bits of grime, especially those bits that were left to harden and solidify for an hour or so, like rice, potato, and blood from the meat. Its fairly horrible. At least with white you can see what needs to be cleaned before too long.

[@pammonaghan6038]

Kitchen looks great and boy, do I wish I had your energy.

[@queenofthehousehold]

Ha! I was worn out afterwards, that's for sure! Thank you for watching, Pam!

[@larrystradeski8261]

Great job!! You're still keeping the oak cabinets looking the same only better instead of making them look like CHEAP mdf.

[@lynn2574]

I’m curious to know how this has stood up to wear and cleaning. Does it diminish at all with cleaning/wiping?

[@laurakirby9243]

I clicked on the link and checked out the read first section. Says at the bottom of the first column "Once Briwax has been applied, DO NOT use any other household cleaner or spray on the finish. For routine dusting, use a clean, dry cloth." This was also my first question. I hope this helps. Great product but just wouldn't work for me and my household personally after reading that part.

[@artlitmusic]

@@laurakirby9243 Awe, that's disappointing.

[@KMF3]

@@laurakirby9243 I have a bunch of furniture finished with this product and I wash it fine

[@laurakirby9243]

@@KMF3 Good to know. Wonder why the website lists otherwise. May have something to do with certain ingredients. Thanks for the info.

[@KMF3]

@@laurakirby9243 I think it might depend on the grain of the wood and how deep it penetrates. I would sand the wood first. Then if you still are concerned do a top coat of polyurethane

[@isabelnieto5189]

thank you thank you for this. I've been looking for a solution to my oak cabinets that didn't require removing and sanding and you have been the answer to my prayers. thank you so much, I can't wait to try this.

[@queenofthehousehold]

I hope you love how it turns out! It’s so nice to not have to sand all the cabinets.

[@lorimav]

Much better than boring white cabinets that everyone has these days.

[@queenofthehousehold]

Personally, I prefer other than white as well.

[@_elaineee_]

I want to give my bathroom a makeover and I have the same orange oak cabinets. Im only 16 though so I don't have a bunch of money to do a complete renovation, nor will my mom allow me to paint or sand the cabinets lol, so this is sooo so perfect for me!! Thanks so much for the helpful upload!

[@queenofthehousehold]

I hope you like the results!

[@CC-rv4zc]

Love this. I've been trying to come up with a way to update my cabinets without painting. I love seeing the wood grain, but I don't love the color.

[@queenofthehousehold]

Yes, I agree, Christine! I love the wood grain showing up better too.

[@CC-rv4zc]

@@queenofthehousehold exactly! The grain on my cabinets is so beautiful, the color not so much. The house has beautiful original 40s wood mounding, but the previous owners put clashing cabinets in. I think this product might allow me to match up to the original wood and have it all look more built in! We'll see.

[@queenofthehousehold]

@@CC-rv4zc I hope it works out for you! I love the wood details in 40's homes!

[@cathycoons9032]

Hi Emily great job! What would top off your project is to put your cup pulls on the faux drawers under your sink to top it all off.

[@queenofthehousehold]

Thanks for the feedback. 🙂

[@troyperry1231]

Beautiful job I was wondering what I should do and I wanted something not to time consuming and difficult because we have the same cabinetry and just finished concrete counter tops and thanks for sharing.

[@queenofthehousehold]

Oh, concrete counter tops are so cool! I hope the Briwax works well for your kitchen!

[@Mixdplate]

Last year, I actually purchased the same color of Briwax for the same type of 90's era cabinets. I tried it on one cabinet and didn't really notice a difference, it also had a very strong smell. So I never followed thru. Painting them is really not inspiring to me so I was seeking out other options when I came across your video. Now I'm inspired again! It's possible I didn't apply enough, as I was trying to be safe. So I will try it again on a day when I can open all the windows. Thank you for posting and sharing your process! The only caveat would be that mineral spirits or paint thinner is the only way to remove it, if needed.

