I know it’s easy to think that nobody has (or wants) oak cabinets anymore if you spend any time looking at kitchens on Pinterest or Instagram, but in the real world, that’s just not true. One of my most visited blog posts remains an old one I wrote about not painting oak cabinets so I know some you might still want a little extra (updated) help. Sometimes, it just takes a little vision and some new accessories to make your kitchen feel like new again. I’ve put together three idea boards that were built around the tone of the oak, using modern and fresh decor to give them new life.
What I envision: A pretty fabric on a window shade or curtains, pulling from the grays for the paint and upholstery. (Red or yellow walls will fight against the oak tones.) I’d go with a creamy or soft white on the walls and use a rich graphite color on an island or accent piece like a hutch. Matte black drawer pulls and a stunning pendant (or two) instantly update the overall look. I’d finish up with a deep red Persian style runner for a punch of color on the floor.
What I envision: A strong statement with dark green walls as the backdrop to the oak cabinetry. I’d use a patterned fabric with different shades of green for the windows and add a pop with a chartreuse striped runner. All of your finishes don’t have to match; I’d use antique bronze and glass pendants paired with bronze drawer pulls and add a touch of industrial metal with the bar stools.
What I envision: A fun, more modern take on oak cabinets, starting with an abstract pattern on the window treatment fabric. I’d pair this with bright white streamlined pendants and white on the walls. A true navy would be a strong accent on an island, china cabinet, etc. I’d use matte black on the hardware (and on a modern faucet!). To play off the white walls, I’d use a colorful runner and a set of green bar stools with sleek lines.
So lovely! I don’t have oak cabinets, but I love all 3 of these options!!
Thank you for doing this post. I’d love to see your ideas on updating a kitchen with light (natural) maple cabinets. Some of us have a spouse who does not want us to paint them 🙋🏻. I do still like the cabinets, but my kitchen seems a little tired. Help a girl out?
I have natural maple cabinets. I bought $.59 cherry wood knobs from knobdeals.com. The cherry contrasts with the maple in a fresh way – it reminds me of shaker furniture. I used a vivid Persian rug like the first one Emily showed and updated to a more modern light fixtures. It feels both modern and timeless – if that’s a thing.
Sounds nice. With that combination, what did you do for wall color?
I have walls the color of a manila folder, very pale sage green glass backsplash, grey slate-look floor tiles, dark silestone counters. There’s a balance of dark and light, I’ll see if I can post a picture in the Facebook comments.
You’re the best, Emily! We’re just finishing up a mini-reno on our kitchen; new quartz counters, white backsplash, butcher block island (did paint that), polished nickel hardware, SAME oak perimeter cabinets. I chose new counters over having the cabs sprayed, maybe will do that some day but I actually really like the look now. I’m going to come back to this post often for all these great finishing touch ideas!
Love this! I’m not on board painting my kitchen white. It doesn’t really work with our home or personal style.
I would love to see one of these for dark wood cabinets, too. We have a dark cherryish finish on our cabinets and I’m having a hard time modernizing it.
Me too! Thanks have cherry cabinets with absolute black granite counters. Would love to know how to modernize/lighten it up!!!
Love these real world examples! I think the first one is my favorite! You might have inspired me to throw a vintage rug down in my black and white scheme!
Thanks Emily! So pretty,and better than painting all the cabinets!
Beautiful! I just love your vision!
Thank you for posting ideas for updates to stained wood cabinets. Our home was built in 2006 and I specifically wanted alder wood kitchen cabinets. At first, our builder said nope, too expensive but the price dropped before we had to make a final decision and I got my alder wood cabinets. Now with all the white and colorful painted cabinets online, I feel like my kitchen looks dark and dated. Thank you for some simple and less expensive ideas to update it.
I love this!! We just moved into a 1990s wonderland and until we win the lottery, I needed ideas. Thank you!!
Thank you for this! I’m definitely part of the camp that doesn’t want to paint my real wood (mostly because of the upkeep of painting trim), but looking at home decor trends, I would think I’m the only one!
This is such a nice post since I hold far too much resentment for my oak cabinets :-) Would love counter top and back splash recommendations too since all my searches bring me darker options.
Wow, Emily. You’ve done it again!!
I love that first board so much! Will you please share which white you listed in that example?
Thanks so muc.
