White oak is considered a hardwood, meaning that it is stronger than other woods and durable enough to withstand the elements. Thanks to this durability and natural detail, white oak kitchen cabinets are an increasingly popular choice in a range of home design styles.
Wood cabinets are back in a big way in 2023, continuing the trend we've been seeing over the past couple of years. These aren't your honey oak cabinets from the 1980's…
That's due to the timeless quality of white oak, a classic look that never goes out of style. Overall, they offer a combination of durability, water resistance, versatility, timelessness, easy maintenance, and sustainability, making them an excellent choice for kitchen cabinetry.
Nowadays oak cabinets are making a comeback in the kitchen. In some cases, homeowners are refacing their old honey oak cabinets to give them fresh new life. They're replacing dated cabinet doors with new Shaker style cabinet doors.
But they're long from outdated. In more recent years, more modern and contemporary designs have popped up all over the world with new ways to use oak cabinets.
Arguably, the most timeless kitchen cabinet color is white. Bright white cabinets suit a variety of beautiful kitchens, including modern, contemporary, and farmhouse styles. Brilliant whites work to give kitchens a light and airy feel, and off-white options, like the White Dove shade, provides warmth.
A light beech, warm cherry, or dark walnut in a suitable stain should lend a timeless look to your kitchen. Bamboo is another excellent choice for modern kitchens, and hickory has a rustic aesthetic.
White oak floors are here to stay
White oak is super popular, so you won't have any trouble finding the right type of hardwood for your home, moreover, you can usually find white oak for a more affordable price than other types of white wood flooring.
If you have a large amount of counter top surface area, wood could detract from the striking appeal of painting oak cabinets white. For kitchens with more moderate counter space though, it's a traditional look that will always have you feeling at home.
WHITE KITCHEN CABINET COLORS
White kitchens aren't going anywhere in 2023! A white kitchen continues to be a timeless classic design that never truly goes 'out of style'.
Plain white
Oak has a unique wood grain that provides a conventional look, and when paired with white countertops, homeowners can create the perfect minimalist kitchen. Solid white countertops, such as those offered by Caesarstone, bring a touch of simplistic beauty when coupled with oak cabinets.
He also says to avoid cherry-colored cabinets because they look dated. Plus, Chastain says, traditional cabinetry shapes and sizes are quickly being outpaced by space-saving shelving systems and larger pantry-style cabinets.
White is still the most popular kitchen cabinet color in 2023 and beyond. However, we are seeing a shift towards warmer and more natural tones. We cover the best colors for cabinets from Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams like Simply White, Dove White, and Chantilly Lace.
A well-loved, class option, Shaker-style cabinets will remain a top kitchen design trend in 2023. Shaker-style cabinet doors are known for their recessed center panel and clean lines. These doors are so versatile they work with various design styles, from traditional to modern.
And while gray might be falling out of favor, white is still holding on strong—it's still the number one kitchen color with 35% of people choosing it from 2022 to 2023. Beige nabbed the third top spot with 18%, followed by blue with 6% and green with 5%.
Downsides to White Oak Flooring
The high density gives the wood more durability, but makes it a bit harder to work with. Another example of a downside is that white oak is trendy, but red oak is still more common because there are more of them domestically and grow more quickly.
The typical choices are charcoal or pastel. We like charcoal for its warmth, but we also know that granny-chic is in style for 2021, so certainly pastels (like light blue and mauve) are an appropriate option to pair with white oak. These soft wall colors will make the room bright, just like Granny would want it.
It is highly sought-after for its durability, versatility and long life. For this, it has been a top requested species for centuries in both residential and commercial interiors.
Look for warm metals like bronze, copper, gold, and brass. They'll look stunning against the warmth of your oak cabinets. Cold metals like chrome, stainless steel, and brushed nickel are fine, but they may fall a little flat.
So yellow toned beiges, orange toned beiges and grays with a warm, creamy beige undertone will work well. Avoid the green toned beiges as they start to look flat against the warmth of the cabinets. If you surround the warm oak with another warm color, it's going to blend in and look purposeful.
Kitchen Cabinet Wood Choices
The 5 best and most popular woods for kitchen cabinets are pine, oak, hickory, cherry, and maple.
Blonde and mid-tone browns are classic choices that never go out of style. Bleached or super dark stains tend to wave with trends and can make a kitchen appear very dated when not in style. Avoid stains with a heavy undertone like red, orange, or grey as these will also wane with kitchen trends.
Shaker Style Cabinets
With clean, classic lines, Shaker is the most popular cabinet door style because it can work beautifully whether your aesthetic is modern, transitional, or traditional.