How to Update Golden or Honey Oak Cabinets Without Paint!

Golden oak (also known as honey oak) is gorgeous. It’s warm, inviting, and flexible to a wide range of colors and finishes. Commonly found in 1990s and early 2000s kitchens, this popular wood stain is still a feature in many homes.

However, it’s often seen as a ‘dated’ finish. Not as modern-looking as natural white oak or as dramatic as a darker, brown-toned wood, it has a bad rap for being… old.

But that doesn’t make it bad; in fact, golden oak is one of my favorite wood tones to play with (whether on cabinets, trims, or flooring). This means I’m rarely disappointed when one of my clients wants ideas for updating their kitchen, while keeping their existing wood stain in play.

Updated with new content and images for 2026

So, why do so many people have a hate-on for their oak cabinets (and floors and trim)? There are a few reasons…

• Traditional golden and honey oak kitchen cabinets have a bad rap as the ‘wood choice of the 90s,’ so they look dated by default.
• Golden oak cabinets are often partnered with cathedral-style cabinet doors #dealbreaker.
• In a golden or honey oak kitchen, other outdated 90s finishes (especially certain laminate countertops and tile backsplashes) usually surround them, enhancing the ‘dated’ perception.
• When trying to update golden or honey oak cabinets, homeowners often make the wrong decorative choices – ones that don’t honor their wood (Tim also wishes I’d ‘honor his wood’ more – wink wink).

The above doesn’t make Golden Oak bad; it’s just our perception. Golden Oak is great; it just needs to hang out with different friends if they want to look more modern. That said, pile on a BUNCH of dated features, and you’ll have a harder time…

With its exposed hinges, cathedral-style doors, and short upper cabinet style, this space is harder to update, for sure. 

Check out this next honey-oak wonder…

While their cathedral-style tops (which you can barely see) aren’t ideal for an ‘updated look,’ they have no exposed hinges, which is awesome. They’re also a great general stain color—not too strong (although ‘ideally’ they’d be a bit more muted).

So what’s the problem?

It’s the countertop-and-backsplash combo. Together with the oak cabinets, they make this space look dated.

While these next cabinets are maple, not oak, they have a similar golden hue…

It’s AMAZING how a well-chosen backsplash can shift gears, even with an older granite countertop!

Now, I’ve written many articles on updating wood cabinets, flooring, and trim (seriously, type the word WOOD into my search, and you’ll be busy for days). While these blog posts are full of even more fantastic update ideas for your kitchen, they cover a wider range of wood stains, species, and situations (check them out later).

This blog post is ONLY about golden and honey oak! 

However, sometimes you don’t know which type of oak you have!

Most flooring, cabinets, and some trims are made from white or red oak (red oak has a pink undertone, though white can, too). From there, it’s about the stain on top, making it look like golden oak, red oak, honey oak, or something else entirely – stain can change everything.

These red-hued oak cabinets could look golden with the right stain color. 

As far as what most people think golden oak is, the term covers a range of oak stain colors…

• rich and orange-toned
• more or less ‘golden’ looking
• slightly more muted with a subtle pink undertone (red oak)
• lighter with a yellowish hue
• yellow-brown toned
• rarely strong red; that’s a whole different blog post

When I consult with clients, the focus is usually on PAINT COLORS, not update ideas. If you use this advice to update your kitchen, I would LOVE to see the after photos to potentially use them as examples.

WHAT COUNTERTOPS GO WITH GOLDEN OAK CABINETS?

Now, I don’t know your kitchen’s lighting, size, flooring, etc., so these ideas are more general to get you thinking along the right lines—get those creative juices flowing (or, at the very least, a cheap bottle of Chardonnay).

One of my favorite ideas for updating a kitchen with oak cabinets is to update the countertop and/or backsplash.

Vicostone Cemento BQ8730

Whether you choose affordable laminate countertops, trendy white or off-white quartz, or my favorite quartzite, one key to choosing the best countertop for your cabinets is to use the K.I.S.S principle…

Keep. It. Simple…Silly 

Why?

Unlike maple cabinets, which come across as calm and collected, oak cabinets are busy. These cabinets have a lot of grain, and we don’t need to amplify that with an even busier countertop (never mind what’s going on with your flooring).