I just Google imaged a soft white. Not sure of exact color…
It can be done! We recently bought a house we love, but we didn’t care for the cherry cabinets, granite countertops, and busy backsplash. After getting an extremely high estimate on painting the cabinets white, we left them as is, removing one wall of upper cabinets and replacing those with open shelving. Switching the countertops to honed marble and the backsplash to a white subway tile completely changed the look of the kitchen. We now like the contrast the darker cabinets give the space and are glad we did not have them painted.
Thank you Emily! I’ve been needing to update my kitchen with oak cabinets for several years but have been stumped as to how to make it look fresh without painting the cabinets. You’ve presented three great ideals. Could you please list the paint colors for each option? Also, could you discuss the process you went through to come up with these specific idea boards for oak cabinets? I can copy a design but I’m not so good at coming up with the idea. Thanks!
I don’t have specific paint names. Just grabbed some images that I thought were about the right color. (It’s always a little tricky to choose exact colors over a screen anyway!) As for my process, I always think it’s easy to start with (and pull colors from) a great fabric.
I’m in love with that rug in design 3! Can you please share what it is?
It’s linked right below the idea board and my notes. :)
All great looking but loving that fabric in #1. I painted over my oak cabinets 21 years ago and people thought I had LOST it but now white kitchens are it!! I did live with the oak while convincing my husband that the world would not end if I painted wood cabinets… followed by trim being painted white… and my brick fireplace not too long ago.. . next up? my brick housefront. Somehow he has survived it all. I love my white cabinets but sometimes I must confess I walk around the kitchen with my SW fan deck LOL And I Love your green cabinetry!!
We’re always thinking about the next thing, aren’t we?? ;)
So I’m curious….what sort of countertops do,you envision. I have beautiful oak cabinets but the dated dark granite is throwing me off….in addition to the dated backsplash. Home was built in 2007. Would love to send you a pic for your series you did a while back on updating a room :)
Love all of these!! Any ideas for dark pecan cabinets (especially something to go with dark blue in the adjoining room)??!!
Emily—
I love that you’re acknowledging there’s room for non-white kitchens. Mine is even a step below oak—it’s off-white laminate. Not my choice but it is what it is. I have done what you have suggested here. Updated with color and accessories. I love your suggestions and may add a few new touches!
Emily, you nailed it on all three of these designs! I’m kind of wishing for oak cabinets just to be able to pull off one of these looks in my all white kitchen. Love!
Sorry, you have nothing for a southwestern look. None of these would fit my home at all.
No, Southwestern decor is definitely not in my repertoire 😂 (This must be your first visit to my blog??!)
Our house was built in 1908, that’s quite old in New Zealand, and has lovely wooden doors. We bought the house in 1980 and decided to remove the hardwood panels, painted white, and strip off the white paint underneath. The panelling in the hallway was treated the same way. The wood is from a beautiful native tree, rimu. Since then fashions have changed again and people are painting wooden doors now. We love the wood and if we wait it will be fashionable again.
I imagine it’s beautiful. I don’t care if my home looks like Pinterest; I want it to reflect me. I’m sure your home looks like you!
I totally disagree. oak cabinets make the house look very dated. if you’re planning on selling the house anytime soon buyers will be completely turned off By the dated looking kitchen. To paint thoroughly clean the cabinets, give them a light sanding and prime before painting. The trend right now is a gray beige color. If possible I would paint the walls in a light yellow color.
Why not stain the oak? I am building a new home and putting in oak cabinets with a more modern shaker style and dark grey stain. They are beautiful with the natural grain showing through. Oak is not out, the styles and colors are outdated.
Thank you for this post. I normally never write a comment however this one inspired me. I own my own kitchen and bath design business and often see kitchens that just need a refresh. You can’t always afford to get a new kitchen but a simple back splash, hardware, decor and lighting change is affordable for most. By the way Oak is coming back just in a new way. Thanks again, Jenni
Thank you for this! I’m in the midst of deciding what to do with my oak, really well made cabinets. Mine have DARK grain though, can I make that look okay? I kind of despise them, but I’d rather not paint them…
I painted my oak cabinets years ago. You’re making me regret my decision. Especially because the lower cabinet doors under the sink are chipping.
I don’t have a window in my kitchen so I wouldn’t be able to use the fabrics you showed but even still…your suggestions are so cute!