[@queenofthehousehold]

It takes some practice to figure out how much to apply, that’s for sure! I hope you are able to try again! Thank you so much for watching.

[@veronicak1665]

I see this is 11 months old and wondering what you did😊. I had the same experience and wondering if I need to try more, or mine appear darker than those in this video, maybe I need dark brown (vs Tudor).

[@allisonneff2862]

Looks great! Does the Briwax have a strong smell? I'm thinking about trying it for my RV cabinets.

[@queenofthehousehold]

Hi Allison, yes! It has a VERY strong smell. You’ll definitely want to have windows open!

[@BelindaTN]

Dangerously strong. I used it on an antique chest and I took it out on our porch. There is a warning on the can about the fumes. It even smelled on my chest for a while. But I like the finish it gave.

[@dannydonnelly8345]

This briwax is extremely toxic and has an extremely toxic odor in fact it doesn't even dry if you use it over painted surfaces and it doesn't harden like a normal wax leaving a slick clean finish, I would not use this on anything other than bare wood at least it will soak into the wood and not into your skin when you touch it. I'm surprised this s*** is still on the market. I made custom furniture for a living, I am very familiar with this product.

[@colleencunningham4762]

I am about to do this dark stain to freebie Oak furniture...because I love the wood grain, and black stain the legs and feet to .modernize it. So it was fun to relate to what you did! Looking good girl!!!

[@queenofthehousehold]

Oh, that sounds like it will look good! So fun to transform furniture. 👏🏻

[@Holly-nb3vm]

I owe Emily a huge apology. I blamed the process and the product on my lack of success, when in reality it was my own inexperience and impatience that caused my poor result. I kept trying and finally got the hang of it! My results were not as good as Emily’s, but that is mainly because the finish on many of my cabinets was in pretty rough shape. But! On the areas where the finish was fairly intact, my results were good. I also used Dark Brown, as opposed to the Tudor Brown, and I think that was also an issue. The darker wax got into those places where the finished was trashed, and made those spots MUCH darker than the other areas. I think with the Tudor, the contrast would have been less obvious. Couple things I learned that gave me much better results - first, use the smallest amount of wax that you can. Second, don’t buff too hard! Gently, just enough to give it a nice luster. And third….if you really need to go over an area more than once, use a tiny amount of wax and just barely touch your previous coat. New wax dissolves old wax! I’ve done all the wood in the house (kitchen, 2 bathrooms, and a linen closet) on 1 and a half cans of Briwax. I think that if I were to do it again, I could probably do it in one can because I wasted a LOT. Emily, THANK YOU for this video….and don’t listen to idiots like me who blame you for their own incompetence, LOL.

[@queenofthehousehold]

Holly, Thank you SO much for sharing an update! I'm so happy that it worked better for you after trying again! Yes, it takes time to get used to working with the stain. Thank you for sharing all your tips! My 7 minute video really doesn't share all the details that are learned by actually doing the process. I'm so happy you were able to use the Briwax in other areas of your home too!

[@Holly-nb3vm]

@@queenofthehousehold you’re a peach! I never would have known about this groovy product and process if not for you. Thank you SO MUCH for helping me rid my home of ugly yellow wood!

[@verafitzgerald4515]

@@queenofthehousehold y

[@Tadaia]

GREAT JOB SIS!! I've watching vids all weekend on painting, staining, cerusing, you-name-it... my 80's gold oak cabinets. I'm still deciding but your idea just moved to the top of my list!! Bravo!!

[@queenofthehousehold]

I hope you find an option you like! It has worked great for us. 😊

[@samiam777]

Looks great! I never even new about that briwax!

[@queenofthehousehold]

Thank you, Samantha! This was the first time I used it. I hadn’t heard of it before either!

[@kristindacus8642]

Just found this! BriWax is one of my favorite products. I have used it on cabinets and furniture and it is always amazing at the change it makes.

[@bkrafter]

Hi Emily. Can you tell me how much of the Briwax did you use? Your cabinets turned out super great. I love the grain contrast, and the wax sure did tone the color down. Thank you :D

[@queenofthehousehold]

Thank you! I used a little over half a can of Briwax.

