So, how DO you work with your honey oak kitchen and trim to update your 90s home? We get it, your home is filled from top to bottom with honey oak trim, and honey oak wood cabinets. In this blog post, we’re going show you how easily we can create a balance making your oak work for you!
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First, and possibly the least expensive solution is to simply change your wall color. The hallmark of a 90s-style home is the pairing of honey oak with paint colors in shades of brown or red. The result, an all-over aesthetic that feels outdated. A paint color that brings out the best of oak – and its inherent warmth – will completely transform your room.
The most important thing to note: 90s oak tends to have yellow undertones or orange undertones. First thing, you’ll want to choose a wall color that compliments warm wood tones. An entire room in an overall shade of orange or yellow lacks personality, especially in a kitchen design. A paint color with a purple undertone will have the same affect. Look to contrasting colors that are a bit cooler in tone. Shades of blue, green, beige, white, and greige (grey beige), are all options.
RELATED: Earthy Kitchen Ideas: Inspiring Design and Natural Elements
What is a sea of oak exactly? Well, if everywhere you look brings you an unobstructed view of a shade of oak, you’ve got a sea of oak. We’re talking a combination of wall-to-wall oak kitchen cabinets, oak built-ins, oak trim, oak flooring, and more. You get the picture. To work with your honey oak and elevate its style is to break it up visually.
How do we do that? The easiest way is to paint the elements that feel the most oak-heavy visually in a complimentary color. Think of your old oak kitchen cabinets with a pop of color on them or in a creamy white, leaving the floors and trim intact.
One way we like to bring in a new vibe… changing your flooring. Oftentimes the already oak-heavy 90s home will also have honey oak floors. A new and unexpected flooring option can instantly elevate the room and the honey oak will feel warm and inviting. Tile is a great option. By choosing graphic tile, natural stone, or LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tile), you can easily achieve a nice contrast with oak cabinets for a more modern kitchen. If you want to stick with hardwood flooring or go with super durable LVP (Luxury Vinyl Plank), you can opt for a different finish color to compliment the warm tones in the oak. What we want to achieve is contrast. This will give your eye a rest from that never-ending sea of oak.
Kitchens with honey oak cabinets will look fresh and updated with new wood flooring or Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) flooring in similar undertones. The key is to choose a neutral floor with similar warm color tones found in the oak to bring the two elements together.
Paint and flooring can have a profound impact on your oak-filled home. The answer to your oak woes, is to create a focal point within the room with contrasting color. By incorporating bold artwork, a feature wall, or driving the focus towards a brightly tiled fireplace, the oak is less jarring. Balance goes a long way!
If your honey oak kitchen cabinets are still in good shape, a great way to update the space is by pairing them with new countertops and a fresh coat of paint. White countertops can instantly brighten the room and balance the warmth of the oak. Quartz or marble-look laminate countertops are budget-friendly options that make a big impact without breaking the bank.
For a quick, budget-conscious update, gel stain is one of the easiest ways to tone down the orange hues of your oak cabinets. With just a little bit of work you can achieve a deeper, richer tone without needing new cabinets. Popular options like General Finishes Gel Stain come highly recommended by DIY enthusiasts and interior designers alike. This method allows you to modernize your wood while keeping the natural grain intact.
Earth tones are set to be huge in 2025, offering a perfect complement to honey oak cabinets and trim. Think warm neutrals, muted greens, deep browns, and soft beiges. These colors work beautifully in the kitchen, dining room, and living room, creating a cohesive, modern look throughout your home.
Sometimes, the smallest details can have the biggest effect. Swapping out old cabinet hardware for sleek, modern pulls or knobs can give your kitchen or bathroom an instant upgrade. Matte black, brushed gold, or even pewter finishes work beautifully with honey oak cabinets.
Pair this with updated lighting fixtures—think pendant lights in the kitchen or a statement chandelier in the dining room—to bring the entire space together. For budget-friendly options, check out these modern lighting fixtures at Lowe’s.
You aren’t forever relegated to an outdated 90s-era home. With a bit of creativity and the creative ideas shared here, you can work with your honey oak, to create a modern design. Your 90s oak home can be updated in a way that feels oh-so-modern and totally you.
Hi, I’m Carla
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