One outdated trend that many of us are all too familiar with is golden oak. In the '80s and '90s, this honey-toned wood finish was all the rage, and people put it evvverywhere. Flooring, railings, doors, trim, baseboards, cabinets… you name it.
However, those dated, honey oak cabinets you have from the 1980's and 90's are not coming back into fashion… sorry. Today's wood cabinets have clean, modern lines and more muted tones. They are also used in combination with other cabinet colors, like creamy whites, off-blacks, sage greens, and smoky blues.
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.
How do you make honey oak cabinets look good? Add bright and crisp colors to the walls, backsplash tile, and in appliances. A pure white color can help brighten a space with honey oak cabinets. White or stainless steel appliances will also help bounce light around and make your kitchen feel larger.
In the '80s and '90s, this honey-toned wood finish was all the rage, and people put it evvverywhere. Flooring, railings, doors, trim, baseboards, cabinets… you name it. Here in the 21st century, golden oak is no longer in demand, and it can immediately make a home feel tired and dated.
Look to contrasting colors that are a bit cooler in tone. Shades of blue, green, grey, white, and greige (grey beige), are all options. By making the oak stand out in an intentional way, it feels fresh. Neutral colors are always a good choice when working with oak cabinets and trim.
Complementary Color Palette
The color on the opposite side of orange is blue, across from yellow is purple. Any bright blue color will strongly contrast with orange in the honey oak, thus intensifying the color effect.
Other paint colors that would look beautiful with honey oak wood trim are warm grays with green or bronze undertones. In bathrooms and bedrooms, blue-greens can also look lovely. Stay far away from any beiges with cool-pink undertones and grays with true blue or violet undertones.
As we've seen in past years, it's possible for oak and natural wood colors to go in-and-out of style. But, if you really like the look, you can and should go for it in your kitchen. Many design experts believe the current trend of natural wood is here to stay.
Rarely do you want your floors and cabinets/existing wood finishes to be the exact same. Some of our favorite high variation hardwood floors for pre existing gunstock/honey oak wood work is natural hickory, natural acacia, and our in-stock Raphia to name a few.
A soft, warm neutral paint with orange or yellow undertones can make a space look harmonious and help the oak fade in a little. I would go with a natural, earthy color here, not anything too harsh. The look of warm oak is very natural and can sit very nicely with colors pulled from nature.
Digital Lavender, Luscious Red, Sundial, Tranquil Blue and Verdigris are the color names for 2023. Who chooses the names of the new colors? Names are selected by the WGSN and Coloro color team, before being verified by our in-house Equality Vision Team to ensure a proper translation on a global scale.
Some of the most popular interior design trends for 2023 include quiet luxury, the return of bold color, natural stone surfaces, closed floor plans, mixed metal finishes, statement lighting, and 60s and 70s influences — particularly in furniture design.
Soft natural wood is coming back in style. The colors are warm and often light. We are turning our backs on all those grays and opting for a lovely warm, honeyed color palette. The beauty of wood is always in style but it is on-trend for 2023.
Painting oak trim white brightens a room and requires no additional technique or tool than painting over any other trim. The decision of whether or not you should paint over your oak trim should be based on what you like and your personal style. So unless you plan to resell your home soon, you shouldn't hesitate.
Sherwin Williams Repose Gray.
This is a paint color that looks great with everything. Honey oak, golden oak, chestnut, it all looks great with Repose. Repose Gray is a warm gray but it's cooler than other grays. It has a perfect balance.
Yellow (or Honey) Oak Floors & Blue-Green-Grey Blends
While the overall result will depend on the blend of the blue-green-grey paint you choose, blue is a classic kitchen cabinet color. Generally, you can't go wrong with this blend.
If you must pair your honey oak with gray walls, Agreeable Gray is a good place to start.
White Dove has a touch of cream and a touch of gray. I think it looks beautiful with honey oak if you have the right home for white walls.
Colours like cherry red, ochre yellow, lime green or rusty orange will bring out those warm hues in oak for a zesty palette that warms up a space. With cooler brights like vivid blue, deep teal or raspberry reds, oak will add warmth to these spaces, balancing out the cooler palette and grounding the overall look.
Painting vs.
Replacing your trim will save you the work and time of prepping and painting it, but it will cost you much more. If you choose to do this, you can buy pre-primed trim from a home improvement store and paint it after installation.
Lightly sand the wood with extra-fine sandpaper. This is only to rough up the surface. 2. Use a deglosser to wipe down the oak.
To make wood trim look more current and fresh, I suggest staying FAR AWAY from any very warm tone on the wall. Nothing is going to make your dark wood trim look more orangey or “dated” than choosing a warm color tone on your walls (yellow, tan, orange, red etc..).