[@katjachen573]

I've been looking to upgrade our kitchen on a budget since we won't stay in this house forever. I have the same oak cabinets in this honey color, I absolutely love this idea and will first try it in our bathrooms and powder room to practice! I will certainly follow you for more ideas! Thank you!!!

[@queenofthehousehold]

I hope you like how it turns out!

[@katjachen573]

@@queenofthehousehold I'll share a before and after!

[@carolynlangston1316]

The cabinets look so nice!!

[@queenofthehousehold]

Thank you, Carolyn!

[@Melody-285]

I did something similar to this, but after cleaning them, I used a Minwax stain with polyurethane - I think it will be more long lasting than a wax - then I used a black glaze along the edges and in the grooves of he doors - turned out really well

[@queenofthehousehold]

Sounds pretty! Did you have to sand at all?

[@Melody-285]

@@queenofthehousehold No sanding - I cleaned real well with TCP

[@Melody-285]

@@queenofthehousehold The stain just went on the same as if was just an additional coat to what was already there - it was so easy - so if you find the wax doesn’t hold up, try this - clean all wax off really well first though - I’m trying to think of the color I used - it may have been Mission Oak -

[@vickizeller5480]

Do you have any photos of how it turned out? After finding Emily’s video I’ve use Briwax on my bathroom vanity and bedroom furniture with sucess, just trying to decide if I want something different for the kitchen. 😀

[@Melody-285]

@@vickizeller5480 I do have photos but I’m not on Instagram or anything, so don’t know how I would get them to you - I just don’t think the wax would be as durable as what I did - the cabinets were just that yellow-y golden oak - much lighter than the woodwork in the rest of the house & so the stain I chose just darkened them & the black - I called it glaze, but it’s actually paint - I put around the edges, etc. - they are raised panel cabinets, so I painted it in all the grooves, etc - used an artist brush for that, so it actually took a lot longer than the stain - I think the key to the success of it was that I used a stain with the urethane in it - satin finish - so once I had cleaned them really well, it seemed like it was the same as just adding another coat of stain - I put it on with a foam brush & then wiped it off just the same as if I were just starting - I did that twice - the black paint was a satin latex paint - not a harsh black - more like a dark charcoal - I did this 5 or 6 years ago & haven’t had to do anything else to them since - I just hated those yellow cabinets & while they’re still not what I would choose if I was starting over, I was very pleased with the result & don’t cringe whenever I walked in the kitchen - lol

[@carlaphoenix8965]

Thank you for this post .👍🏻👍🏻. I have the same solid oak cabinets. I keep seeing videos of people painting their lovely wood cabinets and it makes me nuts 😵😵😵. You video has given me a great alternative to consider to update our 1998 kitchen. Well done and thank you. 😃

[@queenofthehousehold]

Hi Carla! I'm glad this was helpful! My kitchen was built in 1997, so right around the same time as yours. Yes, I love the look of wood cabinets!

[@leahsundvall5894]

I have an 1980 wood wall that needs updating. I dreaded the idea of sanding and re-staining. Thanks to you I have a much easier option!

[@queenofthehousehold]

That’s great! I hope you like the results!

[@amybell4113]

Wow! It looks so good! Great work!

[@queenofthehousehold]

Thank you, Amy!

[@Adriana-vp1rm]

Tooth brush cleaning is amazing. U r a ⭐. Not many people clean like that.

[@queenofthehousehold]

You are so kind! Yes, I love using toothbrushes to clean in those little crevices!

[@eldee858]

Thank you so much for sharing!!! You saved me a ton of work. I was going to either paint or gel stain. This looks so much easier and with a very nice result. Great video!

[@queenofthehousehold]

I’m so glad it was what you were looking for, Eldee! It’s definitely an easier option than most other ideas out there. I hope you like the results!

[@AC-ge1mg]

This is just what we (wife and I) have been looking for!!

