How to Match a Cabinet Stain: What Homeowners Need to Know

Stained cabinetry is making a strong return and for good reason. When it is done well, the result is rich, warm, and full of natural depth. But while homeowners often pay close attention to cabinet box materials, hardware, and layout, the finish—the part you see and touch every day—rarely gets the focus it deserves.

In many cases, that is because the professionals they are working with either do not fully understand the finishing process or, worse, do not care enough to do it right.

In our Ask A Cabinetmaker Facebook group, one question comes up again and again:

“Here is my inspiration photo. What stain is this?”

It is a fair question and it comes from the right place, but unfortunately, this question does not really have a meaningful answer. That is not because the finish is a secret, it is because a stained finish is not a product, it is a process.

This gorgeous Studio McGee project is a perfect example: this finish is much more than just a stain. Most-likely it involves starting with a dye to achieve the undertone, then a stain, then a sealer, and if there is still too much color variation (very common with oak and hickory), then toning to better blend the inconsistencies.

Why “What Stain Is This?” Isn’t the Right Question

Unlike paint that sits on top of the surface and gives you an even, predictable color, stain soaks into the wood and interacts with its grain, texture, and density. Every part of the finishing process, from the wood species to how it was sanded, to how the product was applied, to the sealers and topcoats used, affects the final result.

So when you ask what stain color is in a beautiful designer photo, there is no single color name that will match it. That finish was created through a layered, customized process, often using multiple products and steps that were tailored to that specific project. Additionally, even if it were a single stain color, once the clear protective topcoat is applied, the color changes completely.

This is why on Instagram and Pinterest you will often see designers and cabinetmakers respond with, “it is a custom stain.” That is not gatekeeping, rather a shorthand way to say, “this finish took skill, tons of testing, and a combination of products to get right. It is much, much more than just a stain color.”

What the Process Looks Like in a Proper Shop

In a professional cabinet shop, matching a stain, especially from an image, is never guesswork. It is a deliberate, hands-on process that takes time, experience, and a commitment to getting it right.

Skilled finishers do not settle, they continue making controlled adjustments and layering products until the match is exact. If there is too much variation between pieces, they tone over the top to even it out. If the undertone is missing, they may start with a dye before applying the stain. If the finish lacks warmth or depth after staining and sealing, they might add a light glaze to bring richness and texture back into the wood.

And this all happens before blending solid wood and veneer, which stain completely differently.

This process sounds extremely cumbersome and complex because it is! But even though it takes skill and multiple steps, there is no excuse for not doing it properly. A professional cabinet shop that is committed to quality will have the expertise and resources needed to get the finish right every time. If they do not perform color matching in-house, it is standard industry practice to work with their coatings distributor or a specialized finishing service that can handle it. There is no reason to cut corners on finish quality.

Conversely, many low-end shops and painters will simply wipe on a single coat of stain and stop there. When the result looks nothing like the inspiration photo, they fall back on lazy excuses like, “well, wood is wood”. That is simply not true. In reality, they either do not understand what they are doing or, worse, do not care enough to get it right.

This is real project we saw in our group (just one of many, unfortunately): inspo photo above, and the "professionally" stained vanity below.

When the Burden Gets Pushed Back on You

Something even more troubling is when cabinetmakers or painters ask you, the homeowner, to choose the stain brand and color. It might feel like they are including you in the process, but what they are really doing is shifting responsibility onto you.

Should something go wrong, they now have a built-in excuse. “I just used what you told me.” and technically, they’re not wrong. You are the one who selected the product, which means you now share the liability if it goes poorly.

The evenness of this overall tone suggests that there is some toner or dye involved, much more than simply a single stain.

Imagine ordering a dish at a restaurant and the chef comes out and asks, “What recipe would you like me to use?” I would assume you'd be dumbfounded, you might even laugh because that is clearly not your responsibility. It is theirs. You came to a professional expecting professional results, and instead you are being asked to make the critical decisions that determine whether the outcome is a success or a failure.

That is exactly what is happening when a cabinetmaker asks you to specify the exact stain and product. They are offloading the responsibility for a complex, specialized process that they should be handling themselves.

A real professional never asks you to take the lead on something that is their job. They own the outcome, guide the process, and take full responsibility for the result. If your cabinetmaker is asking you to take responsibility for the finish or if they dismiss the importance of it entirely, that is a major, major red flag. 

What to Do If Your Cabinetmaker Can’t or Won’t Handle It

If your cabinetmaker does not know how to match a stain finish properly, or simply does not want to go through the process, you still have great options. You are not stuck and you do not have to settle!

If you are early in the process, we'd really encourage you to keep looking for a more professional and accommodating partner for your new cabinetry. There are many national cabinet manufacturers that offer beautiful, professionally developed stained finishes engineered and tested for consistency. These brands have invested in the research, development, and finishing systems needed to deliver high-quality results at scale. All the work has been done for you.

This absolute stunner is Koch Cabinets' Almond finish on white oak. This finish took months to develop, using several products and over a dozen steps. A challenge for even a good finisher to replicate, let alone a low-skilled one.

Brands like Showplace, Bishop, Bellmont, Marsh, DuraSupreme, Starmark, Village Handcrafted, Koch, Cuisine Idéale, Bridgewood, and DeWils are just a few examples. Their finishes are dependable, repeatable, and stunning. If your local shop cannot or will not deliver the look you want, these companies often can and they do so with far less uncertainty or stress.

If you're already far along in the process and can't change cabinetmakers, you do still have options. First, encourage your painter or the shop to call a proper coatings distributor and have them get involved. Brands like ML Campbell, Milesi, Chemcraft, Renner, and Sayerlack will have excellent support from their dealers and most even offer training. Second, remain steadfast that whomever is doing the finishing produce the exact completed finish on the exact door you are using, and do not proceed to finishing the entire project until this very important step is approved.

Here are a few more resources that will also help:

Here is how the finish-matching process should work.

Here is a way to ensure your cabinetmaker is up to the task.

The Value Of Expert Advice

After decades in the industry, we completely understand just how overwhelming this all can be. As a recent member said, "the biggest issue I had during my build was not knowing what I did not know, until it was too late". Additionally, while there are a lot of very talented cabinetmakers... there aren't as many talented finishers.

Having a partner early in the process to help identify red flags, walk you through what the process should look like, and help vet the other professionals on your project is exactly why we created this community.

We understand that you're not just building a house, you're creating a home, and every detail has to be perfect. Whether it's our blog or free expert advice in our Facebook group, we're here to help you every step of the way!