With this type of grain, a new countertop should be subtle and not overly veiny. 

Now, this doesn’t mean you need to go plain and boring; it’s about moderation (of which I’m rarely a fan, in general).

Here are a few of my favorite countertops for updating oak cabinets…

QUARTZ COUNTERTOPS TO UPDATE OAK CABINETS

• Cambria Torquay (get a sample delivered to your front door HERE)
• Cosentino, Silestone Et Calacatta Gold (mad love – HERE’S your sample)
• Taj Royale by Cambria (if you prefer a warmer look)
• Cambria Ironsbridge (sample HERE).
• Vicostone Cemento BQ8730

The 8 Best Quartz & Quartzite Countertops for Warmer Trends

Again, I can’t WAIT to get some good wood cabinet photos (wink wink…), but here’s a quick look at Ironsbridge, Taj Royale, and another countertop, Brittanica Warm – all set against golden oak…

LAMINATE COUNTERTOPS TO UPDATE OAK CABINETS

• Carrara Bianco by Formica (my fave of the marble-look finishes)
• Soapstone Sequoia by Formica (if you want a bit of warmth without legit beige)
• Jet Sequoia by Formica (gorgeous black with white veining – love it)

The 8 Best Bougie Laminate Countertops on a Budget!

Here’s an example of a palette with a laminate countertop that goes with golden oak cabinets…

See this palette and more HERE.

WHAT BACKSPLASH TILE UPDATES GOLDEN OR HONEY OAK CABINETS?

While many people think about their cabinet stain and wall color when choosing a backsplash, your countertop should call some SERIOUS shots.

But no matter which countertop you have, chances are, a well-chosen subway tile is the best backsplash to update your oak cabinets.

5 Ideas to Add Personality to Subway Tile

SUBWAY TILE WITH GOLDEN OAK CABINETS

While some see subway tile as boring and typical, and it might be, it’s also TIMELESS and flexible, more so than any other tile.

Besides, there’s so much more available than just plain white subway tile, even though it’s often a great option. Just remember K.I.S.S., as sometimes simple and classic is best.

• If you choose a white quartz countertop, consider a white subway tile that matches it PERFECTLY (3×6 is the most timeless). If you don’t love the white-on-white look, choose a soft off-white grout that matches the veining in your countertop for a bit of variation.
• Countertops with softness and warmth (e.g., Taj Royale) should have a warm backsplash (plain white will be too stark). Find a warm white or off-white tile that jibes with your countertop choice.
• You can also choose a subway tile in a non-white neutral color that perfectly matches some of the veining/patterns on your counter, even if they’re a bit darker.
• For a bit of variety, make your grout color a shade or two darker than the tile. Just remember that if you have a busy oak pattern on your cabinets, things can get busy quickly!
• If your countertop is mostly a solid color, it can be a bit easier to add a pattern or detail to your backsplash. Consider a marble subway tile or a porcelain subway tile that looks like marble.

These next cabinets are more of a red oak, but you get the idea…

Just tread carefully—remember, oak already has a busy ‘pattern’ of sorts via its grain!

I like to think of oak cabinets like my freckles. My freckles create a pattern on my skin, so I have to be careful about the patterns in my clothing—I can look cluttered pretty quickly.

These next oak cabinets have a red stain rather than a golden one. Regardless, they’re a great example of a simple white quartz countertop with a slightly more interesting backsplash tile…

I would take the wood crown off over the sink area; it dates this lovely little space! 

Subway Tile, Zellige, Herringbone: Backsplash Tile Trends

Check out this next kitchen…

The Best Paint Colors to Update Golden or Honey Oak

The golden oak cabinets and flooring are all that and a bag of chips. However, there are a few obvious challenges…

• Between the oak floor, island, and cabinets, you’re swimming in a sea of wood, and nothing’s really poppin’ (like me in my dating years).
• The laminate countertops look dated because of the edge profile, which is definitely 90s.
• The white appliances contrast too much with the oak and don’t fit into the overall palette (however, not everyone has the budget to update all the pieces at once).
• And you ALL know how I feel about booby lights, especially saggy boobies like the above one.

Now, see how it looks with a little TLC (or a little KLC might be more the point)…

I’d definitely toss a runner between the cabinets and the island and get new stools. 