[@queenofthehousehold]

I hope you all love how it turns out!

[@eo6613]

I love this. Very practical and it looks great! I want to get this product for my kitchen table and some shelves to match them with my other furniture 🙂

[@queenofthehousehold]

Briwax is such a great product. I hope you love it! I’ve used it on a couple of my shelves too, and it looks great!

[@aalemap1]

I have wooden Cabinets in my kitchen.... with old Fruit wallpaper..lol Dark grey countertops and center counter......which is horrible. I covered all counter surfaces with nice Peel and Stick Tiles. I'm painting a Graceful Blue over the wallpaper....and adding a Blue and White Pastoral Toile Backsplash. French Country is what I am going for. Baskets, Cutting boards, Wooden Spoons, Wooden Risers, Plants, Old Pasterol Prints etc..... I'm going to put curtains around the center counter too... It's a project in progress.... but I am loving.

[@queenofthehousehold]

Sounds like you have a great plan!

[@pennyg956]

Is this permanent, how does it hold up to cleaning?

[@queenofthehousehold]

Hi Penny, yes it is permanent. It’s held up to cleaning for the past 7 months for me.

[@delluser4936]

No idea how this womans video blog came up. Notwithstanding, I enjoyed her explaining her kitchen cabinet makeover. Great video hostess and her end result came out attractive. Thank you for this.

[@queenofthehousehold]

Thanks for watching!

[@carmalitayanock9584]

Thank you, this looks great!

[@queenofthehousehold]

Thank you, Carmalita!

[@glammedbynatalia]

Oh wow it really clings on to the pores and line of the cabinets. Looks beautiful

[@queenofthehousehold]

Yes, it works really well!

[@kimberlym.3643]

What a great transformation!

[@queenofthehousehold]

Thank you, Kimberly!

[@Greens5511]

This is very encouraging! I have the same orangy/yellow oak look and even though I picked it out almost 25 years ago, I am so over that look. Thanks for the tip on the smell and polyurethane finish.....I don't think I will attempt this inside....as time consuming as it will be I think I should take all the fronts off and do it outside....I dread the work and time commitment....but I really think I should try what u did! Thanks 👍👍

[@queenofthehousehold]

I'm glad you enjoyed this video, Vivian! I think taking the time to do it outside will definitely be worth it. I did kinda cheat! LOL

[@starkenterprises2371]

Use a respirator mask, the kind you see painters use. Harbor freight has them cheap. You won't smell a thing while applying, but after it will linger for a day or so. You could air out kitchen with fans at doors to speed it up. Don't take them apart, they will never be the same. Wood screws are best put in once, not taken in and out. Good luck with your project. GOD BLESS GOD SPEED GOD WINS. P.s. if you do take the doors off, mark them so each door goes back on it's original cabinet.

[@Brytm]

My experience with Briwax on golden/yellow oak cabinets: 1) Washed with drill brush (green) and dish soap then dried. 2) Scuffed with scuff pad and wiped down with microfiber cloth. 3) De-glossed (Krud Kutter) and dried with microfiber cloth. Let stand for 10 minutes. 4) Applied Briwax (Tudor brown as well) with caulk paint/wax brush. Let stand for 10 minutes. 5) Buffed out with microfiber cloth. This takes a lot of time. Labor intensive. Wood grain is very dark, the rest more brown/less yellow. 7/10, pretty good. I really appreciate the video.

[@queenofthehousehold]

Thank you for sharing!

[@rebekahflory8381]

Emily, I am literally blown away! We moved into our home three years ago and every time I walk into the kitchen, I contemplate painting the awful oak cabinets. I’ve seen a few articles on Pinterest about the briwax but not a lot of instruct or tutorials. This was exactly what I needed to convince me! I can’t wait, thank you!!! P.S. how many briwax containers did you go through during the project?

[@queenofthehousehold]

Hi Rebekah! I’m so glad that it was helpful. It took me awhile to finally just go for it, and I’m happy I did! It took about half a can of the Briwax. Really doesn’t take much at all.