I have to be on board with all these ladies and thank you for your post. I love all the bright, white kitchens I see on Pinterest & Instagram but I just can not pull the trigger on painting my beautiful oak cabinets. This gives me the courage to move forward on my ideas of mixing a painted pantry, replacing my countertop & backsplash and live with my existing cabinetry :) Your idea boards are wonderful!
These are so great Emily! My cabinets aren’t oak, but they are a lovely (insert sarcasm) maple gone orange with age…so these ideas help!
I would never have oak cabinets, but I do like your ideas for them. Your first option is definitely my favorite!
I love every single one of these ideas. Our first house in 1998 had oak cabinets which we had planned to paint white. We painted the walls sage green and then the cabinets weren’t so offensive. They were that classic shaker-ish style so that helped. Love your vision.
What great ideas, Emily! I love the first color scheme and fabric. This is so great – so many houses do have similar tone cabinets.
I can’t thank you enough for this post! We recently downsized and starts renting after our daughter left for college and the house has oak cabinets. Every time I see them I just think blah. The third option you showed would be perfect with the back splash we have. I love that you keep the blog an approachable way to decorate for those of us that can’t always rip everything out and start over. Although I do love your kitchen:)
So perfect for me! We have oak cabinets throughout pur house, plus an oak and wrought iron staircase in our great room. Design number one is right online with my vision of refreshing the place, and I love The reassurance that it might actually help. ;)
I love all the options but the third is my favorite!! I also think if you can incorporate open shelving with white dishes, it helps to lighten the oak.
I love this! I have cherry cabinets. I would love to see your thoughts with that in mind. Also, I would love to see counter top options with your boards. I love your blog!! Thanks for sharing all your ideas!
I am a long time follower, but have never commented. Just in case nobody has told you recently, I wanted to say that you are fabulous! I love every post but this post forced me to comment. :) I love it so much and I don’t even have oak cabinets. Mine are white, which has become standard and in my opinion, boring. I am not sure it was a goal for your post when you wrote it, but it immediately reminded me of the days when money was tight and things were done on a true budget. I was much more creative then and feel like my home better reflected my personal style and had a more welcoming and collected feeling. I have nobody to blame for that change, but myself. I jumped on the group think train and now my home looks like 90% of the Pinterest images you see. I’m so over it. Your post has pointed me back to the days when I decorated my home to make it comfortable for my family and friends and the way we truly live on a daily basis. There is so much more satisfaction in that, than in decorating for a blog post or an Instagram image. Thank you for being such an inspirational ‘guide’ and for keeping it real. You really are fabulous. :)
That is just a kind thing to say. Thank you! And I’m so glad you still enjoy the blog.
I agree about decorating around what you have. There is so much satisfaction in that! It’s why I was just rearranging things this morning :)
This is a great post – thank you! I have pine bedroom furniture and am considering how to update. I really like the poster bed but the rest of the furniture looks very dated (according to teen dad – LOL). Your ideas have I paired me to make some changes without having to spend too much or go crazy!
Bravo!
Thank you for these great ideas. I’ve lived in a lot of houses and have learned to make existing finishes fit my preferences. I love solving design problems. I think when you have limits, you get unique results. Our currrnt kitchen has lovely oak mid toned beautifully crafted cabinets. I can add painted finishes elsewhere just like the painted cabinet kitchens put the wood in the floor or the accents. I don’t feel the need to paint the cabinets to get that same modern balance we feel looks fresh today. Your ideas I think really illustrate that point.
What a great way to bring oak cabinets into the 21st century. I love all three designs, but the first is my favorite. Thanks!
Hi Emily! Thank you for sharing. This gives me hope. Last year I painted my kitchen walls SW Accessible Beige with an accent wall Valspar Sooty Lashes which is a dark navy. Do you think design three could fit in a farmhouse style? Thanks!
Thank you for this entry. We moved to a town where most of the homes come with oak cabinets. Expensive and cheap homes! You just can’t find a lot of info when working with oak cabinets except for outdated styles. I used to have white, and now trying to decorate and put in new counters and flooring. Would like to know what your take on counter tops,back splash and flooring ideas for oak cabinets. I did a creamy white for the walls in kitchen and SW Accessible beige for baths. I’m a mix between you options 1 & 3. Love blues, grey, and aqua’s! Thank you again!