Will this kitchen ever look ‘updated to today’s standards‘? No, but it can definitely be its ‘best version of itself’.

• PAINTED ISLAND: We painted the island a darker, warmer shade of gray. This ties in with the countertop and gives the wood floor and cabinets something to PLAY WITH! Notice how much prettier the wood looks when it has something to bounce off of. It’s kind of like how I look prettier next to Tim. See my FAVORITE ISLAND COLORS in this handy bundle!
• SUBWAY TILE: They chose a soft, muted neutral that ties into the flecks in the countertop and coordinates with the island. The soft white grout subtly contrasts with the tile and connects to the white in the countertop.
• UPDATES: Other updates included lighting, suitable cabinet hardware, and a new stainless steel stove (by the way, don’t choose light fixtures with exposed bulbs like this; choose white shades instead).

ZELLIGE TILE WITH OAK CABINETS

I don’t have examples of zellige tile with oak cabinets (yet…), but I know it could be darn pretty, as long as your oak’s green isn’t too wild and crazy.

Here’s an oak floating shelf with 4×4 Zellige tile backsplash…

Next, we have more Zellige tile (likely from Bedrosian’s Cloe line) with cherry wood cabinets and a popular, white quartz countertop (they aren’t oak, but I know you forgive me)…

On the other hand, not all oaks have wild grain; some have minimal grain (especially those installed more recently). This means they are likely rift-cut or quarter-sawn. In this case, a countertop with a bit more interest can look beautiful. You could even take your countertop and use it on the backsplash (slab backsplash) rather than tile!

This next kitchen is a good example of oak with a minimal grain pattern – I’d LOVE to see a slab backsplash in this space…

This kitchen with Taj Mahal quartzite (not to be confused with Taj Royale) is in mid-progress.

How about this next baddy (it’s a teenage term – ask my daughters, I have no idea)…

6 Reasons Your Wood Cabinets Might Be Outdated

Rich, golden oak stain, hidden hinges, but DARN THOSE ARCHED DOORS! C’est la vie, or for my American friends (where French isn’t your second language and Spanish is more common)…

Asi Es La Vida – said awkwardly by a Canadian Ginger.

The above kitchen has beautiful beige (travertine-look) tile floors, but that backsplash…lord have mercy, it has GOT to go. Instead, I would choose a 3×6 subway tile (I’m like a broken record, but it’s true) that’s a soft creamy off-white; it would tie into the tones in the countertop and instantly update this space. IT’S THAT EASY, lemon squeezy!

Ideas to Update Your 1990s Kitchen

At the end of the day, there’s SO much that can be done before you consider painting your wood cabinets – and we haven’t even talked about the best paint colors to update golden or honey oak cabinets yet!

ARE GOLDEN OR HONEY OAK CABINETS COMING BACK IN STYLE?

Over the past few years, we’ve seen more wood cabinets, particularly white oak. In the coming years, expect more wood, even some mid-depth and darker stains.

As for honey oak or golden oak cabinets, they tend to look more outdated than updated, but…

a) It’s all about the grain, stain, door profile, and hinges (learn more HERE).

b) It can greatly depend on the surrounding finishes.

Would I install honey oak cabinets in a new kitchen?

No, but some of the stains I’d consider might not be far off. For today’s trends, I’d choose a shaker style with a standard or slightly thinner rail and a stain that’s a bit darker than natural.

The cabinets in this next kitchen have GREAT bones, but, in terms of being modern (if the homeowner were concerned about that), the orange stain is a bit too strong. That said, there are still ways to make cabinets like this work!

SUMMARY

• Golden or honey oak cabinets can look more up-to-date when paired with more modern finishes.
• Modern white quartz countertops, black quartz or granite, or some affordable laminate countertops can pair well with wood cabinets.
• Subway tile is the most timeless, popular choice for updating wood cabinets, whether they’re golden or honey oak.
• While golden or honey oak isn’t trendy, choosing a more muted version can help a kitchen look more current.

READ MORE

4 Palettes to Update Golden Oak Cabinets

The Best Paint Colors to Update Golden or Honey Oak

Are Your Wood Trims Outdated?

How to Update Wood or Oak Cabinets: 5-PART SERIES

How to Mix & Match Wood Stains Like a Pro

6 Ideas to Update Your 1990s Home

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