[@pnhnut]

@@queenofthehousehold how did you decide on the color and are you happy with it or would you choose something different now that you have it applied and see how it looks?

[@queenofthehousehold]

@@pnhnut Hi! I decided on Tudor Brown because I was afraid to go too dark, and for the most part I'm happy with it. However, I do think now, I could have gone with a shade darker called Dark Brown. Just personal preference.

[@pnhnut]

@@queenofthehousehold thanks that helps a lot :)

[@icecreamladydriver1606]

Thanks. I bought and tried a different product that was supposed to do a similar uplift but it did nothing so I ordered Briwax from Amazon but haven't found the ambition yet to get going on it. Watching this video is giving me a little more drive.

[@queenofthehousehold]

It took me awhile to actually open the can and get started too. 😉 I’m glad this video was helpful, and I hope you like the results yourself!

[@yeg8378]

You are amazing!

[@queenofthehousehold]

Aww, you are so kind!

[@Hugh_Jaynis]

Thank you, you probably just saved me $1,500. Very nice and a good idea. I wonder have the cabinets held up well, or do they collect more dust and stuff being coated with a naturally sticky coating before buffing?

[@queenofthehousehold]

The wax hardens. So I haven’t noticed it collecting more dust than usual.

[@glendagonzalez2469]

Wax on, wax off...not just for martial arts.

[@queenofthehousehold]

Ha! I love it, Glenda!

[@ThatEEguy2818]

Regarding the ends that are particle board with oak laminate, did you try multiple coats? How has it held up?

[@29028ft]

Maybe it’s just me, but they still look super dated. No longer 90s, but now they look 70s 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@stephanielegarda5443]

It brings out the grain of the wood, so pretty! Wood is timeless

[@dmotta2811]

It looks so good, the hardware really made a difference. It looks like whole new cabinets.

[@queenofthehousehold]

Thank you so much! I really love how it turned out.

[@limitlessends]

Look at you being all handy! You surprised me with the faucet and hardware, but wow, what a difference that made!

[@queenofthehousehold]

@@limitlessends I surprised myself! 😃

[@losttheremote13]

Omg this is fantastic! That yellow tinted wood reminds me of college dorm furniture and I so do not want that in my kitchen. Amazing!

[@AnneGemind]

Thank you, thank you. I'm going to try this. I hate painting over Oak, but the yellow oak color needs to go!

[@nattamused9074]

It looks great! I would love to do this, but only my cabinet doors are actual stainable, waxable wood. The boards the doors hang in are just particle board with basically a wallpaper with wood print. It’s the same on the sides of the cabinets and the island. There’s just too much of that type of stuff. Sometimes I consider just painting all those areas, like black, or grey or something, and then staining the doors. It’s rough being a renter and a homemaker.

[@queenofthehousehold]

I had the same type of cabinets in my first home. I was only able to paint them, but they still looked great painted. I hope you can find something that works for you!

[@sandeedriver1941]

WHAT A GAL YOU ARE! Thank you for sharing this simple but yey extravagant makeover with us! Beautiful!

[@pj1234p]

Yeah I think there is a bit more to it than that. My problem with my oak cabinets is I hate the grain oak has passionately. We actual filled the grain with wood filler diluted with water before priming and painting. Used an airless sprayer and wet sanded with 600 grit between the 4 coats of paint. They have a sheen from the semi gloss urethane alkyd enamel and no grain shows. They look gorgeous!

[@queenofthehousehold]

I'm not sure what you mean "there is a bit more to it than that." I didn't paint my cabinets. This is literally all there is to do when using Briwax. I don't hate the grain oak passionately as you do, so this was a perfect solution for my cabinets. I'm glad all that work you did to paint your cabinets makes you happy! That's what matters!

