Just because you have old golden oak cabinets doesn’t mean your kitchen has to look outdated. While it may seem that the oak is the culprit for making your kitchen look like it’s stuck in the past, there are a lot of other elements that can be changed to make your cabinets look like they belong in this time period. Here are ways to spruce up your golden oak cabinets to make them pop and look brand new.

Add a Backsplash

Choosing a backsplash that compliments your oak cabinets can be difficult. Not all colors go well with oak, but there are a few that make it look amazing. A white subway tile backsplash with dark grout can really make your cabinets pop. Blues and teals go very well with oak because they add bright colors to what may be a dim looking kitchen. Greige (a mix of beige and gray) will also work well as a backsplash color.

Greige Backsplash

Change the Hardware

This one is common for updating the kitchen, but it can make a huge difference for oak cabinets. Changing the current hardware to a dark hardware can make the colors in your backsplash pop. A dark grout color paired with dark hardware will compliment each other.

Dark Hardware

Remove a Cabinet

This may seem like a daunting task, but oak is a very heavy wood so a lot of it can be overwhelming. You can remove a cabinet that is by itself and replace it with open shelves. This will open up the kitchen more and make it feel bigger. You can still get functionality out of the shelves by putting dishes, glasses, pitchers, and bowls on them.

Open Shelves

Add Glass to Doors

This is another way to remove some of the heavy oak. With glass you get all the functionality of the cabinet but it gives it a more modern look.

Glass Cabinet Door

Paint the Walls

If you don’t want to paint your cabinets, opt for painting the wall instead. Use a color that compliments the oak. You can choose a color that makes the oak pop or blend in so people don’t even notice that you have oak cabinets.

Blue-Toned Walls

Remodel as You Normally Would

Usually, when people decide to remodel their kitchens, oak cabinets are the first to go. But if you remodel around them by getting a new countertop, adding a backsplash, changing out the hardware, and adding paint to the walls, then you can save a lot of money keeping them the way they are.

Remodeled Kitchen

Refinish Your Oak Cabinets

Over time oak cabinets wear down and need a little sprucing up themselves. Sound Finish can refinish you oak cabinets so they look brand new.

Sound Finish Professional Cabinet Painting and Refinishing Services

Sound Finish Provides the highest quality cabinet coatings in the industry because cabinet coatings are our primary focus and our specialty. With 20+ years of experience, our unique system paints your kitchen cabinets in 2-3 days!
Learn more and schedule a consultation today!