Oak Kitchen Cabinets Are Back—Here’s How to Make Them Look Current

Oak kitchen cabinets were incredibly popular in the 1980s and 1990s because their warm appearance helped create a unified and inviting culinary space.

However, their relevance gradually faded as homeowners began shifting towards newer cabinet options that were sleek and minimalistic.

Despite remaining out of fashion for decades, oak cabinets are making a resounding comeback.

Whether you live in busy urban spaces or faraway towns, you can notice a gradual increase in the popularity of oak kitchen cabinets.

The rising appreciation for natural materials and sustainable design choices drives this growth.

While oak cabinets unquestionably deserve a place in modern kitchens, the primary challenge homeowners face is integrating them into contemporary aesthetics.

In this blog, we share five tips to overcome this challenge. So, let’s explore practical ways that can be used to make oak cabinets look current.

1. Invest in Two-Tone Cabinet Schemes

This tip is recommended for kitchens with upper and lower cabinet arrangements.

It requires homeowners to paint their kitchen’s upper cabinets in a contemporary shade while keeping oak lowers and vice versa.

This tip always gives instant results because two-tone designs break up the visual weight of all-oak cabinetry.

You can choose any shade that complements your kitchen’s aesthetic appeal, maintaining a cohesive appearance.

Those looking for inspiration can consider timeless combinations, such as painted navy lower cabinets paired with natural oak upper cabinets or oak lower cabinets with crisp white or sage green upper cabinets, among other options.

These contrasts add contemporary accents to your kitchen’s aesthetics while preserving the natural warmth of oak.

You can use this technique to masterfully introduce trending colours into your culinary space without committing to a complete cabinet overhaul.

It gives homeowners the flexibility to adapt as styles evolve.

2. Replace Old Hardware with Contemporary Options

If your oak kitchen cabinets feature dated brass or copper hardware, it’s time to replace them with their modern counterparts.

Hardware acts as jewellery for cabinets, and outdated finishes age even the most beautiful oak grain.

Adding contemporary hardware to oak cabinets creates a bridge between oak’s traditional character and modern design sensibilities.

You can add any modern hardware to traditional oak cabinets, such as oversized pulls or hardware featuring mixed metals for sophistication.

This simple addition provides an instant visual refresh that changes how people perceive your entire kitchen.

Implement this technique to give your oak cabinet kitchen a more polished and intentional look.

3. Lighten and Refresh the Oak Finish

Traditional oak cabinets mostly feature heavy orange or red undertone stains that appear dated today.

Hence, the simplest way to make them look modern is to sand and restain oak cabinets in lighter, contemporary tones such as weathered gray, bleached oak, or subtle white wash.

Lighter finishes highlight oak’s beautiful grain while aligning with modern colour palettes. 

Since modern staining techniques can achieve everything from Scandinavian-inspired light oak to sophisticated driftwood tones, you can easily get the desired aesthetic appeal for your kitchen.

Regardless of the light stain you choose, it is guaranteed to make your culinary space appear brighter, more spacious, and airier.

The accompanying organic feel complements current design trends that favour natural materials and lighter colour schemes.

4. Add Sleek, Modern Countertops in Your Kitchen

You don’t necessarily have to make changes to oak kitchen cabinets to make them appear relevant to today’s style and aesthetic standards.

Changing other kitchen elements that significantly contribute to the space’s aesthetics does an equally good job.

In this case, we recommend investing in contemporary countertops that complement oak cabinets.

Modern materials, like quartz or waterfall-edge stone, create a striking contrast against oak’s organic texture, while its clean lines and minimal veining keep the focus balanced between traditional and contemporary elements.

This simple addition can instantly modernize the kitchen’s overall aesthetic because it exhibits a curated feel.

The contrast between the oak’s traditional appearance and the countertop’s modern aesthetics also enhances the visual interest while maintaining a cohesive and upscale appearance. 

5. Add Open Shelving and Glass Fronts

Another excellent way to make oak kitchen cabinets look current is to replace some upper cabinet doors with open shelving or glass fronts to break up the oak’s solid or heavy expanse.

Oak-only cabinetry can feel overwhelming and closed off in some culinary spaces. Hence, strategic open elements like glass fronts and open shelving create breathing room and opportunities to display curated items.

These elements also make your kitchen feel more spacious and less dominated by wooden surfaces.

The resulting visual break prevents oak from overwhelming your kitchen while creating opportunities for personal expression through displayed items.

Contrary to the belief that oak cabinets and glass fronts or open shelves are a misfit, this mixed approach helps homeowners create a more custom and thoughtfully designed space. 

Oak Kitchen Cabinets Receive a Contemporary Upgrade

Oak kitchen cabinets are silently reclaiming their position in the cabinetry landscape, but they need slight adjustments to keep up with the contemporary cabinet standards.

If you own old oak cabinets or plan to install them in your culinary space, ensure you implement the tips discussed in this blog to give them a modern appearance.

Each tip is timeless and designed to yield instant results.