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Hi! We own a 70's ranch that has dark stain throughout (doors, trim, cabinets, built-ins, etc.)

I am wondering if there is a way to enhance them so it does not look so dated. I definitely do not want to paint them or go light. I was wondering if it is possible to apply more stain to them so they look more like cherry wood?

I do believe I would have to prep them somewhat, as they appear to have some kind of glossy finish on them.

Any thoughts or alternate ideas?

Welcome to the boards!

It would be nice to have a photo of the trim. But if you could explain if you can see grain through the stain? Or is it like a pine wood where grain does not matter.

If so, then you could use a gel stain right over the finish (clean and degrease then sand first). Or you could use a brown paint. Charcoal gray is popular now and looks great on trim as well and is not as dark as black paint.

Good luck with your project and hope you will be able to post a picture of your project!

I saw a product from Rustoleum called Cabinet Transformation. I would try that on your cabinets. They have a lot of colors to choose from.

I would suggest taking a cabinet door with you to your local home improvement center or paint store and having a conversation with an expert about how to change the color. They should be able to tell if there is a sealer of some kind over the stain and what type of process you would need to follow to achieve your desired result.