[@crackerjack010101]

@@queenofthehousehold I took her “more to it than that” as a preface to the explanation of her goals and reason for wanting change aka not just the color but the grain as well. Who knows, she never came back. Thanks Emily for this idea though! I just bought a home with all new cabinets in kitchen & bathrooms. Oak. Golden oak. SMH unwilling to do the work for refinishing and wanting something different, speaking those things to mom and sisters, the spies on my phone hears and fed me your video 😂😂😂 I think once I get super settled I’m going to give this a shot!

[@jennyl.5730]

I looked into chalk paint etc. I am happy to have found this because it keeps the oak looking so nice & new.

[@queenofthehousehold]

Yes, it's a nice alternative to painting!

[@psuzanne2794]

I’ve always used Old English. Started out using the light color with lemon oil, then found the OE for dark woods. I liked the way it turned out, but am so excited to try the Briwax. With it getting warmer weather though, I may need to wait till fall. I love the black knobs you used!! I have black appliances & sink so it would really be an awesome update. God Bless you for sharing this; you’ve helped many 🥰

[@psuzanne2794]

( My home built in 1986 & I have the exact style of cabinets you have!)

[@queenofthehousehold]

Yes, I love Old English too!

[@Rhonda-ifyoudostuff]

Our home was built in 2000and I have the same cabinets. I’ll be looking into Brywax. Thanks for the info, your kitchen looks great! Also, I watched your method of cleaning a white porcelain sink and tried it and now my sink looks so clean. I was wanting to replace it but now, there is no need.

[@queenofthehousehold]

Hi Rhonda! Our home was built in 1997, so it’s close in age to your house. 😉I’m so glad the sink cleaning helped and you don’t have to replace it. That’s awesome!

[@ambervansweden7636]

Great tutorial! I really love the idea to keep the wood look over painting on a color. Thanks again. They look great!

[@queenofthehousehold]

Thank you!

[@juliedahl1892]

You could take a basting brush or silicone basting brush, trim it down a little to go over & over to get it in the cracks , grooves. My idea I’d use.

[@queenofthehousehold]

Thanks for sharing!

[@katewest130]

Thank you! I have these dreadful cabinets also and I’m buying Briwax. I see we also have the same dreadful sink with a high lip. It drives me crazy because I can’t use a regular dish strainer with an underpan that drains into the sink. Water doesn’t run uphill.

[@queenofthehousehold]

Yes, that can be frustrating for sure! I use a cloth dish drying mat. It's not perfect but it works.

[@sherryharrelson1849]

Hi…I have a spot on the side piece that doesn’t want to keep the wax on it. Any suggestions? Thank you for sharing. You did a fabulous job!!

[@queenofthehousehold]

Hi Sherry! That happened to me too. I had to work in smaller sections, apply more coats, and rub it in a bit more on those pieces. Some people have suggested giving them a light sanding and then applying the Briwax. I didn’t do that, so I’m not sure if it would work but might be worth a try.

[@basketcase-0140]

Wow, never heard of this product. I will try this technique on my 25 year old oak cabinets. I'm wondering about particle board on cabinet ends. Thinking I may paint them instead since they're not wood. Thoughts appreciated!

[@queenofthehousehold]

Hi Helen, the Briwax does not adhere well to the particle board. Yes, I would paint or do something different.

[@basketcase-0140]

@@queenofthehousehold Thank you so much for responding! 😊

[@lindamcdonald6560]

Thanks for the inspiration Emily! I also have 90's "honey oak" kitchen cabinets! I did add a new sink and faucet and hardware but now finally going to "stain" those cabinets!

[@queenofthehousehold]

I hope you like the outcome!

[@lindamcdonald6560]

Unfortunately I discovered that my cabinets DID indeed have a polyurethane coating on them - waaaah! So unless I want to paint them completely, I guess I'm stuck with boring old Honey Oak. @@queenofthehousehold

[@glenbutler9611]

Emily, you did a great job! To be honest, there is not much difference in the previous woodgrain. I would say that the new hardware brings out the wood grain on either color.

[@queenofthehousehold]

Thanks, Glen! I agree. It is a subtle change. But I'm much happier with it now than I was before. The black hardware makes a big difference for sure!